Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Theodore Roethke's "Night Journey" is a haunting and surreal poem that explores the nature of human consciousness and the human experience of time. The poem is divided into two sections, each of which presents a different perspective on the theme of time and the self.

In the first section of the poem, the speaker describes a dream-like journey through the night, with lines like "The night is dark, the night is long, / The minute hand moves on and on" and "The wheels go round without a sound." These images convey a sense of time as a relentless and inexorable force, moving inexorably forward even as the individual struggles to keep up. The repetition of the phrase "I cannot sleep" emphasizes the speaker's sense of isolation and disconnection from the world around him.

The second section of the poem shifts focus to the internal experience of time, with the speaker describing the experience of memory and the persistence of the self over time. The lines "I am myself, I know myself, / I see the pattern wrought" suggest that even as the world changes and time moves on, there is a core of identity and consciousness that remains constant. The final lines of the poem emphasize the importance of memory and self-awareness in the face of the passage of time: "I am myself, I know myself, / And now the night has gone."

Overall, "Night Journey" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complex relationship between the self and time. Through his evocative language and striking imagery, Roethke captures the sense of disorientation and dislocation that can come with the passage of time, while also emphasizing the persistence of the self and the importance of self-awareness in the face of the inevitability of change.

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