Where Lies the Land

8/3/2019 Where Lies the Land

1/10

Where Lies the Land?Where Lies the Land?

Arthur Hugh CloughArthur Hugh Clough

Marielle GrahamMarielle Graham&&

Kyle OrdKyle Ord


2/10

The poemThe poem

Where lies the land to which the ship would go?Where lies the land to which the ship would go?Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know.Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know.

And where the land she travels from? Away,And where the land she travels from? Away,Far, far behind, is all that they can say.Far, far behind, is all that they can say.

On sunny noons upon the deck's smooth face,On sunny noons upon the deck's smooth face,Link'd arm in arm, how pleasant here to pace;Link'd arm in arm, how pleasant here to pace;Or, o'er the stern reclining, watch belowOr, o'er the stern reclining, watch belowThe foaming wake far widening as we go.The foaming wake far widening as we go.On stormy nights when wild northOn stormy nights when wild north--westers rave,westers rave,How proud a thing to fight with wind and wave!How proud a thing to fight with wind and wave!The dripping sailor on the reeling mastThe dripping sailor on the reeling mastExults to bear, and scorns to wish it past.Exults to bear, and scorns to wish it past.

Where lies the land to which the ship would go?Where lies the land to which the ship would go?Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know.Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know.

And where the land she travels from? Away,And where the land she travels from? Away,Far, far behind, is all that they can say.Far, far behind, is all that they can say.


3/10

Mind map of the proposedMind map of the proposed

meaning of the poemmeaning of the poem

Where lies the land?

Message is positiveAnd remains positivethroughout the poem-any troubled lines end

on a happy note

Mans goal is to steer throughLife smoothly,facing challenges

As they come to him

Greatest strengths shown when timesare challenging

Man should be proudOf his life, of his troubles etc. Strong theme of life

Uncertaintypride


4/10

Biography of Arthur Hugh CloughBiography of Arthur Hugh Clough

1822 family moved to America and his childhood was spent mainly1822 family moved to America and his childhood was spent mainlyin Charleston, South Carolinain Charleston, South Carolina

1828 his brother and he returned to England to complete his1828 his brother and he returned to England to complete hiseducationeducation

Graduated with second class honoursGraduated with second class honours Received a tutorship at Oriel collegeReceived a tutorship at Oriel college He quit in 1848 and travelled to ParisHe quit in 1848 and travelled to Paris Witnessed the French revolution which inspired his long poem; TheWitnessed the French revolution which inspired his long poem; The

Bothie of tabernaBothie of taberna--VuolichVuolich In 1853 he married and wrote no poetry for six yearsIn 1853 he married and wrote no poetry for six years In 1860, with failing health, he travelled around the worldIn 1860, with failing health, he travelled around the world In April 1861 he travelled extensively in which he wrote his last longIn April 1861 he travelled extensively in which he wrote his last long

poem Mari Mangopoem Mari Mango He died in Florence on November 13 1961He died in Florence on November 13 1961


5/10

General ResponseGeneral Response

This poem, Where lies the land? portraysThis poem, Where lies the land? portraysa strong theme of life and the journeya strong theme of life and the journey

one takes through it. Although talkingone takes through it. Although talkingabout and describing mere travels by sea,about and describing mere travels by sea,the poem seems to capture a muchthe poem seems to capture a much

deeper meaningdeeper meaning one of lifes joys andone of lifes joys andtroubles. Its slightly comical how he hastroubles. Its slightly comical how he hasmade something so deep and complex, somade something so deep and complex, solight hearted, relaxed and somewhat easy.light hearted, relaxed and somewhat easy.


6/10

Stanza OneStanza One

The first stanza, has an overall feeling of uncertainty. The first line of theThe first stanza, has an overall feeling of uncertainty. The first line of thepoem, where lies the land to which the ship would go? gives the readerpoem, where lies the land to which the ship would go? gives the readerthe impression that they are sailing into the unknownthe impression that they are sailing into the unknown -- it being a question,it being a question,contributing to readers ambivelance even more so.contributing to readers ambivelance even more so.

The next two lines, Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know. And where theThe next two lines, Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know. And where theland she travels from? Away suggests that one is unaware of what liesland she travels from? Away suggests that one is unaware of what liesahead, with no insight as to what may happen or take place (in both theahead, with no insight as to what may happen or take place (in both thepoem and life)poem and life) but are going along with it anyway. The word seamenbut are going along with it anyway. The word seamenreferring to the more experienced sailors on board, is perhaps implyingreferring to the more experienced sailors on board, is perhaps implyingsome guidance is, and always will be at hand throughout the journey.some guidance is, and always will be at hand throughout the journey.

Far, far behind, is all that they can say implies that even these supposedlyFar, far behind, is all that they can say implies that even these supposedlyknowledgeable seamen with years on board, dont have a clear answer asknowledgeable seamen with years on board, dont have a clear answer asto where they are headed and remain vauge so as to allow the passengersto where they are headed and remain vauge so as to allow the passengersto discover life on their own.to discover life on their own.


