Zapolya (excerpts) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

Zapolya (excerpts)

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

Zapolya (excerpts)

 

Song

 

(Act II, Scene I, lines 65-80)

 

A sunny shaft did I behold,

From sky to earth it slanted :

And poised therein a bird so bold—

Sweet bird, thou wert enchanted !

 

He sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled

Within that shaft of sunny mist ;

His eyes of fire, his beak of gold,

All else of amethyst !

 

And thus he sang : `Adieu ! adieu !

Love's dreams prove seldom true.

The blossoms they make no delay :

The sparkling dew-drops will not stay.

Sweet month of May,

[Image] We must away ;

[Image][Image] Far, far away !

[Image][Image][Image] To-day ! to-day !'

 

——————————————

 

Hunting Song

 

(Act IV, Scene II, lines 56-71)

 

Up, up ! ye dames, ye lasses gay !

To the meadows trip away.

'Tis you must tend the flocks this morn,

And scare the small birds from the corn.

Not a soul at home may stay :

[Image]For the shepherds must go

[Image]With lance and bow

To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day.

 

Leave the hearth and leave the house

To the cricket and the mouse :

Find grannam out a sunny seat,

With babe and lambkin at her feet.

Not a soul at home must stay :

[Image]For the shepherds must go

[Image]With lance and bow

To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day.

 

Summary

 

Song (Act II, Scene I, lines 65-80)

The speaker describes seeing a bright, slanting shaft of sunlight stretching from the sky to the earth. Inside this shaft of light, there is a bold, enchanting bird. The bird moves gracefully within the sunbeam—sometimes sinking, rising, twinkling, and singing melodiously. The bird’s eyes shine like fire, its beak gleams like gold, and its feathers appear as if made of amethyst. The bird sings a farewell song, saying "Adieu! adieu!" It warns that dreams of love often prove false. It observes that the blossoms bloom quickly without delay, and the sparkling dew-drops disappear fast. The bird addresses the sweet month of May, urging to leave immediately and go far away, emphasizing the urgency by repeating "To-day! to-day!"

 

Hunting Song (Act IV, Scene II, lines 56-71)

This is a lively call to the women and girls to rise early and go to the meadows. Their task is to tend to the flocks and to scare away small birds that might eat the corn. The song stresses that no one should stay home because the shepherds must leave for the day. The shepherds are going out to hunt wolves in the woods, armed with lances and bows. The women are told to leave the hearth and their houses to the cricket and mouse and to find an elderly woman ("grannam") a sunny place to sit, with a baby and lamb by her side. The song repeats that no one should remain at home because the shepherds are off hunting wolves in the woods today.

 

Analysis in Detail

Song (Act II, Scene I, lines 65-80)

This passage centers on a striking and enchanting image of a bird poised within a shaft of sunlight. The imagery is vivid and rich, with the bird’s eyes described as "fire," its beak "gold," and feathers likened to "amethyst." These precious and vibrant images evoke a sense of beauty, mysticism, and otherworldliness, suggesting the bird symbolizes something magical or supernatural.

The bird’s movement—sinking, rising, twinkling, and trolling (singing playfully)—within the sunlight adds a dynamic and lively quality to the scene. The shaft of sunlight itself may symbolize clarity, revelation, or divine presence, framing the bird as a messenger or an enchanted being.

The song of the bird is a farewell, bidding "Adieu! adieu!" and delivering a somewhat melancholic message about the nature of love and time. The phrase "Love’s dreams prove seldom true" expresses a realistic, even pessimistic view on romantic idealism, implying that love’s hopeful visions often end in disappointment. The rapid blooming of blossoms and the fleeting dew-drops emphasize the swift passage of time and fleeting nature of beauty and innocence.

The repeated call to depart “To-day! to-day!” injects urgency and a sense of inevitable change or transition. The bird’s address to the "sweet month of May" connects this to springtime, a season traditionally symbolic of growth, renewal, and love, yet here also marked by departure and impermanence. This contrast may underscore themes of loss and the bittersweet passage from youthful dreams to harsh reality.

 

Hunting Song (Act IV, Scene II, lines 56-71)

This excerpt is a lively, rhythmic call to action, directed primarily at women and girls, instructing them to leave their homes and tend the flocks. The tone here is brisk and communal, emphasizing shared responsibility and the division of labor within the rural or pastoral setting.

The contrast between the domestic and wild is notable. Women and girls are entrusted with home duties—caring for flocks and protecting crops by scaring birds—while the men (shepherds) must leave to hunt wolves, a dangerous predator threatening their community. This division symbolizes traditional gender roles and the dangers lurking beyond the safety of home.

The repeated phrases like "Not a soul at home may stay" and "For the shepherds must go... to hunt the wolf in the woods today" create a rhythmic chant, evoking a sense of ritual or communal duty. This also reinforces the seriousness of the shepherds’ task, hunting a real threat to the safety and livelihood of the community.

The imagery of the "hearth" and "house" being left to "the cricket and the mouse" evokes a cozy, quiet domestic scene in contrast to the wild, dangerous woods where the men will face wolves. Inviting “grannam” to a sunny seat with a baby and lambkin emphasizes nurturing and continuity of life, the protection of the vulnerable while others engage in risk.

