Discussion Topic
Analysis of symbolism and rhythm in T.S. Eliot's "Virginia."
Summary:
T.S. Eliot's "Virginia" uses symbolism and rhythm to evoke the serene and timeless nature of the Southern landscape. The poem's rhythmic structure mirrors the gentle flow of the Virginia rivers, while symbols like the magnolia tree and the old plantation house reflect the region's historical and cultural heritage. Together, these elements create a vivid and contemplative portrayal of Virginia's beauty and complexity.
Analyze the rhythm in T.S Eliot's "Virginia."
The poem "Virginia," like the river it depicts, moves steadily onwards. It flows consistently from beginning to end. In seeking to capture the unique rhythms of the river's movement, Eliot resorts to short sentences that convey a sense of restlessness. The river moves; it cannot help but move, so the poem must reflect that movement.
Eliot heightens the rhythm of the poem by emphasizing the dynamic nature of the river at the expense of the stillness in the surrounding environment. Hills are "still", gates "wait", and purple trees and white trees alike "delay, decay". It seems that every part of the world is waiting to see the river run its majestic course.
Eliot's use of rhyme and alliteration is perfectly suited to the dynamism he seeks to convey. There is a certain tension in the air, a pregnant atmosphere , as all the features of the natural landscape wait for...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
the river to flow past. And the examples of rhymes and the examples of alliteration—"Slow flow heat is silence"—encapsulate that unique combination of stillness and movement which is the feature of every river.
Though the river may appear still, it is also moving. The speaker's excited response to the river, like that of the natural world around him, is also still, yet moving as he beholds this majestic sight. On the surface, he may appear still, but inside he's feeling rather emotional. Those emotions are conveyed by the rising, lilting rhythm of the poem.
References
Analyze the symbolism in T.S. Eliot's poem "Virginia."
T.S. Eliot's poem "Virginia" describes a red river in Virginia, reddened by the iron in the clay soil. The river functions as a symbol of stasis or inactivity. Unlike most rivers, which are described as flowing, the speaker depicts this river using the imagery of stagnation: it is "slow flow," silent, and "still." The word "wait" is repeated four times, as if the scene has come to an utter standstill. Hills, gates, and trees "wait." The river's stagnation puts the entire landscape into stasis. The river is also associated with "delay" and "decay."
In contrast to the river, the mockingbird symbolizes movement, though it is only "heard once."
The stasis of the river can also be read as symbolizing the inactivity of the speaker's creative process, which, like the river, does not seem to be flowing. Like the river, the speaker is waiting, only receiving a moment of inspiration from the mockingbird—and a mockingbird's song is imitative. This suggests the movement the mockingbird symbolizes is not original thought but the echo of someone else's thoughts.
At the end, the speaker's creativity, associated with the river as "iron thoughts," begins to flow again. The thoughts go from "never moving" to "ever moving." The ending is ambiguous: do the thoughts that "came" with the speaker and "go" with him represent new ideas or simply the flow of what was already there? Whatever the case, the speaker's creative thoughts are flowing again by the poem's end, if slowly.