7/10

Stanza TwoStanza Two

The second stanza, starts off on a happier note (as opposed to the first,The second stanza, starts off on a happier note (as opposed to the first,which contained much uncertainity) with the first line Sunny noons uponwhich contained much uncertainity) with the first line Sunny noons uponthe decks smooth face implying that all is good. The word smooththe decks smooth face implying that all is good. The word smoothpossibly referring to having no problems or worries, nothing to trouble overpossibly referring to having no problems or worries, nothing to trouble overat the present time.at the present time.

Linked arm in arm, how pleasant here to pace suggests feelings ofLinked arm in arm, how pleasant here to pace suggests feelings oftogetherness, amity and how blissful it is to be in that state of mind. Ittogetherness, amity and how blissful it is to be in that state of mind. Itagain, suggests having nothing or very little to worry about, perhapsagain, suggests having nothing or very little to worry about, perhapsindicating a younger time in ones life.indicating a younger time in ones life.

The last line of this stanza,

The foaming wake far widening as we go

The last line of this stanza,

The foaming wake far widening as we gosuggests that the passengers are perhaps gaining experience, witnessingsuggests that the passengers are perhaps gaining experience, witnessing

their life change before them. This line, gives one the impression that thetheir life change before them. This line, gives one the impression that thepassengers are mere spectators, to the widening of this wakepassengers are mere spectators, to the widening of this wake as if theyas if theyare viewing the situation from an outsiders perspective.are viewing the situation from an outsiders perspective.


8/10

Stanza ThreeStanza Three

The third stanza shows the struggles one can be faced with in life, by theThe third stanza shows the struggles one can be faced with in life, by theboat itself hitting hard timesboat itself hitting hard times managing its way through storms.managing its way through storms.

The first two lines, On stormy nights when wild northThe first two lines, On stormy nights when wild north--westers rave, Howwesters rave, Howproud a thing to fight with the wind and wave seems to be speaking aboutproud a thing to fight with the wind and wave seems to be speaking about

the challenges which are thrown at us in life. Stormy nights referring tothe challenges which are thrown at us in life. Stormy nights referring totroubled times,a proud thing to fight.. referring to us beings. It seems totroubled times,a proud thing to fight.. referring to us beings. It seems tosend out a message of hope, a message of not giving up.send out a message of hope, a message of not giving up.

The dripping sailor on the reeling mast, Exults to bear and scorns to wish itThe dripping sailor on the reeling mast, Exults to bear and scorns to wish itpast give us the impression that although controlling this ship, struggling topast give us the impression that although controlling this ship, struggling tokeep it from losing to the storm, the sailor is proud to be the one doing so.keep it from losing to the storm, the sailor is proud to be the one doing so.This meaning that even though life is difficult, we should be proud to call itThis meaning that even though life is difficult, we should be proud to call itours, we should be proud to be in controlours, we should be proud to be in control even if sometimes we feel as ifeven if sometimes we feel as if

were not. Exults to bear and scorns to wish it past means that the sailor,were not. Exults to bear and scorns to wish it past means that the sailor,although doing something both pysically and mentally taxing, wouldnt wishalthough doing something both pysically and mentally taxing, wouldnt wishthe storm awaythe storm away for the exhiliration, thrill and challenge of it. The messagefor the exhiliration, thrill and challenge of it. The messagehere, is that we should try to enjoy whatever is thrown at us in life,here, is that we should try to enjoy whatever is thrown at us in life,regardless how hard the task is.regardless how hard the task is.


9/10

Stanza FourStanza Four

Stanza four is a repitition of stanza one.Stanza four is a repitition of stanza one. This brings back that feeling of uncertaintiny which came across in the firstThis brings back that feeling of uncertaintiny which came across in the first

stanza. Perhaps the point of this repitition is to say that all throughstanza. Perhaps the point of this repitition is to say that all througheverything, from the start of life, through the good times and the bad, theeverything, from the start of life, through the good times and the bad, thetrue meaning of life remains unknown.true meaning of life remains unknown.

This effect this has, is one of slight confusion. The reason being that theThis effect this has, is one of slight confusion. The reason being that thepoing of repeating the first stanza is at first unclear to the reader. Infact,poing of repeating the first stanza is at first unclear to the reader. Infact,this is a very good (and effective!) ending to the poemthis is a very good (and effective!) ending to the poem simply because itssimply because itstrue. All through the journey of life, there are questions as to why thingstrue. All through the journey of life, there are questions as to why things

happen the way they do. Nobody has the answershappen the way they do. Nobody has the answers there are only peoplethere are only peoplewho are ahead of us on this voyage who can offer their advice and wisdomwho are ahead of us on this voyage who can offer their advice and wisdomto us embarking upon it, and even they still dont have the answers. Thisto us embarking upon it, and even they still dont have the answers. Thisclosing stanza portrays that very well.closing stanza portrays that very well.


10/10

TaskTask

What effect does the repetition of the firstWhat effect does the repetition of the firstand fourth stanza have on the poem?and fourth stanza have on the poem?

Documents

Where Lies the Land