The Brook

The Brook

By Alfred Lord Tennyson

Analysis

·      The poem ‘The Brook is beautifully composed by Alfred Lord Tennyson, the representative poet of Victorian Era of English Literature, who is regarded as the master of creating pen pictures.

·      The poem ‘The Brook’ is one of the most beautiful ‘word pictures’ by A. L. Tennyson

·      It is a philosophical and metaphorical poem. Hence, the tone of the poem is philosophical.

·      The poem contrasts the eternity of nature with mortality of humans. The repeated lines which are a refrain, highlight that humans are mortal, but nature continues forever.

·      The poem presents parallelism between the journey of brook and the journey of life. The brook’s journey from source to river symbolises the journey of life.

·      The poet appreciates the beauty of nature using beautiful words, phrases and through imagery.

·      The poem is composed in a musical and rhythmic style using short lines and flowing rhythm to mimic water movement. 

 

Summary :

The journey of the brook begins with shallow water where the water birds and fish live.

In the beginning, the brook is quick, sudden, energetic and noisy just like a child.

Flowing over stony ways and curved paths, it chatters and often gets tired.

The brook during it journey, takes along all the floating things – flowers, fish, pieces of log, hazel covers etc.

It flows through all the easy and difficult paths (field and fallow) comparing with uncertainty and difficulties of life.

Towards the end, it gets slow and less noisy, which is conveyed through the words – steal, slip, slide, loiter, linger.

At last, by the Philip’s farm it joins the big brimming river and loses its existence to become a part of the big river but continues to flow, conveying the theme that life goes on despite the transience of human life.

 

Line by Line Explanation

Stanza 1

I come from haunts of coot and hern;

I make a sudden sally

And sparkle out among the fern,

To bicker down a valley.

 By thirty hills I hurry down,

 Or slip between the ridges,

By twenty thorpes, a little town,

And half a hundred bridges.

Till last by Philip’s farm I flow

To join the brimming river,

 For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever.

Explanation :
The brook begins telling the story of its journey. It originates from places where water birds like coots and herons live. It suddenly emerges or rushes forward from its source. The water shines brightly as it flows through green plants. Then, it flows noisily and playfully down the valley. Here, the brook is in its young state and behaves like a child. The brook flows quickly past many hills, rills, ridges and bridges. Sometimes, it quietly moves between the land areas such as villages and towns. It passes by many villages and a small town. It flows under many bridges and finally, it reaches the Philip’s Farm. There it merges with an overflowing river and continues to flow along with the river. Here, towards the last three lines of the stanza the poet emphasises the theme that human life is temporary but the brook continues to flow endlessly as nature is eternal.

 

Stanza 2

I chatter over stony ways,

In little sharps and trebles,

I bubble into eddying bays,

I babble on the pebbles.

With many a curve my banks I fret

By many a field and fallow,

And many a fairy foreland set

With willow-weed and mallow.

I chatter, chatter, as I flow

To join the brimming river,

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever

Explanation:

The brook makes a sharp sounds as it flows over the stony ways. It produces high-pitched, musical sounds. It forms circular water movements into the winding bays. It makes soft sounds as it flows over small stones. The brook twists and turns, and gets tired in its curved banks. It flows past the fertile fields and uncultivated lands. It passes beautiful land that looks magical and imaginary like fairy tales. These areas are full of plants, trees and flowers. The brook repeats its cheerful sounds full of mirth and energy as a child in his playtime. It continues its journey towards the river emphasising the theme that humans are mortal and the nature is eternal.

 

Stanza 3

I wind about, and in and out,

With here a blossom sailing,

And here and there a lusty trout,

And here and there a grayling,

And here and there a foamy flake

Upon me, as I travel

With many a silvery waterbreak

Above the golden gravel,

And draw them all along, and flow

To join the brimming river

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever

Explanation:

The brook flows in a twisting and winding path. Flowers float on its surface and strong fish play and fresh water fish swim in it. There are patches of foam on the water due to the playful movements of the fish. Sun makes the water shine as it flows down the big stones and other obstacles. The brook carries everything along with it as the birds, fish and pebbles flow with the force of the brook. It continues its journey towards the river again emphasising the theme that human life is temporary and the brook symbolizes eternity.

 

Stanza 4

I steal by lawns and grassy plots,

 I slide by hazel covers

I move the sweet forget-me-nots

That grow for happy lovers.

I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,

Among my skimming swallows;

I make the netted sunbeam dance

Against my sandy shallows.

I murmur under moon and stars

In brambly wildernesses;

I linger by my shingly bars;

I loiter round my cresses ;

And out again I curve and flow

To join the brimming river,

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever.

 

Explanation :

The brook flows quietly past lawn and other green areas. It moves near hazel trees. It gently touches flowers. These flowers symbolise love and are grown by the lovers. The brook shows different movements—fast, slow, dark, shiny. Birds skim and play in the shallow water. Sunlight reflects beautifully on the water and the sparkling water seems to be reflecting the sun rays and making them dance. Towards the end of its journey the brook makes soft and murmuring sounds at night. It flows through wild bushes along its curved and zigzag banks. It slows near lonely and stony areas. It moves slowly near water plants. The brook keeps moving forward and finally it reaches its destination. It again echoes the theme that human life is short as men take birth and die but nature is eternal. Nature’s continuity is emphasized again through the repeated lines which is a refrain.

 

Themes

• The poem contrasts the eternity of nature with mortality of humans. The repeated lines in the poem highlight that humans are temporary, but nature continues forever.
• The brook’s journey from source to river symbolises the journey of human life from birth to death.
• The poet appreciates the eternity and beauty of Nature.

Message

• Life is temporary, but nature is everlasting.
• Change is constant, and movement is essential to life.