Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Title: Man and the Ascidian; A Morality Author: Andrew Lang

Provenance

Andrew Lang, a Scottish scholar and poet, is known for his work in folklore, anthropology, and classics, in addition to his own poetry and prose. He was a contemporary of Charles Darwin and took an interest in the scientific theories of his time, including the theory of evolution. "Man and the Ascidian; A Morality" is a poem written by Lang that comments on the evolution of man and the moral implications of this theory.

Theme Analysis

Evolution and Regression: The main theme of the poem is evolution, especially the evolution of man from simple aquatic creatures. However, the poem suggests a kind of regression in the process of aging, comparing the human aging process to the life cycle of the Ascidian which begins as a mobile creature and becomes a sessile organism.

Life Cycle and Aging: The poem draws parallels between the life cycle of the Ascidian (commonly known as a sea squirt) and human beings, where youth is full of freedom, energy, and curiosity, but old age results in stagnation and ignorance.

Freedom and Restriction: The poem contrasts the freedom of youth with the restrictions of adulthood and old age. It uses the metaphor of the Ascidian sticking to a rock to illustrate how humans become bound by their occupations, routines, and habits as they age.

Knowledge and Ignorance: There's a clear delineation between the active knowledge-seeking behavior of youth and the ignorant, unresponsive nature of old age, again drawing parallels to the Ascidian life cycle.

Poetic Devices

Metaphor: Lang uses the Ascidian as a metaphor for humans, illustrating how humans, like the Ascidian, start off as free and curious individuals but become immobile and indifferent as they age.

Allusion: The poem alludes to Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution, using it as a springboard to explore themes of life, aging, and societal structures.

Rhyme: The poem follows an AABBCC... rhyme scheme, giving it a rhythmic and musical quality.

Imagery: Lang uses vivid imagery, such as the Ascidian sticking to a rock or humans becoming "bond-slaves of the clock," to depict the stagnation that comes with aging and societal expectations.

Irony: The poem ends with an ironic twist. Despite being the most complex organism, man, in his old age, reverts to a state akin to the simplest of his ancestors.

Juxtaposition: The poem juxtaposes the stages of life of an Ascidian with that of a human, drawing attention to the ironic similarities despite the evolutionary gap.

To sum up, "Man and the Ascidian; A Morality" is an ironic and thought-provoking poem that uses the theory of evolution and the life cycle of the Ascidian to explore human life, societal expectations, and the process of aging. It presents a critical commentary on how, despite evolutionary progress, humans may revert to a state of passive existence, akin to their simplest ancestor, the Ascidian, as they age.

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