In Edgar Allan Poe’s “Sonnet—_To Science” , the speaker presents science as a metaphorical predator to creativity and dreams. Poe’s position on freedom of expression versus having a concrete amount of book knowledge informs the audience on what he truly values with Romanticism in terms of admiration and authenticity. With a forthright attitude, he uses allusions to Greek mythology, diction, symbolism, and imagery in order to illustrate the idea that rational thinking, the way of knowing, overshadows fantasies and represents the downfall of potential realities, and perhaps even the goodness of mankind. Ultimately, he evidently leads us to the perception that science is indeed a killer of imagination and results in thoughtlessness. Since the
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In this specific line, the treasure is associated as ideas of said artistic intellectuality, whereas jewelled skies is the branch of Romanticism itself. It’s also mentioned that the vulture flew into this spacious sky as a dull-colored creature and “soared with an undaunted wing” (8). It is fearless, ready to banish imaginativeness from within the thought clouds above us.
It’s clear to say that Poe is describing science as a suffocating entity, that it crushes the dreams for those with passion and morality. From lines 9-14, he introduces us to Greek mythology. His foundation within “Sonnet—_To Science” is set upon such mythical creatures because these nymphs and goddesses were seen as true before science started forming facts and theories with realities. We also notice a pattern that we can find said creatures in trees, woodlands, and rivers, locations where science is easily associated with. Also, because Romanticism focuses on creating positive values, this was not exercised in the poem. Poe dictates, “Hast thou not dragged from her car / And driven the Hamadryad from the wood…” (9-10) to tell his audience that the vulture has forcibly moved these Greek mythological creatures out from their own home. In this case, Hamadryad sought to look for another shelter as she can no longer live in the stars due to science. Again, this metaphor of driving …show more content…
From lines 1-8, he uses words such as “peering” to describe what science does to people’s imaginations. The words “peering eyes” (3) indicate that science will always be there, altering all things left and right, even those far beyond our reach (Greek mythological creatures). This may also mean that science is constantly emerging with new forms of ideas to amend what was already there. From lines 9-14, however, his allusions to Greek mythology indicate his well-renowned knowledge for what he really believes in: ingenuity with aspects to ideology, deep emotions, and understanding. Even though he admits science has indeed overshadowed such fantasies, he doesn’t allow this to happen within his own poem. Poe lets his audience know that such things should be valued no matter what or else his “summer dreams” (14) will conclusively fail beneath him. Because in his eyes, what else can he do if he can no longer
In this specific line, the treasure is associated as ideas of said artistic intellectuality, whereas jewelled skies is the branch of Romanticism itself. It’s also mentioned that the vulture flew into this spacious sky as a dull-colored creature and “soared with an undaunted wing” (8). It is fearless, ready to banish imaginativeness from within the thought clouds above us.
It’s clear to say that Poe is describing science as a suffocating entity, that it crushes the dreams for those with passion and morality. From lines 9-14, he introduces us to Greek mythology. His foundation within “Sonnet—_To Science” is set upon such mythical creatures because these nymphs and goddesses were seen as true before science started forming facts and theories with realities. We also notice a pattern that we can find said creatures in trees, woodlands, and rivers, locations where science is easily associated with. Also, because Romanticism focuses on creating positive values, this was not exercised in the poem. Poe dictates, “Hast thou not dragged from her car / And driven the Hamadryad from the wood…” (9-10) to tell his audience that the vulture has forcibly moved these Greek mythological creatures out from their own home. In this case, Hamadryad sought to look for another shelter as she can no longer live in the stars due to science. Again, this metaphor of driving …show more content…
From lines 1-8, he uses words such as “peering” to describe what science does to people’s imaginations. The words “peering eyes” (3) indicate that science will always be there, altering all things left and right, even those far beyond our reach (Greek mythological creatures). This may also mean that science is constantly emerging with new forms of ideas to amend what was already there. From lines 9-14, however, his allusions to Greek mythology indicate his well-renowned knowledge for what he really believes in: ingenuity with aspects to ideology, deep emotions, and understanding. Even though he admits science has indeed overshadowed such fantasies, he doesn’t allow this to happen within his own poem. Poe lets his audience know that such things should be valued no matter what or else his “summer dreams” (14) will conclusively fail beneath him. Because in his eyes, what else can he do if he can no longer