Critical Analysis of Night Clouds by Amy Lowell
Critical Analysis of "Night Clouds" by Amy Lowell
With all the time spent looking out into the big ocean of a calming night sky, what is there to see? A big white fluff of clouds or a sparkle splattered universe. The night heavens are full of surprise and everlasting splendor. A good poem is one that brings out deep thought or intense feeling. Most every poem written has it’s own style and significance giving a reader a deep interpretation. In “Night Clouds” by Amy Lowell, a beautiful, vivid picture of the night sky is portrayed through strong uses of symbolism, imagery, and characteristics of a lyric poem. These techniques are brilliantly drawn together to bring out the essence of this poem.
Lowell’s colorful imagery paints a grand masterpiece of artwork in the readers mind. By giving great emphasis on descriptive meaning to each line a visual is easily seen as the poem is being read. The line “beating their golden hoofs upon the glass heavens,” sets the mares out to be magical with a fairy tale type look, as well as giving a delicate feel to the sky, which is referred to as heaven. The simple yet elegant wording of this poem brings out such detailed images in one’s mind. With the line, “Scatter the milky dust of stars,” a thick surrounding of glistening stars shows the magnificence of a beautiful starry night. By means of the line “with one lick of his vermilion tongue,” Lowell is giving a sudden color change to the poem as the dark night turns into a bright new day. The imagery of this poem is intensified by the assistance of symbolism.
Through symbolism a specific characteristic is given to both night sky and morning sun helping this visional poem come to life. Lowell’s representation in this poem lets the mind wonder and think of something normal as something new and exciting; something the mind has never thought of before. With the line “the white mares of the moon rush along the sky” The mares symbolize the night clouds floating through the darkened sky. “Or the tiger sun will leap upon you and destroy you.” This line turns a rising sun into a ferocious tiger battling against the night. The impact of these ideas will forever bring a different look on the mysterious skies.
The word choice and frame of “Night Clouds”...