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The Eagle by Alfred Tennyson. An isolated, powerful figure, ready to drop down and seize its prey. Commentary on the poem. The sound is important. Alliteration with the ‘c’. Assonance with the ‘a’. Adds nobility. He clasps the crag with crooked hands;. Hands make him seem human.
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The Eagle by Alfred Tennyson An isolated, powerful figure, ready to drop down and seize its prey. Commentary on the poem http://www.marrasouk.com
The sound is important Alliteration with the ‘c’ Assonance with the ‘a’ Adds nobility He clasps the crag with crooked hands; Hands make him seem human The rock To hold firmly Suggests he owns it What’s the effect of “He?” http://www.marrasouk.com
Consonance - repetition of the ‘l’ and ‘s’ consonants in line 2 The 3 lines in a stanza rhyme He clasps the crag with crooked hands; Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ringed with the azure world, he stands. he doesn't fear the sun’s heat he doesn’t fear solitude ‘azure’ is the heraldic colour blue Simple, direct statement Surrounded by - he’s at the centre Makes him seem noble http://www.marrasouk.com
The eagle strikes from the heavens While he watches from on high? In servitude? emphasis on his superiority The waves Suggests man-made - his castle? The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; He watches from his mountain walls, And like a thunderbolt he falls. Direct statement - no adverb A weapon from a god in most mythology Note the contrast in speed with the earlier”crawls.” Used here as a simile http://www.marrasouk.com
Class discussion: Is the poem ”The Eagle” just a picture of the bird or does it represent something else? steve.neal@marrasouk.co.uk http://www.marrasouk.com