Poetry Group

Question:

ranawy
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

 

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Posted by ranawy on Friday May 22, 2009 at 2:55 AM and tagged with hymn on solitude, james thomson.

Answers:


  1. kc4u Teacher
    College - Senior

    The 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.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/james-thomson-1700-1748-salem/james...

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    Posted by kc4u on Saturday June 6, 2009 at 9:32 AM