A close reading of Seferis' poem Helen including elements around the Greek myth as the background of the poem. A verse by verse examination is done for crucial verses in the poem and potential meanings are discussed.
Seferis’ “Helen” is written in free verse and does not feature a fixed rhyme scheme straying this way away from traditional forms of poetry. While the poem is written in a modernist form, the mythical element is overwhelming in the poem, a contradiction that connects the present with the past. The poem’s epigraph sets the mythological background which relates the poem to the Greek mythology tradition. Homer’s myth about Paris’ choice of Helen as fairer than goddesses lingers in the background as the basis of all that follows and as the initial cause of the Trojan War. In the first three verses of the epigraph, it is established that the speaker is in exile ordered by “Appolow”, a man away from his home. Finally the epigraph, informs in the words of Helen that she was never in Troy, instead there was just a phantom image of hers there. The myth sets the context of the poem while the myths are further elaborated as the memories of the speaker who reminisces in a dramatic monologue triggered by the nightingale’s song and his inability to sleep, tormented by these memories. The repetition of the phrase “The nightingales won’t let you sleep in Platres”, written in quotation marks as if someone else is uttering them, also points to the use of the chorus in the ancient tragedy form, in which the chorus often repeats certain words connecting the poem even more to the ancient Greek mythology tradition.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Mythological Background and Structure
- The Nightingale's Song and the Flow of Time
- Teucer's Personal Tragedy and Anti-War Sentiment
- Binary Oppositions and the Theme of Deceit
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this analysis is to perform a close reading of George Seferis' poem "Helen," focusing on its structural elements, imagery, and the construction of meaning within the text itself, independent of authorial intent or reader perception. The analysis employs a New Criticism approach, emphasizing the poem's internal coherence and the interplay of its various components to convey a powerful anti-war message.
- The role of mythology and its impact on the poem's structure and meaning.
- The use of imagery and symbolism, particularly the nightingale and Helen, to create thematic resonance.
- The exploration of binary oppositions (life/death, presence/absence, reality/deception) and their contribution to the overall meaning.
- The development of an anti-war sentiment through the portrayal of Teucer's personal tragedy.
- The central theme of deception and its impact on the poem's narrative and overall message.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of close reading and new criticism, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the text's internal structure and language use to uncover its meaning. It establishes the methodology for the analysis of Seferis' poem "Helen," asserting that meaning should derive solely from the text itself and not from authorial intent or reader interpretation. The chapter establishes the framework for the analysis, setting aside external influences to focus on the poem's intrinsic qualities.
The Mythological Background and Structure: This section delves into the poem's use of Greek mythology, specifically the myth of Helen of Troy. It explores how the epigraph establishes the context of the poem, linking it to the ancient Greek tradition and introducing the speaker's exile and the ambiguous presence of Helen. The chapter analyzes the poem's free verse structure and its contrast with traditional poetic forms, demonstrating how this structure contributes to the poem's modernist aesthetic while maintaining a strong connection to classical mythology.
The Nightingale's Song and the Flow of Time: This chapter examines the recurring motif of the nightingale's song, which serves as a catalyst for the speaker's memories and a structural device that divides the poem into three sections representing different points in time. It discusses how the nightingale's song creates a flow between the present and the past, facilitating the speaker's stream of consciousness and establishing a sense of temporal movement. The chapter analyzes the contrast between the nightingale's pleasant melody and the painful memories it evokes, highlighting the juxtaposition of pleasure and sorrow.
Teucer's Personal Tragedy and Anti-War Sentiment: This section focuses on Teucer, the poem's speaker, and his personal experiences within the context of the Trojan War. The chapter explores Teucer's losses – his brother, his home, and his sense of belonging – and how these losses are connected to the futility of war. By recounting Teucer's experiences, the poem gradually builds an anti-war sentiment, portraying him as a victim of a senseless conflict. The chapter analyzes the use of imagery and symbolism to highlight the devastating effects of war on an individual's life.
Binary Oppositions and the Theme of Deceit: This chapter analyzes the poem's use of binary oppositions—life and death, presence and absence, reality and deception, the divine and the human—to construct its meaning. It explores the contrasting images of Helen, her sensual beauty juxtaposed with her absence from Troy, thereby establishing the central theme of deception. The chapter examines how this deception, extending to the actions of both gods and men, underscores the poem's anti-war message by exposing the futility of a conflict waged over a falsehood.
Keywords
Close reading, New Criticism, George Seferis, Helen, Greek mythology, Trojan War, anti-war poetry, imagery, symbolism, binary oppositions, deception, stream of consciousness, free verse, Teucer, nightingale.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Close Reading of George Seferis' "Helen"
What is the purpose of this analysis of George Seferis' poem "Helen"?
This analysis aims to perform a close reading of Seferis' poem "Helen," focusing on its internal structure, imagery, and meaning derived solely from the text itself. It employs a New Criticism approach, avoiding authorial intent or reader interpretation to uncover the poem's powerful anti-war message.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of "Helen"?
The analysis explores several key themes, including the role of Greek mythology in shaping the poem's structure and meaning; the use of imagery and symbolism (particularly the nightingale and Helen) to create thematic resonance; the exploration of binary oppositions (like life/death, presence/absence, reality/deception); the development of an anti-war sentiment through Teucer's personal tragedy; and the central theme of deception and its impact on the poem's narrative and message.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into chapters covering an introduction to the methodology of close reading and New Criticism; an exploration of the poem's mythological background and structure; an examination of the nightingale's song and its role in the flow of time; a focus on Teucer's personal tragedy and the poem's anti-war sentiment; and a final chapter analyzing the use of binary oppositions and the theme of deceit.
How does the poem use Greek mythology?
The poem utilizes the myth of Helen of Troy, established through the epigraph, to provide context and link the poem to ancient Greek tradition. The analysis explores how this mythological framework shapes the poem's structure and contributes to its overall meaning.
What is the significance of the nightingale's song?
The nightingale's song serves as a recurring motif, acting as a catalyst for the speaker's memories and a structural device dividing the poem into sections representing different points in time. It creates a flow between past and present, contributing to the stream-of-consciousness effect and highlighting the juxtaposition of pleasure and sorrow.
How does the poem convey an anti-war sentiment?
The anti-war sentiment is developed through the portrayal of Teucer's personal tragedy, highlighting his losses (brother, home, belonging) as a result of the Trojan War. The poem uses imagery and symbolism to illustrate the devastating impact of war on individuals.
What role do binary oppositions play in "Helen"?
The poem utilizes binary oppositions (life/death, presence/absence, reality/deception, divine/human) to construct its meaning. The contrasting images of Helen's beauty and her absence underscore the theme of deception, highlighting the futility of a conflict based on falsehood.
What is the overall message of Seferis' "Helen"?
The poem's overall message is a powerful anti-war statement, conveyed through the exploration of personal loss, deception, and the futility of conflict. The poem emphasizes the internal coherence of its structure and language to deliver its message, independent of external influences.
What keywords best describe this analysis?
Close reading, New Criticism, George Seferis, Helen, Greek mythology, Trojan War, anti-war poetry, imagery, symbolism, binary oppositions, deception, stream of consciousness, free verse, Teucer, nightingale.
- Quote paper
- Elena Agathokleous (Author), 2017, A close reading of George Seferis' Poem "Helen", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/990411
