Commentary on Ascension - Hymn
Remembering lost loved ones
The first two stanzas of Ascension – Hymn refer to Vaughan's memories of recently lost loved ones. Their memory both lightens his life and causes sadness. The contrast of where they are now ‘in an Air of glory', and where he is ‘My days .../ Meer glimmering and decays' turns his thoughts to death and to the much better life after death. He sees death (‘Dear, beauteous death!') positively, as an entry into light and mystery of which we are given the smallest glimpses in this world (‘into glory peep').
Body and soul
He proceeds by a series of images to separate body and soul. The body is a shell or a tomb, out of which the soul will fly away at death. The language is almost entirely in terms of light and darkness. Though we may think of death as darkness, it is in fact life on earth that is shrouded and gloomy. He finishes with a plea to God either to give him more revelation of heaven or take him there through death.
Investigating Ascension - Hymn
- How else might life after death be visualised?
- To what extent is Vaughan's desire for heaven just because of the loss of loved ones?
- Or is it some more deep-seated longing? Look at his The Retreate
- List the words in Ascension – Hymn that are to do with light and shade.
- List words that are to do with enclosure and entrapment, and freedom.
The technical name for a verse, or a regular repeating unit of so many lines in a poem. Poetry can be stanzaic or non-stanzaic.
In the Bible light is associated with the presence of God, whereas darkness symbolises the absence of God.
In religious terms, something which cannot be understood by most people, but has to be revealed to the understanding of believers.
1. Imitation, copy, likeness, statue, picture in literature, art or imagination.
2. A figure of speech in which a person or object or happening is described in terms of some other person, object or action (i.e. as a metaphor or simile)
The spirit which gives life to a human being; the part which lives on after death; a person's inner being (personality, intellect, emotions and will) which distinguishes them from animals.
The spirit which gives life to a human being; the part which lives on after death; a person's inner being (personality, intellect, emotions and will) which distinguishes them from animals.
Symbolic in the Bible of sin and the apparent absence of God, who is associated with light.
The Bible describes God as the unique supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe.
1. The supernatural showing of some hidden truth or person; a moment of insight where new meaning is established in the belief system of a person
2. In the Bible, the name given to the last book of the New Testament, which uncovers the future.
In many religions, the place where God dwells, and to which believers aspire after their death. Sometimes known as Paradise.
