"The Day Auburn Died"

POEM:

"Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain, Where health and plenty chear'd the labouring swain, Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid, And parting summer's ling'ring blooms delay'd:

Explanation:

Bowers of Innocence: He describes the village's shaded, sheltered spots ("bowers") as places of pure, simple joy and relaxation ("innocence and ease").

Childhood Memories: The village is the "seat" of his youth, where every simple game or activity ("sport") brought him genuine pleasure.

The Village Green: He recalls "loitering" or walking slowly across the communal grassy area ("the green"), finding beauty and "humble happiness" in every corner of the rural landscape.

A Lost Paradise: The poem serves as a social commentary. Goldsmith is mourning the loss of this idyllic lifestyle, which was being destroyed by the rise of wealthy landowners and industrialization, forcing villagers to leave their homes

POEM:

The shelter'd cot, the cultivated farm, The never-failing brook, the busy mill, The decent church that topp'd the neighbouring hill, The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade, For talking age and whisp'ing lovers made.

Brief Explanation:

Imagery of Peace: He lists the simple, harmonious features that defined the community: protected cottages (shelter'd cot), working farms, a constant stream (never-failing brook), and a productive mill.

Community Life: The church on the hill and the hawthorn bush represent the social and spiritual heart of the village. The "seats beneath the shade" specifically highlight a place where both the elderly (talking age) and young couples (whisp'ing lovers) gathered, symbolizing a complete and happy social cycle that has now been lost.

POEM:

How often have I bless'd the coming day, When toil remitting lent its turn to play, And all the village train, from labour free, Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree; While many a pastime circled in the shade.

Explanation:

Overall Meaning: The speaker is reflecting fondly on past experiences of eagerly anticipating days off from work. Key Themes: The stanza describes a communal scene where the entire village, free from labor, gathers for leisure activities and games under a large tree.

POEM:

The young contending as the old survey'd; And many a gambol frolicked o'er the ground, And slights of art and feats of strength went round And still as each repeated pleasure tir'd, Succeeding sports the mirthful band inspir'd;"

Brief Explanation:

Generational Connection: The "young" engage in friendly competitions and games ("contending") while the "old" watch them with a sense of pride and nostalgia ("survey'd"). Diverse Activities: The villagers perform various "gambols" (playful leaps), "slights of art" (skillful tricks or clever games), and "feats of strength" (athletic contests).

Unending Energy: Even when one activity becomes tiring, the "mirthful band" (the happy group) quickly finds inspiration in a new game, showing their vibrant spirit and the deep-seated happiness of their simple life. Overall, this passage highlights a time when rural life was full of innocent pleasure and community bond, before the village was eventually "deserted" due to economic and social changes like industrialization.

POEM:

The dancing pair that simply sought renown, By holding out to tire each other down; The swain mistrustless of his smutted face, While secret laughter titter'd round the place The bashful virgin's side-long looks of love

Explanation:

These lines describe a scene involving two humble villagers (a "swain" or young man and a "bashful virgin" or young woman) at a dance. They are dancing to gain recognition or attention ("sought renown"). They are trying to outlast each other in the dance ("to tire each other down"). The young man is unaware that his face is dirty ("smutted face"), causing others to laugh secretly ("secret laughter titter'd round the place"). The young woman is shyly glancing at him with affection ("side-long looks of love").

POEM:

The matron's glance that would those looks reprove; These were thy charms, sweet village; sports like these, With sweet succession, taught even toil to please; These round thy bowers their chearful influence shed, These were thy charms—But all these charms are fled.

Brief Explanation:

Social Interactions: He describes the playful behavior of the villagers, such as young girls casting secret, loving glances at their suitors, only to be met with a mock-disapproving look from an older woman (the "matron"). Pleasure in Work: These various "sports" or leisure activities followed one another in "sweet succession," making even the hardest physical labor (toil) feel pleasant and bearable for the villagers.

A Lost Paradise: The "bowers" (shady, peaceful places) were once filled with this cheerful energy. However, the stanza concludes on a melancholy note, stating that all these "charms" have vanished because the village has been deserted due to economic changes and the greed of wealthy landowners.

POEM:

Ill fares the land, to hast'ning ills a prey Where wealth accumulates and men decay; Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade; A breath can make them as a breath has made But a bold peasantry, their country's pride When once destroy'd can never be supplied.

Explanation :

This stanza, comments on the social and economic changes of his time. Lines 1-2: The speaker suggests that a nation suffers when wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, leading to the moral and physical decline of its people.

Lines 3-4: The powerful (princes and lords) are temporary; their status is fleeting and easily changed.

Lines 5-6: The "bold peasantry" are the true strength and pride of a nation. Once this class of people is destroyed or displaced, they can never be replaced, implying a permanent loss to the country's foundation.

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