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Nocturne
Nocturne
Brazil
Honors English 10
March 10 2006
Nocturne Analysis
In Eugene O Neill’s “Nocturne”, there are many unusual words and phrases, along
with many sensory objects. There is intense imagery, and figurative language as well as
diction. Through careful study, images and symbols can be drawn out and released into
the mind.
The rhyme of the poem is a formal A, B, B, A rhyme scheme, but it takes nothing
away from the quality of the poem. The rhythm of the poem is rather rough, but it’s still
evident in throughout the poem.
The imagery is what caught me in this poem. There is strong imagery involving
the lone seagull screaming through the silence of the bay. The single screech seems to
indicate the loneliness of the bay in which the bird resides. The screeching gull reminds
me of music. At the climax of a piece of music, there might be a pause, a moment of
silence, and then there’s a single instrument playing, alone amongst the whole band. The
coal barge tugging at it’s anchor chain looked to me like something trapped and wanting
release, but not being able to get it. The stars are personified as a “…thousand opening
eyes…” indicated that it was like heaven was watching everything going on in the bay, but
doing nothing to help or hurt. The imagery gives the mood an eerie and sad feeling,
because of the lonely, single barge and the lonely, single seagull.
The repeated use of the word ‘silence’ holds a position in my mind because the
first time it was used, it was right before the seagull broke the silence with it’s
“screeching echo” and the second time, it was after the gull had flown away and the stars
were watching the scene below.
The entire poem reminds me of a composition of music. The beginning, being the
sun setting, gives a calm feeling followed by the lonely coal barge. It pushes the piece in a
sad direction and it seems to stop. Then, the seagull comes, with it lone note, which
lingers through the night air. The stars watching the scenery reminds me of the audience
watching the orchestra play and then the moon rising brings the end of the piece.
“Nocturne” by Eugene O Neill is an amazing piece of poetry, with a musical feel
to it, which I find to be a lovely addition to it.