Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Quest: The Second Temptation" is another sonnet in W.H. Auden's "Quest" sequence, and like the others in the series, it is involved in the exploration of a complex, symbolic journey.

In this particular poem, the theme of temptation is continued, and the speaker is confronted with intellectual arrogance and a desire for transcendence that culminates in a tragic end.

Analysis

Form and Structure: Following the consistent pattern of the "Quest" sequence, this poem is constructed in sonnet form with 14 lines. However, the rhyme scheme is more irregular, not adhering strictly to the typical Petrarchan or Shakespearean sonnet patterns.

Content: The poem begins in a library, a symbol of knowledge and learning, but this place annoys the speaker, perhaps due to a sense of inadequacy or a frustration with earthly wisdom. The action of throwing away a rival's book might symbolize a rejection of human intellect and competition.

The speaker's ascent up the spiral stair and the cry from the parapet reflect a desire to transcend human limitations, seeking union with "Uncreated Nothing" and the "Unending passion of the Night." These phrases evoke a yearning for something divine or transcendent, a release from earthly constraints.

However, the speaker's body, personified as "long-suffering flesh," misunderstands this transcendental yearning as a promise of freedom from physical cravings and pain. The final lines depict the tragic plunge into the college quad, ending in a fatal crash. This physical fall can be seen as a symbol of spiritual or intellectual fall, a consequence of the arrogance and misguided desire that drives the speaker.

Theme: This sonnet deals with the danger of intellectual pride and the longing for transcendental experiences that disregard the physical reality of human existence. It's a cautionary tale about the peril of losing oneself in abstract thought and desire, detached from the earthly and tangible. The "second temptation" represents a false path on the journey, a way that leads not to enlightenment but to destruction.

Overall, "Quest: The Second Temptation" continues the exploration of human experience and temptation in the context of a symbolic quest, illustrating how the allure of intellectual or spiritual transcendence can lead to tragic consequences. The stark imagery and powerful ending make it a memorable part of the "Quest" sequence.