Imagery and symbolism in Ascension - Hymn
Light
Much of the imagery in Ascension – Hymn is to do with light. This fits in with mystical tradition, both Christian and Platonic. The images are consistent with this:
- the similes of ‘Like stars...' and ‘as Angels in some brighter dreams ... '
- the metaphors ‘an air of glory'; ‘the jewel of the Just'; ‘mists'; ‘glass'
- the analogy of ‘If a star ... '
The idea of ‘light doth trample on my days' is vivid and original. He is crushed by the memories and the sense of loss, even homelessness.
Fledg'd birds
Vaughan was greatly influenced by George Herbert, and the emblem of ‘some fledg'd birds nest' in stanza is indebted to Herbert. It is strongly Platonic in nature: the body is the outer shell. Death shows us that the bird (or soul) has ‘hatched' and flown off, though we cannot know where, except that it will be a ‘fair Well, or Grove'. Interestingly, ‘fair Well' echoes ‘farewell', which brings us back to the opening stanzas. The ‘grove' is a natural feature which he also mentions in Regeneration, and has symbolic significance.
Investigating Ascension - Hymn
- Consider the imagery Vaughan uses in Ascension - Hymn.
- What is the force of the simile in stanza 7?
Figure of speech in which a person or object or happening is described in terms of some other person, object or action, either by saying X is Y (metaphor); or X is like Y (simile). In each case, X is the original, Y is the image.
Used for the seeking of direct spiritual encounter with God, usually through a life of self-denial and contemplation.
Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church.
1. Relating to Plato or his philosophy.
2. Describing a relationship which is affectionate but not sexual.
An image where one thing is said to be 'as' or 'like' another: e.g. 'He jumped up like a jack-in-the-box'.
Supernatural beings closely linked with the work of God; his messengers, traditionally portrayed as having a winged human form.
An image or form of comparison where one thing is said actually to be another - e.g. 'fleecy clouds'.
A logical parallel to the thing being discussed, to help forward the argument. Often it is expressed as an extended simile. All analogies have their limits.
A particular form of symbolic imagery, where a picture is followed by a text to explain its hidden meaning.
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.
1. Relating to Plato or his philosophy.
2. Describing a relationship which is affectionate but not sexual.
1. The human body, viewed positively in the Bible because it has been made by God though it can be vulnerable to temptation.
2. Term used of the church, 'the Body of Christ'.
3. In Holy Communion the bread is also called the Body of Christ.
In literature, something that is chosen to take on a particular meaning by the writer, e.g. clouds as symbols of mutability.
