Analysis of The Initiation
Edward Dowden 1843 (Cork) – 1913
UNDER the flaming wings of cherubim
I moved toward that high altar. O, the hour!
And the light waxed intenser, and the dim
Low edges of the hills and the grey sea
Were caught and captur’d by the present Power,
My sureties and my witnesses to be.
Then the light drew me in. Ah, perfect pain!
Ah, infinite moment of accomplishment!
Thou terror of pure joy, with neither wane
Nor waxing, but long silence and sharp air
As womb-forsaking babes breathe. Hush! the event
Let him who wrought Love’s marvellous things declare.
Shall I who fear’d not joy, fear grief at all?
I on whose mouth Life laid his sudden lips
Tremble at Death’s weak kiss, and not recall
That sundering from the flesh, the flight from time,
The judgements stern, the clear apocalypse,
The lightnings, and the Presences sublime.
How came I back to earth? I know not how,
Nor what hands led me, nor what words were said.
Now all things are made mine,—joy, sorrow; now
I know my purpose deep, and can refrain;
I walk among the living, not the dead;
My sight is purged; I love and pity men.
Scheme | ABACBC DXDEXE FGFAGA HIHDIX |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 10010111 110111101010 00111001 1101010011 0101101010 110110011 1011101011 11001010100 1101111101 1101110011 11010111001 111111101 1111111111 1111111101 101111011 111010111 010101010 0100010001 1111111111 1111111101 1111111101 1111010101 1101010101 1111110101 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,136 |
Words | 196 |
Sentences | 15 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 6, 6, 6 |
Lines Amount | 24 |
Letters per line (avg) | 34 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 204 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 48 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 58 sec read
- 70 Views
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