Poem Analysis: The Brook by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Description of the River

• The river originates from the haunts of coot and hern, suggesting a natural and serene environment.
• The river suddenly emerges from the fern, "bicker[ing] down a valley" with a sense of urgency and energy.

Journey of the River

• The river flows by thirty hills, indicating a winding and varied path.
• It passes by twenty thorpes, a small town, and half a hundred bridges, highlighting its connection to human settlements.
• The river eventually reaches Philip's farm, where it flows to join the brimming river.

Characteristics of the River

• The river is characterized by its gentle, musical sounds, "chatter[ing] over stony ways" and "babb[ling] on the pebbles".
• It has a playful and meandering nature, "wind[ing] about, and in and out" with many curves and bends.

Interaction with the Environment

• The river affects the surrounding landscape, "frett[ing] by many a field and fallow" and creating "many a fairy foreland set with willow-weed and mallow".
• It is home to various aquatic life, including trout and grayling, and features "many a silvery waterbreak" and "foamy flake[s]".

Timelessness and Eternity

• The river is eternal, "go[ing] on for ever", while human existence is transient, with "men may come and men may go".
• The river's persistence is emphasized by its continued flow, "I chatter, chatter, as I flow" and "I curve and flow" to join the brimming river.

Test your knowledge of 'The Brook' poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson with this quiz. Answer questions about the content, themes, and literary devices used in the poem.