Night Poem Analysis

The modernist era of poetry usually carries the theme of disillusionment, hopelessness, and a generally depressing depiction of life. Louise Bogan’s “Night” takes on a different theme of hope and contentment, despite the irony of the title. Using a variety of literary techniques, from natural symbols to personification, Bogan effectively creates a poem commenting on how life goes on after we are gone but it will still be beautiful and there is still hope.
Despite being included as a modern poet, Bogan’s “Night” is written in a semi-traditional form. The rhyme scheme, when read aloud, gives it a musical feel like being swept away with the tide; it is not a fragmented rhyme scheme like that of typical modernist poets. The structure is also relatively …show more content…
Toward the end of the stanza something interesting occurs. “The stars are “Swing[ing] their lights westward/ To set behind the land” meaning morning is coming and night will soon end; night being natural symbol for death and dark times in ones life so when night ends something better will be in its wake. This reference can be interpreted as morning being the beginning of a new day, a renewal of ones life. This idea goes along with the theme that life is beautiful and even in the face of death there is …show more content…
The “pulse” is clinging to the rocks like a person who is near death but is still holding on. Later in the stanza, Bogan writes, “Where, again on cloudless nights, / The water reflects/ The firmament’s partial setting” noting that nature will persevere and continue on, even if we do not. This use of the word firmament instead of just sky is important because it not only describes the sky being reflected on the water but the heavens as well. Firmament can also be a biblical allusion, giving the stanza an other worldly feel and the heavens relates to the death that we see in the last stanza “…narrowing dark