Ben jonson music to celia essay

Ben Jonson’s “Song: To Celia” may differ in interpretation depending on the reader. The interpretation of the composition can either always be that of a man confessing his love to a female who rejects him or perhaps that of a male in love with a woman who he has had a previous, unsuccessful relationship with. Jonson’s diction, rhyme scheme, rhythm, and symbolism make “Song: To Celia” an interesting piece which usually requires you to read artistically. “Song: To Celia” includes a consistent tempo of switching iambic tetrameter and trimeter throughout the composition.

The rhyme scheme is ABCB, ABCB right up until a change in line nine to DEFE with one slant rhyme match. The change in rhyme structure from ABCB to DEFE represents a big change in the tone of the composition while keeping true to it is sing-song nature. From lines one through eight, Jonson uses consuming and desire as metaphors for like and desire. In the starting line when he says “drink to me, just with thine eyes, ” Jonson can be personifying Celia’s eyes and metaphorically recommending that they are in a position to declare take pleasure in.

The repeating reference to wine beverages and consuming implies that like is intoxicating and in collection two, it truly is implied that the “pledge” similar to a toast can be made of love similarly to a promise. In line five, the speaker brings up the “thirst… from the soul” in reference to the speaker’s aspire to live gladly in love with Celia. The audio even says that he will give up immortality presented to him in liquid kind just to be with her. Series nine reveals a change inside the poem. The speaker’s appreciate from line nine to the end of the poem is usually compared to a wreath.

A wreath typically represents everlasting with really round form. The diction of this poem, however , suggests that the wreath represents being rejected. The wreath is a gift that the loudspeaker sent to Celia who returned it to him. In line fifteen, the wreath “grows and odours. ” The expansion of the wreath represents the expansion of love within the speaker only and the smell signifies the lingering of Celia’s presence in the speaker’s thoughts. Jonson makes an interesting choice with the audio send a “late… rosy wreath” online nine.

Late can either indicate at night or perhaps occurring after the proper time. Depending on the reader’s interpretation with this line, the poem can easily have completely different meanings. In case the wreath is regarded as sent through the night, Celia has simply turned down its tv-sender. If the wreath is considered to be sent after the appropriate time yet , it is intended that Celia and the presenter have had earlier relations with one another and that the speaker has dispatched the wreath in hopes of another opportunity at romance and happiness.

By describing the wreath as “withered” in line a dozen, it is implied that something which once existed has now passed away. The difference involving the hopeful, longing, intoxicated feeling of the 1st half of the poem with the beat in the second half is what makes this poem profound in the telling of rejection. The usage of metaphors and debatable terminology appeal for the readers’ thoughts and trigger their thoughts add to the confusion and passion of one-sided take pleasure in, thus producing Ben Jonson’s “Song: To Celia” a highly effective work in its portrayal.

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