Preview

Poem "Lucifer in the Starlight": New Meanings and Ideas

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
794 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Poem "Lucifer in the Starlight": New Meanings and Ideas
Poem "Lucifer in the Starlight": New Meanings and Ideas

Examining a poem in detail can bring out new meanings and ideas. By careful analysis, the full beauty of the poem can be appreciated. The poem
"Lucifer in Starlight (p. 959)", by George Meredith, can be analyzed to refine the authors purpose, by examining every subtle hint, every possibility, for a deeper theme. Also, "deciphering" formal literary techniques such as metaphor, connotation, and symbolism is the key to unlock other expressions. The main theme of the poem is that Lucifer has no place out of his hell, and anything he tries to reenter heaven is futile. As with any poem, it is best to first examine how the title, "Lucifer in Starlight" relates to the body of the poem. Obviously, Lucifer is the defiant angel that was banished from heaven, and sent to the underworld of hell, where he known as Satan. The title refers to the devil as "in starlight", so this means he has to rise to a place where the stars are visible, not the fires of hell. This rising from the underworld is summed up in the first line. It is later explained that he is doing so because he is tired of his ‘dark dominion." Ironically, the first line refers to Lucifer honorably, as a "Prince", while in the second line he is tagged as a fiend. This leaves the reader feeling perplexed, yet still thinking of Lucifer as the enemy.
At first it may seem as Lucifer has risen to the Earth, but it is further clarified that he has elevated himself above the "rolling ball". However, god imagined the world as planar, with heaven on a higher plane, and hell on a lower plane, not spherical as defined here. From his place in the stars above earth,
Lucifer looks down through the clouds, and observes the sinners. He is talking about the denizens of the earth, for since Adam sinned in the beginning, all of his sons and daughters are also sinners. Perhaps he can relate to them, as he is also trying for entrance to heaven. For now , he sets his mind on

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Unit 2 M2 Analysis

    • 44 Words
    • 1 Page

    With the change in M2/M1 ratio, inflammatory cytokines production is increased and is also caused dysfunction in adipose tissue and glucose tolerance. With the change in M2/M1 ratio, inflammatory cytokines production is increased and is also caused dysfunction in adipose tissue and glucose…

    • 44 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The passage describes his impression of the sun as a mix of amazement and jealousy saying, “The golden sun in splendour likest Heaven / Allured his eye” (3.572-573). Since the sun is a metaphor for God, Satan’s jealously is actually of God and he may even regret leaving the comfort of Heaven for the darkness of Hell. The most telling lines, though, appear at the very end of the passage through a description of how the sun benefits the earth. The passage says, “By his magnetic beam, that gently warms / The universe, and to each inward part / With gentle penetration, though unseen, / Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep: / So wondrously was set his station bright” (3.583-587). The words in this quote personify the sun in a way that can be directly correlated with God. As the sun physically warms the earth, God warms the earth with His love. Satan continues to live in the darkness of Hell, as far away as possible from the sun and the…

    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world, and first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and spangled heaven; and he will see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day (22)?…

    • 1391 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Satanic imagery of ‘devil’, positions the creature as evil and through the rhetorical question and exclamation, we learn of his aggressive and…

    • 1034 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Satan’s soliloquy in Book 4 develops his character through self-reflection, elucidating his many complex characteristics and emotions. While Satan is portrayed as a rather humane protagonist thus far, his motives, beliefs, and fears are not explained and thus, only allowed for a one-dimensional interpretation. During Satan’s soliloquy in Book 4, however, he finally reflects upon himself, revealing his motives, fears, and doubts and thus, enriching his character.…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The great lion of a man, Lucifer himself succumbs to a brain tumor debilitating his body and slowly destroying his mind and will to live. The once great man was now dying as a vegetable and it didn’t seem fit for a way for a king to die.…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hell is a location where its inmates will be punished without any hope of relief, for eternity. Among those punished will be Satan,…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Now when this horrible Lucifer, as a tyrant and raging spoiler of all that is good, shewed himself thus terribly, as if he would kindle and destroy all, and bring all under his jurisdiction, then all the heavenly hosts and armies were against him, and he also against them all; there now the fight began, for all stood most terribly, one party against another.…

    • 2747 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    He means to kill the Devil himself, and brags with confidence that this shall be an easy task.…

    • 879 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Night Reading Journal

    • 2026 Words
    • 9 Pages

    “ Night. No one Prayed, so that the night would pass Quickly. The stars were only sparks of the fire which devoured us. Should that fire die out one day, there would be nothing left in the sky but dead stars, dead eyes.” (18)…

    • 2026 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    When Paradise Lost begins, the vainglorious actions of Satan have resulted in his removal from heaven and placed him on the path to exact revenge against those who have done so. Though, the reader is hardly able to experience any distaste when reading about this man who opposes the consented force of good. He is are charming, dark, fanatical and…

    • 2358 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    "A fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face!" (page 119-120)…

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    So he cannot be directly considered among the damned ones but for the devil forces, instead he deserves the sympathy and understanding of the others. But all these, he fails to win from his relatives and society as a consequence angularities and psychic disorders become a part of his character.…

    • 1320 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Everyone, at least once in their lifetime, has been an advocate for the bad guy; whether it would be Heith Ledger, playing the Joker, verses Batman or the innocent Satan verses the tyrant God. John Milton does a fantastic job in letting his audience observe Satan in a new manner that one has not analyzed before. Milton portrays Satan as the most likable character in Paradise Lost, yet he is thought of being the foulest individual in the social realm. Satan stands above the rest of the characters in the poem, a once archangel casted out of heaven, trying to find his way in the universe. Although he is depicted as the most sentimental character of the poem, Satan is still the profound angel that society recognizes him as today. Milton’s exclusive…

    • 1671 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    He initially rebels against being subjugated to rule just as America did with Great Britain. Following this revolution, he inspires his fellow renegades and unites them together. In an act of bravery he volunteers to go on a dangerous mission to infiltrate his enemy’s camp. In order to achieve this feat he patiently examines the best possible way to engage in his attack. Once embarked on this mission he stumbles upon a creation of his enemy. In this instant he shows compassion by releasing the truth about a fruit they are prohibited from eating. He calms their worries by assuring their safety as he no longer want his rival to hurt them any further. It is because of these deeds that Satan is the esteemed hero in Paradise…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays