As I Walked Out One Evening – W.H.Auden Essay Example
As I Walked Out One Evening – W.H.Auden Essay Example

As I Walked Out One Evening – W.H.Auden Essay Example

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The surveyed verse form is "As I Walked Out One Evening" by W. H.

Auden's positions expressed in this poem are suggested to have remained unchanged since the time he wrote it. In contrast to his other poems, this piece was never edited. In this poem, Auden reveals the contrasting perspectives within a romantic relationship through the use of different narrative voices.

The poet personifies the lover's voice and the chiming of the clock in the composition "As I walked out one eventide". The poem is written in a traditional lay form, consisting of 15 quatrain stanzas with an "abcb" rhyme scheme.

The use of masculine end rhymes provides more liberty in expressing voice. These scenes demonstrate the song-like nature of the lay and its lyrical melody. Auden implies that the subjects and theories explored in the poem are bas

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ed on childlike reasoning and understanding. Regarding the structure of the poem, it consists of 15 stanzas divided into three distinct voices. The first and last voices belong to the poet as narrator.

Surrounded by the Lover’s Song and the haunting sound of the clock, the introductory narrative is delivered by the character, W. H.

Auden evokes a sense of nostalgia through a description of a "walk down Bristol Street," a place from his childhood. This reference establishes a tone of reminiscence. Additionally, the contrasting imagery of "crowds upon the pavement" in comparison to what used to be "fields of harvest wheat" highlights the significant changes that have occurred over time. The scene is set by a brimming river.

In the poem, the poet listens to a lover singing about how love has no end. The shift in narrative focu

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from the original character to the Love Song is indicated by the use of upside-down commas. Additionally, the rhythm of the poem deviates from iambic trimeter when the love song begins. The love song is exaggerated and filled with imaginative descriptions and unconventional comparisons, emphasizing the overwhelming affection of an innocent lover.

Auden captures the eldritch ability to love deeply with a suggestion that it will last "till China and Africa meet". He portrays their simplistic and unrealistic mindset through a playful and whimsical tone, starting with the rhyming line "salmon sing in the street". The lover's voice also sabotages the forces of nature, believing their love to be pure and timeless, declaring "in my arms, I hold The Flower of the Ages".

And the first love of the world. This love is described as timeless. The Flower of the Ages refers to the biblical mention of the year when a woman can get married as an adult. In a way, the song suggests that the extraordinariness of love goes beyond human existence.

The text suggests a shift in tone in the 6th stanza, where the focus changes from something small to something greater. The clock and clip personified in the poem seem to criticize the ideals represented by the Lover's Song as they start to "whirr and chime".

The use of onomatopoeia in this text creates a vivid depiction of a forceful and unsettling air current, capable of tearing apart the individuals within its path. Additionally, the air current delivers an icy sensation as it strikes their faces. Through the ringing of the clock, a negative perception of naive love is conveyed, accompanied by a series of guidance

for the lovers. The advice provided by the clock follows a structured pattern across four sessions, addressing us readers in the role of inexperienced lovers.

The text begins with the phrase "O" and uses soft blarney to convey a message. It urges the reader not to be deceived by appearances and highlights the enduring idealism of love expressed through vocal expression despite the passing of time.

"Dip your hands in the water" like washing your face in the morning. Leave behind the exaggerated world of love and return to reality. "Stare, gaze at the basin" and contemplate your past actions and their consequences.

Here is what you have missed: "O expression, expression in the mirror" where you analyze your current ego. Ultimately, "O base."

Stand at the window and see your spouse through the barrier of glass, unclouded and unaffected by barbarous words of a wrangle, in the peace of one's own head.

In looking at the text, it becomes evident that we are all deceivers when it comes to love. Auden, in a somber tone, employs contrasting metaphors to illustrate the detrimental impact of idealistic notions. The mention of the "green valley" and the "appalling snow" suggests that the presence of these ideals will ultimately disrupt any momentary happiness. Auden further asserts that the effects of these ideals, represented by "the glacier knocking in the closet" and "the desert suspiration in the bed," will invade an individual's privacy and comfort.

Possibly, even the place itself can become overpowering. One should interrupt and break it down. Doing so will "open a lane to the land of the dead" where qualities of life we once knew are twisted into a contradictory

universe embodied by stanza 12. However, there is solace in these negative aspects.

Upon awakening in the clip, we will learn the genuine way to love as life consistently validates us, even during times when our focus is excessively on our pain.

Throughout the procedure, the language employed suggests a lack of presence from the first character. However, this viewpoint is contradicted in the last stanza as the "poet" declares, "It happened gradually, as evening approached".

The character has watched the entire clip and now has a deeper understanding of their love for the "brimming river". However, the loop won't start from the clock's location.

H. Auden explores different viewpoints on love through the use of displacing narrative voices, enabling readers to see diverse perspectives and emotions. This technique highlights how one person's version of truth may be interpreted differently by another.

Society frequently distorts the way we perceive a love affair because our individual opinions are often influenced by personal biases.

This poem adopts a sarcastic tone towards society. People often deceive and lie, even to themselves, in order to justify their mistakes.

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