Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Exeunt" by Richard Wilbur is a poem that describes the final moments of a theatrical performance. The actors are taking their final bows, and the audience is applauding and cheering. The poem explores themes of performance, art, and the power of storytelling.

Form: "Exeunt" is a free verse poem with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. The poem consists of a single stanza with varying line lengths.

Theme: The central theme of the poem is the power of performance and storytelling to captivate and move an audience. The poem also explores the tension between reality and illusion, and the way in which art can help us to see the world in a new and transformative way.

Imagery: The poem uses vivid and sensory imagery to convey the scene of the theatrical performance, such as the image of the "heavy curtain" falling and the sound of the audience's applause.

Tone: The tone of the poem is celebratory and reflective, as the speaker reflects on the power of performance and the transformative nature of art.

Diction: The language used in the poem is precise and evocative, reflecting the power and magic of the theatrical performance.

Figurative language: The poem employs several types of figurative language, including metaphor (the theatrical performance as a symbol of the transformative power of art) and personification (the curtain as a symbol of the end of the performance and the end of a story).

Symbolism: The theatrical performance in the poem is a powerful symbol of the transformative power of art, while the falling curtain represents the end of a story and the passage of time.

Structure: The poem is divided into a single stanza with varying line lengths. This allows the poet to convey the natural and organic quality of the theatrical performance.

Sound: The poem has a musical quality, with the use of repetition and alliteration creating a sense of rhythm and melody.

Point of View: The poem is written from the perspective of an omniscient narrator, who observes the scene of the theatrical performance with a sense of wonder and appreciation.

Conclusion: In summary, "Exeunt" is a celebratory and reflective poem that explores the transformative power of performance and storytelling. Published in 1988, the poem reflects the social and cultural climate of the late twentieth century, as well as the enduring appeal of art and theater. Through its use of language, imagery, and symbolism, the poem encourages the reader to consider the power of art to transform the world around us and to help us see reality in a new and transformative way.

Publication date: "Exeunt" was first published in Richard Wilbur's collection "New and Collected Poems" in 1988.

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