Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Campus on the Hill" is a poem by William DeWitt Snodgrass, first published in 1959 in his collection, Heart's Needle. The poem is a meditation on the complexities of campus life and the various conflicts and emotions that arise within it.

Explanation:

The poem opens with a description of the "campus on the hill," with its "gray stone walls" and "red roofs." The speaker notes the various buildings on the campus, including a chapel, a library, and a dormitory. However, he also notes that these buildings are "locked against us," suggesting a sense of exclusion or separation from the world they represent.

As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the various individuals who inhabit the campus, from the professors who "know their classrooms well" to the students who are "rushing in and out." However, despite the presence of all these people, the speaker notes that there is a sense of isolation and loneliness that permeates the campus. He observes that "we make our separate ways" and that there is a "dividing wall" that separates the students from the professors.

The speaker also notes the various emotions that arise within the campus environment, from the "proud young faces" of the students to the "tired old faces" of the professors. He notes the various conflicts that arise between these groups, such as the conflict between youth and experience. However, he also notes that there is a sense of shared experience and common purpose that unites the people on the campus.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse
• Imagery: The use of visual imagery to describe the campus setting and the people who inhabit it.
• Personification: The campus is personified as being "locked against us," suggesting a sense of exclusion or separation.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is contemplative and reflective, with a sense of sadness or melancholy that pervades the speaker's observations.

Conclusion:

In "Campus on the Hill," Snodgrass presents a nuanced and complex portrait of campus life, exploring the various emotions and conflicts that arise within it. Through the use of vivid imagery and poetic language, the poem conveys a sense of both the beauty and the isolation of the campus environment, as well as the various emotions and experiences that are shared by those who inhabit it.

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