Sonnet XII. To Mrs. Siddons by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

Sonnet XII. To Mrs. Siddons

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

Sonnet XII. To Mrs. Siddons

As when a child on some long winter's night

Affrighted clinging to its Grandam's knees

With eager wond'ring and perturbed delight

Listens strange tales of fearful dark decrees

Muttered to wretch by necromantic spell;

Or of those hags, who at the witching time

Of murky midnight ride the air sublime,

And mingle foul embrace with fiends of Hell:

Cold Horror drinks its blood! Anon the tear

More gentle starts, to hear the Beldame tell

Of pretty babes, that loved each other dear,

Murdered by cruel Uncle's mandate fell:

Ev'n such the shiv'ring joys thy tones impart,

Ev'n so thou, Siddons! meltest my sad heart!

 

Summary

The speaker begins by comparing his emotional experience to that of a child sitting through a long, cold winter night. This child clings fearfully to his grandmother’s knees while she tells eerie and fantastical tales. The child is filled with both wonder and fear, listening to stories about terrifying destinies and dark magical spells spoken over unfortunate people by necromancers (sorcerers).

These tales also involve witches—described as “hags”—who ride through the night sky at midnight, the traditional “witching hour.” These witches are said to consort with devils or demons, engaging in terrible and grotesque acts. The child is so horrified by these stories that he feels his blood run cold.

But suddenly, the tone of the story shifts, and a gentler tear arises when the grandmother begins recounting a sorrowful tale. This time, it’s about innocent children, who loved each other deeply, being murdered at the order of their cruel uncle. This new story moves the child not with fear, but with a sorrowful compassion.

After painting this picture, the speaker turns to Mrs. Siddons, the famous tragic actress. He says that her voice and performance bring about the same chilling thrills and emotional shifts as the tales told to the frightened child. Just as the child’s heart was moved from horror to tenderness, Coleridge too feels his heart stirred and softened by Mrs. Siddons' artful portrayal of deep, emotional scenes.

 

Analysis in Detail

Context & Subject

Sarah Siddons (1755–1831) was a celebrated tragic actress of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, known especially for her role as Lady Macbeth. Coleridge, deeply moved by her powerful performances, dedicates this sonnet to her, describing the intense emotional effect her acting has on him. This poem praises her ability to awaken both horror and tender sympathy in her audience.

 

Theme

The central theme is the emotional power of art and performance, especially in how tragedy can evoke both fear and compassion. Coleridge explores how art—particularly Siddons’ tragic acting—can stir a wide spectrum of human emotion, from terror to tenderness.

 

Imagery & Symbolism

The sonnet opens with gothic imagery: a child on a cold winter night clinging to his grandmother, listening to chilling stories about witches, spells, and fiends. These vivid pictures evoke supernatural horror and childlike vulnerability. The comparison to a child’s reaction helps illustrate the depth of Coleridge’s emotional response to Siddons’ acting—it’s not just admiration, but a visceral, almost primal experience.

"necromantic spell" and "fiends of Hell": Emphasize the dark, mysterious, and fear-inducing qualities in both the grandmother’s tales and Siddons’ roles.

"Cold Horror drinks its blood!": A metaphor that shows how fear can physically affect someone, possibly causing chills or paleness—much like the speaker’s own reaction to Siddons.

Later, the imagery shifts to sentimental tragedy with the tale of "pretty babes" murdered by their "cruel Uncle." This likely alludes to the story of the Princes in the Tower, reinforcing the tragic themes Siddons might have performed on stage.

 

Emotional Tone

The poem moves through a range of emotional tones:

Fear and suspense in the first eight lines (the octave), mirroring the effect of dark stories or intense scenes on the audience.

Pity and sadness in the last six lines (the sestet), reflecting the more tender side of tragedy and the empathy it evokes.

Coleridge masterfully captures this emotional duality, showing how Mrs. Siddons brings her audience through a full emotional journey.

 

Role of Mrs. Siddons

Mrs. Siddons is not just a great actress in this sonnet; she is a magician of emotion, capable of melting even the poet’s sad heart. Her ability to portray both horror and tenderness gives her a unique and almost supernatural power over the feelings of her audience.

By likening her effect to that of a grandmother’s storytelling, Coleridge elevates her role—not only as a performer but also as a custodian of emotional truth, someone who connects generations through shared feelings of fear, sorrow, and compassion.

 

Form and Structure

Form: A Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet, composed of an octave (first 8 lines) and a sestet (last 6 lines).

Rhyme Scheme: The sonnet follows the pattern ABABABAB CDCDCD.

The volta (or turn) occurs at line 9, where the mood shifts from eerie horror to tender sorrow, reflecting the transition in the types of stories and the emotional response.

 

Literary Devices

Simile: “As when a child…”—a long simile that spans the entire poem, comparing the speaker’s emotions to those of a child hearing ghost stories.

Alliteration: “muttered to wretch by necromantic spell” and “cold horror drinks its blood”—adds musicality and emphasis.

Personification: “Cold Horror drinks its blood!”—horror is given life-like qualities to heighten the drama.

Juxtaposition: The horror of witches is set against the pathos of innocent children’s deaths—showing the range of Siddons’ tragic portrayals.

 

Final Thought

Coleridge’s sonnet is both a tribute and a testament to the transformative power of performance. Mrs. Siddons becomes a symbol of the actor as emotional conduit, capable of stirring the deepest fears and the softest sorrows. The poet’s heart is both chilled and melted—a reflection of how tragedy in art does not only frighten, but also humanizes.

 

Paraphrase

1. As when a child on some long winter's night

👉 Just like a child on a long, cold winter night,

 

2. Affrighted clinging to its Grandam's knees

👉 Terrified, clings tightly to their grandmother's knees,

 

3. With eager wond'ring and perturbed delight

👉 Feeling a mix of curiosity and uneasy excitement,

 

4. Listens strange tales of fearful dark decrees

👉 While listening to eerie stories of terrifying, mysterious fates,

 

5. Muttered to wretch by necromantic spell;

👉 Told about people cursed by dark magical spells,

 

6. Or of those hags, who at the witching time

👉 Or of witches, who during the spooky midnight hour,

 

7. Of murky midnight ride the air sublime,

👉 Ride through the dark sky, high above the ground,

 

8. And mingle foul embrace with fiends of Hell:

👉 And have evil, horrifying meetings with demons from Hell—

 

9. Cold Horror drinks its blood!

👉 The child's blood runs cold in fear!

 

10. Anon the tear

👉 But then suddenly, a tear begins to fall,

 

11. More gentle starts, to hear the Beldame tell

👉 A softer, more emotional tear, as the old woman (grandmother) tells

 

12. Of pretty babes, that loved each other dear,

👉 About sweet, loving children who cared deeply for one another,

 

13. Murdered by cruel Uncle's mandate fell:

👉 But were tragically killed on the cruel orders of their uncle.

 

14. Ev'n such the shiv'ring joys thy tones impart,

👉 That same kind of chilling yet moving feeling your voice creates,

 

15. Ev'n so thou, Siddons! meltest my sad heart!

👉 That’s exactly how you, Mrs. Siddons, deeply touch and melt my sorrowful heart!