Loneliness: Nature's Dark Reflections in Tu Fu's Poem

“LONELINESS” By Tu FU

Nature Imagery • “A hawk hovers in air” (1) • Predator

Nature Imagery • “Two white gulls float on the stream” (2) • Prey • Easy target because of floating • Reminiscent of “Substance, Shadow & Spirit” • “Drift on the stream of infinite flux” • This poem demonstrates it is dangerous to drift

Nature Imagery • “Soaring with the wind, it is easy/ To drop and seize/ Birds who foolishly drift with the current.” (3-5) • “opposite message of “Substance, Shadow & Spirit” • To drift=death

Nature Imagery • “Where the dew sparkles in the grass/ The spider’s web waits for its prey” (6-7) • Irony • Sparkling dew • Pleasant, pleasing, peaceful image • Spider’s web awaiting prey • Disturbing, dangerous image • Death is found everywhere in nature

THEME • “The processes of nature resemble the business of men./ I stand alone with ten thousand sorrows” (8-9) • Processes of nature=business of men

THEME • Based on this poem, what is the poet saying about the processes of nature? • Destructive • Dangerous • Brutal

THEME • Therefore, these negative views of nature symbolize the poet’s perception of humanity • Result: • Loneliness (remember the title) • Ten thousand sorrows

Loneliness: Nature's Dark Reflections in Tu Fu's Poem