Overall, the Hunting Song celebrates both the courage of the men going to face danger and the crucial supportive role of women maintaining home life. It underscores themes of community, protection, and the balance between civilization and wilderness.

 

Summary of Key Themes and Devices:

Imagery and Symbolism: Both excerpts use vivid natural imagery to highlight themes of beauty, change, and danger. The enchanted bird in sunlight symbolizes fleeting beauty and melancholy; the hunting scene contrasts domestic safety and wild danger.

 

Themes:

Transience and impermanence (Song’s farewell and fleeting dew/dreams).

Division of labor and community roles (Hunting Song).

Reality vs. idealism (love’s dreams vs. harsh truths).

The tension between safety (home) and risk (woods/wolves).

 

Tone:

Song is melancholic, reflective, and urgent.

Hunting Song is energetic, communal, and purposeful.

 

Literary Devices:

Repetition for emphasis and rhythm (“Adieu! adieu!”, “Not a soul at home may stay”).

Personification (the bird singing, the hearth left to cricket and mouse).

Alliteration and internal rhyme add musicality (“sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled”).

 

Key Exam Points

Vivid Imagery: The poem uses rich, colorful imagery—such as the bird’s “eyes of fire” and “beak of gold”—to create a magical, almost supernatural atmosphere.

Symbolism of the Bird: The enchanted bird symbolizes fleeting beauty, transience, and the bittersweet nature of love and dreams.

Theme of Transience: Both excerpts highlight the fleeting nature of time and experience—whether through the bird’s song warning that “love’s dreams prove seldom true” or the urgency of leaving “to-day.”

Tone Contrast: The Song is melancholic and reflective, while the Hunting Song is energetic, communal, and directive, showing different moods within the play.

Division of Roles: The Hunting Song highlights traditional gender roles—women tend flocks and protect crops, while men hunt predators—reflecting social structure and cooperation.

Use of Repetition: Repeated lines (“Adieu! adieu!” and “Not a soul at home may stay”) emphasize urgency and importance, and create musicality.

Natural Setting: Both songs are grounded in a pastoral, rural setting, connecting human emotions and duties closely with nature and the changing seasons.

Underlying Themes: The tension between innocence and experience, safety and danger, love and disillusionment, home and wilderness.

These points capture the essential literary and thematic features that are often asked about in exams on Romantic poetry or Coleridge’s works. Let me know if you want these expanded or tailored for a specific exam style!

 

Revision Sheet

In Zapolya, Coleridge uses vivid and striking imagery to create an enchanted and pastoral atmosphere. The Song (Act II, Scene I) describes a magical bird perched in a shaft of sunlight. This bird, with its fiery eyes, golden beak, and amethyst feathers, symbolizes fleeting beauty and the bittersweet nature of love. The bird’s song is a melancholic farewell, warning that love’s dreams often end in disappointment and emphasizing how quickly time passes through images like blooming blossoms and disappearing dew. The urgent repetition of “To-day! to-day!” highlights the inevitability of change and departure, underscoring the theme of transience and the passage of time.

In contrast, the Hunting Song (Act IV, Scene II) adopts a lively, rhythmic tone. It calls the women and girls to leave their homes and tend to the flocks while the men prepare to hunt wolves threatening their community. This song reflects traditional social roles and the balance between domestic safety and wild danger. The imagery contrasts the cozy domestic setting—with the hearth left to quiet creatures like the cricket and mouse—and the dangerous woods where the men will face wolves. The repeated lines emphasize community duty and the urgency of the task. Overall, the Hunting Song celebrates communal responsibility and the courage needed to protect the settlement.

Both songs emphasize close ties between human life and the natural world, exploring themes such as the impermanence of beauty and love, the division of labor in rural communities, and the constant tension between safety and threat. Coleridge’s use of repetition, musicality, and rich symbolism in these excerpts brings to life the emotional and social dynamics of the play’s setting.

This summary should help you quickly grasp the main points and themes from these excerpts. Let me know if you want a version focused more on quotes or questions for practice!

 

Possible Exam Questions

 

Describe the imagery used in the “Song” from Act II, Scene I of Zapolya. How does Coleridge use this imagery to convey the mood of the poem?

 

What message does the enchanted bird’s song communicate in the Song? How does this reflect the themes of the play?

 

Compare and contrast the tone and mood of the “Song” in Act II, Scene I with the “Hunting Song” in Act IV, Scene II. How does Coleridge create these different atmospheres?

 

Explain the significance of the natural setting in both the Song and the Hunting Song. How do these settings contribute to the overall meaning of the excerpts?

 

How does the Hunting Song reflect the social structure and gender roles in the community portrayed in Zapolya?

 

Discuss the use of repetition in both songs. What effect does repetition have on the reader or listener?

 

What do the references to time and seasons in the Song suggest about human experience and emotion?

 

In what ways do the two songs illustrate the themes of safety versus danger? Provide examples from the text.

 

How does Coleridge use symbolism in the Song to explore ideas about love and loss?

 

Write a brief summary of the “Hunting Song” and explain its role within the broader narrative of Zapolya.