The funeral blues, also known as "Stop All the Clocks," is a poem written by W. H. Auden in 1936. It is a poignant and emotional depiction of grief and loss, expressing the deep sense of sadness and emptiness that comes with the death of a loved one.
The poem begins with the lines "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, / Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone," which immediately set the tone of the poem as one of despair and longing. The speaker is telling us that the world should come to a halt because of the grief they are experiencing. The clocks represent the passage of time, and the speaker wants them to stop because they cannot bear the thought of life continuing without their loved one. The telephone represents communication and connection with the outside world, and the speaker wants it cut off because they do not want to be disturbed or comforted by anyone else. The dog, barking with a juicy bone, represents the distractions and pleasures of everyday life, and the speaker wants it silenced because they cannot find joy in anything anymore.
The speaker goes on to say that "the stars are not wanted now: put out every one; / Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun," again expressing a desire for the world to stop functioning as normal. The stars, moon, and sun are all symbols of the natural world, and the speaker wants them gone because they cannot find solace or beauty in nature anymore.
The poem continues with the lines "For nothing now can ever come to any good," expressing a feeling of hopelessness and despair. The speaker believes that nothing in the world has meaning or value anymore because their loved one is gone.
In the final stanza, the speaker concludes with the lines "Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead / Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead," which paints a vivid and heart-wrenching image of the speaker's grief. The aeroplanes, circling overhead and scribbling on the sky, represent the public and formal acknowledgement of the death, and the message "He Is Dead" is a stark and final reminder of the irreparable loss the speaker has suffered.
Overall, "Funeral Blues" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the raw emotions of grief and loss. It speaks to the universal experience of losing someone we love, and the feelings of sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness that come with it.
Discuss the form of the poem "Funeral Blues."
They share the sound: dr um and c ome when spoken. Return to Top Listen to a reading of Funeral Blues Here's a recording of the poem. In 1994 the hugely successful English romantic comedy The funeral, referenced in the film's title, included a heartbreakingly poignant reading of 'Funeral Blues' by actor John Hannah in the role of Mathew mourning the death of his partner Gareth. It works, only if we put ourselves in the place of the speaker. Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead, Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves. The final line, in particular, sounds comically extreme, so that a poem whose title had momentarily suggested the possibility of something serious ends by provoking a grin. Not only that, but also it shows confirmation of his friends death.
Critically evaluate the impact of "Funeral Blues" as an expression of loss and grief.
The sex of the narrator is not a major concern in this poem, but it an interesting point, especially for the time era it was written in, when homosexuals were considered dirty. Auden has explored how various symbols of life and joy are in contrast with the deep grief he is facing. . Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves. Victorians who could afford it wore clothing made from black silk crepe fabric: dresses, coats, hats, veils. His last years of life were spent traveling and collaborating works of influential criticism. Altogether, the aspects of form noted above lend to the poem a simple, straightforward rhythm which complements the simple, straightforward sentiment at the heart of the poem.
Funeral Blues
The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood; For nothing now can ever come to any good. Even without such knowledge, however, the second stanza sounds ironic and overblown, especially in line 7. Throughout the poem, there are words that represent a sad and unpleasant connotation. Said aloud they share the same final sound: teleph one and b one. Wystan Hugh Auden 1907-1973 was born in York, England, and later became and American citizen. In the final stanza, Auden shows how loss and grief has a tendency to make people not care about anything. Henceforth, there will be no star gazing, walking in the moonlight, picnickingin the woods, or sunbathingat the beach.
