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Comment 4 of 4, added on April 16th, 2008 at 7:22 PM.
i disagree on what the "playthings" symbolize.
i think it has more to do with the unknowable future. will the child enjoy
the new plaything? it is unknowable to him. as for the other plaything
analogy, it is more the taking away of abilities one was once able to do
and as one ages, one begins to lose these things. although they are not as
able as they used to be, it is easier to cling on to known "broken" things
then to submit to unknowable, perhaps wonderful things (i.e. heaven, the
afterlife) but it is inevitable so one may not be able to completely accept
it, but one must come at least partially to terms with uncertain death
leah from United States
Comment 3 of 4, added on May 5th, 2007 at 10:12 PM.
This is an Italian sonnet, which can be divided into two sections, lines
1-8; 9-14, Each focusing on one idea, the first idea with pity, the second
with hope.
Xiuxiu from China
Comment 2 of 4, added on February 28th, 2006 at 8:35 AM.
It was awsome!!.
Chris from United States
Comment 1 of 4, added on January 5th, 2006 at 8:53 PM.
Let me just say I've never heard of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow before I
read this poem so I'm not all too familiar with his work or style of
poetry. But i loved it so much that i had to share my thoughts. But it's
entirely possible that my interpretation is "wrong" yet at the same time I
think that the theme revolving around this poem is universal.
This poem is based on the theme of death. inferring from the context or the
words that are given, it's clear that the auther must be trying to convey a
message and must be comparing something to what's shown (obviously) After
the first few lines we see that the writer is teeling of a child who
doesn't want to stop playing with his toys and go to bed even though he
knows he must.
Now what I believe the deeper meaning behind the poem is that it's largely
based on either death OR the passing of time, (albeit granted the two are
related.. so nvm scratch that.. its based on death. Evidence for my
interpretation: "half willing, half reluctant to be led and leave his
broken playthings on the floor" Now I believe the broken playthings
symbolize past experiences and/or things that one might regret before an
imminent death. Additionally, the lines "Nature deals with us and takes
away Our playthings one by one" again emphasizes the symbolism behind death
by saying Nature (death is natural) takes away our past experiences (which
again is being compared to playthings)
The last line "How far the unknown transcends the what we know" is only
conveying the fact that before we die we have no idea what our "life" will
be like or how it will change. But once we die we will understand what the
afterlife is truly like.
Moreover, this last line reveals to some extent the reason why Hendry W.
Longfellow chose to specifically compare a child relucant to go to sleep
(or rather, sleep in itself) to death because this poet must have a strong
belief in that we dont all just expire, disintegrate and rot after we die
and that's it. that there is indeed a life after death.
anyways, that's my literary analysis
Peace amigos
Teddy from United States
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i disagree on what the "playthings" symbolize.
i think it has more to do with the unknowable future. will the child enjoy
the new plaything? it is unknowable to him. as for the other plaything
analogy, it is more the taking away of abilities one was once able to do
and as one ages, one begins to lose these things. although they are not as
able as they used to be, it is easier to cling on to known "broken" things
then to submit to unknowable, perhaps wonderful things (i.e. heaven, the
afterlife) but it is inevitable so one may not be able to completely accept
it, but one must come at least partially to terms with uncertain death
leah from United States