Poetry Group
Question:
ranawy
Student
College - Junior
Please explain the meaning of the capitalized words in the poem below, "Hymn on Solitude":
HAIL,mildly pleasing SOLITUDE,
companion of the wise and good
but,from whose holy,PIERCING eye
the herd of fools,and VILLAINS fly
oh how i love with thee to walk
and listen to thy whisperd talk
which innocence,and truth IMPARTS
and melts the most OBDURATE hearts
Answers:
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kc4u Teacher
College - SenioreNotes Editor
Posted by kc4u on Saturday June 6, 2009 at 9:32 AMThe poem is in the form of an address to Solitude, it being personified.
HAIL:it means 'to call/greet somebody from a distance'. The poet here calls Solitude to whom the rest of the poem is addressed.
SOLITUDE:an abstract noun meaning 'solitariness' or 'the state of being lonely'. Here it is being personified to become a living presence.
PIERCING:it is an adjective meaning sharp/penetrating. Here it qualifies the noun 'eye'--an eye having a sharp & penetrating vision.
VILLAINS:the word means wicked/roguish persons. Here the poet believes that the persons who are wicked try to escape the insightful vision of Solitude.
IMPARTS: to impart is to give a part of/to inform or instruct. Here the poet imagines that the whispering voice of Solitude gives us truth. OBDURATE: it means 'hardened' or 'stubborn'. Here it is used as an adjective for 'hearts'. The poet refers to the most hard-hearted people who are also softened by the truth imparted by Solitude.
