"Eldorado"
by Edger Allen Poe
Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
But he grew old-
This knight so bold-
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow-
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be-
This land of Eldorado?"
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied-
"If you seek for Eldorado!"
Definitions: Bedight : to array or adorn
Eldorado : an imaginary city of gold; sought by 16th century explorers in South America
THESIS: POE USES IMAGERY, REPETITION AND ALLEGORY TO TELL STATE HIS VIEWS ON TRIAL, TRIBULATION AND THE CONQUEST OVER THE JOURNEY OF LIFE.
1. HOW DOES THE POEM'S RHYTHM AFFECT ITS OVER ALL MOOD? DOES IT SEEM SAD AND TRAGIC?
2. DO YOU THINK THE KNIGHT CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ELDORADO ISN'T A PHYSICAL PLACE BY HIMSELF AND IMAGINES THE SHADOW, OR DOES POE MEAN IT TO BE AN ACTUAL PERSON?
3. WHAT DO YOU THINK POE MEANS WHEN HE SAYS "A PILGRIM SHADOW?"
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK ELDORADO AND THE KNIGHT'S SEARCH SYMBOLIZE?
5. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SHADOW MEANS WHEN IT SAYS TO RIDE BOLDLY TO ELDORADO AFTER IT SAYS IT IS ON THE MOON? HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO QUESTION 4?
I agree with the rhythm of the poem sounding like horse hooves. I think the poet did this because to find Eldorado, there was a journey made, and maybe it was made by horseback.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on presenting ! It is very interesting poem , it reminds me of the movie Indiana Johns except they look for skulls instead of gold. I think that the meaning of this poem is that you never give up even though it is tough trying to achieve what you want.
ReplyDelete1. HOW DOES THE POEM'S RHYTHM AFFECT ITS OVER ALL MOOD? DOES IT SEEM SAD AND TRAGIC?
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Ali said about the rhythm of the poem. This is something I wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't pointed out in the class discussion. When I read it over again with the "horse hooves" effect in mind, it doesn't sound sad or tragic at all. It sounds upbeat, and I think the upbeat mood almost overrides the solemn nature of some of the words in this case.