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Ring Out Wild Bells-Alfred Tennyson
Ring Out Wild Bells-Alfred Tennyson
Stanza-wise Summary
Ring Out Wild Bells is about the new year and all the ways the world
could change for the better. Tennyson takes the phrase “ring out the old,
ring in the new” and twists it in order to “ring out” all the negatives he
sees in the world and “ring in” more positive things.
Ist Stanza
The poem is written in free verse it is separated into eight stanza which
are all four lines long. Each line is roughly 8 syllables long and uses 4
iambs giving the poem a very even rhythm. There is also a consistent
rhyming pattern which adds to the almost musical nature of the poem.
The rhyming pattern is (ABBA) The tone of this poem is debatable as it is
part protest poem and part ode to what the future should look like.
The poem is themed loosely around New Year and its meaning and so it’s
no surprise to see bells mentioned in the first stanza. However they are
described as being wild. This is a striking word to describe them and
helps set the underlying tone for the rest of the poem. The allusions to
the holiday season continue with the narrator describing the light as
being “frosty”. The words used are quite evocative as the narrator uses
the words dying and die in the last two lines, primarily about the year
itself. I think this is describing the fact that the year is drawing to a
conclusion, albeit in a particularly powerful way. The second time death
is used is in the last line of this stanza and refers to a nebulous “him”
who is this? Santa? Jesus?
IInd Stanza
The first line introduces are a familiar concept of ringing in the new year.
Out with the old and in with the new etc. Here bells are described as
being happy rather than wild, this creates a much softer image. It then
proceeds to talk about the year going and instructs to let him go. Here is
this “man” once again, who is he? Is the year being personified? Is the
narrator telling us to let go of the previous year? Or is this referencing an
actual person? The last line of this stanza is a paraphrase of the first line.
Only it’s meaning has been changed significantly. Is the suggestion here
that the “old” is synonymous with the false and the “new” with the true?
It certainly could be interpreted that way.
IIIrd Stanza
Here we see this idea of bell ringing continue. Here the text is telling us
to “ring out” grief. This is an interesting way of saying we need to let go
of things like grief. The emotion is described aptly as sapping the mind.
The next line is quite clever, the word “here” is in particular very
cunning. It’s insertion suggests that we don’t see people here, I think the
here refers to the mortal realm. The suggestion being inferred that we
will see them again but somewhere else, IE on the other side, or in
heaven. In the final two lines of the stanza the narrator calls for an end to
disputes between the classes. These are all concepts that seems
appropriate at Christmas and New Year and tie in with the traditional
meaning of the celebrations.
IVth Stanza
The negativity felt towards the old system is even more clear here as once
again the word dying is used. The things that happened last year (and
probably before that) clearly are felt to have not been working by
Tennyson. When he refers to party Strife in the second stanza is he
referring to bickering politicians? This could be the case. It is clear either
way that he feels the system is broken and he calls for a nobler way of life
and, better manners and purer laws.
Vth Stanza
We see in this stanza the narrator once again describing the negatives
that they see. The things they want to oust going into a new year. What is
interesting is that you can see why the want to get rid of want and sin,
but care? Perhaps they are suggesting they want to get rid of caring for
frivolous things. In the second line the cold is one again mentioned but
this time it is ascribed to the era that they live in. The narrator even
states that they want their own moaning to be “rung out”! Perhaps a bit
of self deprecation just to add a pinch of humour? They request a “fuller
minstrel” a minstrel is another word of a performer.
VIth Stanza
The first line of this stanza seems to be an attack on nepotism and falsely
placed patriotism. Although when you read on he continues to attack the
ideas of civic slander so perhaps he is more unhappy about the local state
of his home country. The things he wants these concepts to be replaced
with are hard not to appreciate he wants to “ring in” love and truth and
goodness. How can you disagree that those aren’t good things to be
espoused heading in to a new year?
VIIth Stanza
In this stanza he argues that we should get rid of disease, which is
perhaps a bit hopeful! In the second line I think the suggestion is that the
love of money is something that should disappear with the new year and
finally he turns his attention to war. He wants to usher it out and replace
it with peace. Whilst it would be amazing if that happened it is unlikely. I
think this highlights the idealist nature of the poem.
VIIIth Stanza
Interestingly this stanza starts with the narrator talking about
introducing rather than doing away with something. He talks about how
he wants mankind to be going forward: Valiant, free, big hearted and
kind. The last line is interesting as he talks about ringing in Christ. Is this
a reference to the second coming? Does he think this is the only way that
the world could be the way he wanted?
Critical Analysis
Theme Analysis
The main theme of the poem "Ring Out, Wild Bells" by Alfred, Lord
Tennyson is Renewal. This is apparent in the opening stanza where the
poet writes: