This essay analyzes the functions of pastoral imagery in Milton´s poem "Lycidas", which is a pastoral elegy that was written after Edward King died. The term "pastoral imagery" refers to imagery that describes nature and especially shepherds and their way of life. Interestingly, said imagery is not only used to celebrate the deceased and his relationship with the poem´s speaker, but also to criticize the church.
Table of Contents
- Pastoral Imagery
- Flowers
- Shepherd and Sheep
- Pastoral Imagery and Western Literature
- The Image of Edward King
- Criticism of the Church
- The Return to the Pastoral Tone
- Comfort and Future Hope
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay examines the significance of pastoral imagery in John Milton's Lycidas, exploring how it functions beyond mere description to shape the poem's themes, tone, and underlying critique.
- The use of pastoral imagery to express mourning and lament.
- The relationship between pastoral imagery and the homosocial bond of Lycidas and the speaker.
- The deployment of pastoral imagery to critique the Church and its failings.
- The role of pastoral imagery in mediating between different tones and topics within the poem.
- The use of pastoral imagery to offer hope and comfort regarding the future.
Chapter Summaries
- Pastoral Imagery: The essay begins by highlighting the prevalence of flower and shepherd imagery in Lycidas, connecting these symbols to both poetic fame and mourning. The relationship between Lycidas and the speaker is presented as a close bond, further emphasized through pastoral metaphors.
- The Image of Edward King: The essay explores how the image of Edward King as a shepherd contributes to the poem's overall sense of lament, drawing on the idea that nature itself mourns his passing.
- Criticism of the Church: The essay examines how pastoral imagery is used to criticize the Church, presenting it as a negligent shepherd who fails to properly care for his flock. This critique is particularly evident in a passage that uses pastoral imagery to depict the church as greedy and spiritually corrupt.
- The Return to the Pastoral Tone: After the harsh critique of the Church, the essay shows how the poem returns to a traditional pastoral tone through the use of nature imagery and the image of Lycidas's admission back into nature.
- Comfort and Future Hope: The essay concludes by analyzing how pastoral imagery is used to offer comfort and hope for the future, imagining a time when mourning will be over and Lycidas will be remembered with positive imagery.
Keywords
This essay explores the use of pastoral imagery in John Milton's Lycidas, focusing on the poem's themes of mourning, homosocial bonds, church critique, and the role of pastoral imagery in mediating tone and shaping the overall narrative.
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- Silvia Schilling (Autor:in), 2015, Pastoral Imagery in Milton’s Poem "Lycidas", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/428432
