Charlotte Smith, 'Written Near a Port on a Dark Evening' 2
Smith mediates a sense of gloomy unrest
The poem depicts the mental journey of a sailor at sea as he goes from hopeless isolation to a brief moment of sublime epiphany, before returning to the isolation once again.
inevitable return to darkness + isolation
Key context on the 'Sublime'
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"dark and mute" - setting is frustratingly unresponsive, illustrating the sailor's state of isolation
"rugged foot of rocks remote" - soundscapes created simulates the sharp rocks. The writer's frustration is made audible.
final rhyming couplet - 'such the dubious ray, lifes long darkling way. rhyming couplet affirms this change in spirit BUT the use of 'darkling' shows that things will get worse once again. We can see the worry of this happening in the sailor as he 'wavers' - depicting his questioning state about the sublimes longevity
"repercussive roar" - writer's inner turmoil is being thrown back at them from the surroundings.
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"strike the bell" - a funeral ritual represents the gloomy state of the poem
The term 'sublime' refers to a greatness beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement, or imitation. This greatness is so large that our ability to perceive and comprehend its magnitude is overwhelmed
Instances of the sublime
'but the lucid line' - 'but' acts as a pivot point from the monotony to the sublime. Alliteration of 'L's creates a calm, lulling and languid atmosphere. Contrast to the depressed and gloomy attitude before pivot.
'drowsy billows' - monotonous and gloomy description, reflected in the sound of the words (no emphasis)
The sonnet, which is usually written about romantic love, has been subverted
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Smith provides a sense of hope through the turning point of the poem
'lucid line' 'light surf' 'level sand' - 'l' alliterations provide
"wandering fairy fires" - A sense of hope is created through the phosphorescent 'fairy fires' here.
"light surf" - Whilst being previously referred to as a "repercussive roar", the ocean is now described in more gentle terms: "light surf"
'huge vapours brood'- this ominous depiction of the clouds adds to the sense of monochromatic sorrow and depression
'Like wondering fairy fires' - simile - reveals the sublime + creates a heavily contrasting image to its surroundings - 'fires' suggest light and warmth, 'fairy' suggests magical presence and wondering is a gentle and relaxed word