5 Questions
What is the speaker wishing for?
To be able to express their thoughts and feelings
What emotion is the speaker expressing towards the end of the poem?
Nostalgia for a past time or experience
What is the significance of the repetition of 'Break, break, break' in the poem?
It represents the crashing of waves against the shore
What does the speaker contrast their situation with?
The freedom of the fisherman's boy and sailor lad
What is the overall tone of the poem?
Melancholic and wistful
Study Notes
Poem Analysis
- The poem starts with a repetitive and haunting refrain, "Break, break, break", which implies a sense of longing and yearning.
- The speaker addresses the sea, lamenting the loss of a loved one, implied by the "touch of a vanish'd hand" and the "sound of a voice that is still".
- The poem juxtaposes the freedom and joy of others (the fisherman's boy playing with his sister, the sailor lad singing in his boat) with the speaker's own sense of loss and longing.
- The "stately ships" that "go on / To their winter under the hill" suggests a sense of movement and progression, which contrasts with the speaker's stagnant grief.
- The poem expresses a deep sense of nostalgia and grief, with the speaker aware that "the tender grace of a day that is dead / Will never come back to me".
- The use of natural imagery, such as "cold gray stones" and "crags", adds to the somber and melancholic tone of the poem.
Test your understanding of the poem 'Break, break, break' by answering questions about its themes, emotions, and imagery. Explore the deeper meanings behind the words of the poem.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
