Emily Tang (495200093)
Ms. Jennifer Chiu
Introduction to literature
Journal 5
Nov.25. 2006
After reading “When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer”, the first emotion which struck me was the simple pleasure it offered. And it also directly reminded me of the reason why I chose to study literature instead of following my parents’ expectation to major in science.
Just as the speaker in this pome had mentioned, the charts and countless proofs had turned romantic existence into the cold reality, lifeless and emotionless. In my opinion, it is kind of cruel mental persecutions. How awful it is! However; after my lengthy recalling, it’s time for me to go back to the topic.
Apparently, the poet had used first point of view throughout the whole poem. Being a listener of the learn’d Astronomer, the speaker in this poem had shown his unconcern to the mixed explanations to astronomy. To reinforce the clammy atmosphere here, Whitman arranged several professional scripts to meet his purpose, like ‘chart’ and ’diagram’.
The turning point of speaker’s tone was from line seven, when he glided out form his seat and immersed himself in the soothing night. At this part, instead of using professional scripts, Whitman chose to put words like ‘mystical’ and ‘moist’, which seem to be much more romantic to readers, and to reach his purpose of comparison.
Speaking of the structure of “When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer”, the whole poem is proceeded in a straightforward way. I do not think there should make any change.
Basically, I agree with this arrangement for its appropriation. Because only by speaking in a straightforward way can we clearly see the specific changing of the speaker in poem. In this way, we can see through his inner thought without any difficulty. But what if this poem was proceeded in different point of views? Maybe it might take time for readers to get the main concept by guessing the true meaning behind different tones.
Also, as far as I’m concerned, the main intention of Whitman to write this poem is to offer readers the pure pleasure of nature. Due to this concept, it might be a defiant movement for him to confuse the readers by using complicated setting. He must have tried hard to simplify the structure, as simple as possible, to create the primitive atmosphere there. Just like the mother nature.
Though the poet had created the simple structure, he did not reveal the thesis statement explicitly throughout the poem. Instead of showing it directly, he carefully hid it between lines, between the changing of speaker’s tone and his attitude. For example, we can clearly mention the difference of attitude when speaker became sick and tired of the boring lecture of astronomy and the moment he got pleasure form the perfect silent night.
After carefully savoring, not only I want to admire the simple pleasure it gave me, but also I appreciate this poem for giving me food for thought, giving me a new perspective toward life.
It’s true that sometimes when we are in search of truth, we are easily overwhelmed by its countless details and excessively focus on pursuing its formula. Day by day, we forget the basic way to savor a thing, the way we were all blessed with that secretly hide in human nature. That is, savor things around us by out inner spirit.
It is no doubt that Whitman wrote this poem for the whole public, not for only a specific group. Because it perfectly suits everyone in pursuit of something. We might sometimes fall slave to the coloring of lie, which we firmly believe it to be the only truth thus lost on the halfway to reach the pure wisdom. But still we can’t stop searching, the hunger of knowing the truth still violently consume our spirit. I would consider it as a vicious circle.
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