A Hymn to the Night

Another poem that I decide to include in my paper is A Hymn To The Night by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. What caught my eye is that this poem has a similar theme to the previous poem that it did. It emphasizes the beauty of nature and night by comparing it to a gorgeous lover. The poem’s main purpose revolves around the major technique the author uses: Personification and metaphor. Longfellow is comparing the majestic presence of night to a lover and giving it human qualities such as wearing “trailing garments” and “sable skirts”. The theme of this poem is darkness isn’t what is seems. Many people view darkness as negative and fear, but the truth is that we don’t always look beyond what is given. The night can be a peaceful time when the soul rest and we have to admire the beauty within the dark. Darkness is the lover or someone who loves after us and provides us with peace and tranquility.

       This poem is taking more of a romantic approach to nature and the darkness. The tone in this poem is interrelated with the paradox. It is dark and cynical yet delightful and has a positive feeling. It’s like enjoying a short hike through the woods on a warm spring night compared to walking through a dark and windy path through a graveyard at night. You get a more positive feeling instead of focusing on the negative side. That is what the author is trying to convey. These lines “sounds of sorrow and delight that fills that haunted chambers of night” are related to the paradox. It seems contradictory but works well with the atmosphere and tone the author creates to give the readers a sense of peace and beauty the night provides.

       This poem reminds me of Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day…” In sonnet 18, Shakespeare is demonstrating his love towards his lover by comparing her to the warm summer day and its charming sunshine. Longfellow and Shakespeare are two great poets who admire nature the same way as their lover.