Meeting at Night ( BY ROBERT BROWNING ) WBCHSE/ Class XI- English

 

Meeting at Night

BY ROBERT BROWNING

I

The grey sea and the long black land;

And the yellow half-moon large and low;

And the startled little waves that leap

In fiery ringlets from their sleep,

As I gain the cove with pushing prow,

And quench its speed i' the slushy sand.

 

II

Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;

Three fields to cross till a farm appears;

A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch

And blue spurt of a lighted match,

And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears,

Than the two hearts beating each to each!

 

(The poem "Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning was originally published in the collection Dramatic Romances and Lyrics in 1845. The poem is written in two stanzas of six lines each. The first stanza describes the excitement of a secret journey by a boat on the sea. The second stanza describes the joy of the meeting of the two lovers. The main theme of the poem is the urgency and desire for the lover to meet the beloved.

The poem is often interpreted as being about a secret love affair, as the speaker takes great pains to conceal their journey. The use of the word "startled" to describe the waves suggests that the speaker is approaching the meeting place unexpectedly. The final line of the poem, "Than the two hearts beating each to each!", captures the intense emotion of the lovers' reunion.

The poem is written in a simple, straightforward style, but it is full of vivid imagery. The use of sound effects, such as the "startled little waves" and the "quick sharp scratch" of the match, helps to create a sense of excitement and anticipation. The poem is also notable for its use of symbolism. The sea represents the unknown, while the farm represents the security of home. The meeting place itself is a liminal space, where the two lovers can be together without fear of being seen.

"Meeting at Night" is a classic love poem that has been enjoyed by readers for centuries. It is a poem about the power of love to overcome all obstacles.)

 

Substance of the Poem

The poem describes a secret meeting between two lovers. The speaker is traveling by boat at night, and they are eager to reach their destination. The sea is grey and the land is black, but the moon is a bright yellow. The waves are "startled" and "leap" in "fiery ringlets" as the boat approaches the shore.

The speaker disembarks from the boat and walks a mile along the beach. They then cross three fields until they reach a farm. The speaker taps on the window pane, and the beloved answers with a "quick sharp scratch" of a match. The two lovers are overjoyed to be together, and their hearts beat loudly in their chests.

The poem is a celebration of love and the power of the human heart. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of nights, love can still find a way to shine through.

 

Central Idea of the poem

The central idea of the poem "Meeting at Night" is the power of love to overcome all obstacles. The speaker in the poem is willing to travel a long and difficult journey to be with their beloved. They are not deterred by the darkness of the night or the obstacles of the sea. Their love is so strong that it allows them to overcome all challenges. This moment of reunion is a powerful reminder of the power of love.

The poem also celebrates the beauty of nature. The speaker describes the sea, the moon, and the waves in vivid detail. These natural elements are used to create a sense of atmosphere and to enhance the emotional impact of the poem.

The poem "Meeting at Night" is a beautiful and moving celebration of the power of love. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of nights, love can still find a way to shine through.

 

What is the significance of the title of the poem.

The title of the poem, "Meeting at Night," is significant for a number of reasons. First, it suggests the secrecy of the lovers' meeting. The fact that they are meeting at night implies that they are trying to keep their relationship hidden from others. This secrecy adds to the sense of excitement and anticipation that the poem builds up.

Second, the title suggests the natural setting of the meeting. The fact that the lovers are meeting "at night" suggests that they are meeting outdoors, in the darkness. This setting adds to the sense of romance and mystery that the poem creates.

Finally, the title suggests the passion of the lovers' meeting. The word "night" is often associated with passion and desire. This association is reinforced by the image of the "startled little waves" that "leap" in "fiery ringlets" as the speaker approaches the shore. These images suggest that the lovers' meeting is a moment of intense passion and excitement.

 

In conclusion, the title of the poem "Meeting at Night" is significant because it suggests the secrecy, natural setting, and passion of the lovers' meeting. These elements all contribute to the poem's overall atmosphere of romance and mystery.

 

Central idea of the poem

The central idea of the poem "Meeting at Night" is the power of love to overcome all obstacles. The speaker in the poem is willing to travel a long and difficult journey to be with their beloved. They are not deterred by the darkness of the night or the obstacles of the sea. Their love is so strong that it allows them to overcome all challenges.

The poem also celebrates the beauty of nature. The speaker describes the sea, the moon, and the waves in vivid detail. These natural elements are used to create a sense of atmosphere and to enhance the emotional impact of the poem.

The poem ends with the two lovers finally being together. Their hearts beat loudly in their chests, and they are filled with joy. This moment of reunion is a powerful reminder of the power of love.

What is the Landscape description presented in the poem?

The landscape description presented in the poem is a dark and mysterious one. The first stanza describes the sea as "grey" and the land as "long black land." The moon is "yellow half-moon large and low," and the waves are "startled little waves that leap / In fiery ringlets from their sleep." This description creates a sense of foreboding and suspense, as the reader is not sure what to expect from the meeting that is about to take place.

The second stanza describes the landscape in more detail. The beach is "warm sea-scented beach," and the farm is "three fields to cross." The speaker describes the sound of the waves as "the quick sharp scratch / And blue spurt of a lighted match," which creates a sense of urgency and excitement. The final line of the stanza, "Than the two hearts beating each to each!", captures the intensity of the lovers' reunion.

The landscape description in the poem is used to create a sense of atmosphere and to enhance the emotional impact of the poem. The dark and mysterious landscape reflects the secrecy of the lovers' meeting, while the warm sea-scented beach and the sound of the waves suggest the passion and excitement of their reunion.

 

Consider Browning’s poem “Meeting at Night” as a love poem

The poem is about two lovers who are meeting in secret at night. The speaker is traveling by boat to reach their destination, and they are eager to be with their beloved. The poem is full of vivid imagery that captures the excitement and anticipation of the lovers' meeting.

 

The poem also uses sound effects to create a sense of atmosphere. The "startled little waves" that "leap" in "fiery ringlets" as the speaker approaches the shore suggest the passion of the lovers' meeting. The "quick sharp scratch" and "blue spurt of a lighted match" that the speaker hears when they reach the farm create a sense of urgency and excitement.

The poem ends with the two lovers finally being together. Their hearts beat loudly in their chests, and they are filled with joy. This moment of reunion is a powerful reminder of the power of love.

 

Give an account of the lover’s journey in the poem.

The lover's journey in the poem "Meeting at Night" is a journey of secrecy, passion, and excitement. The speaker travels by boat at night to reach their destination, and they are eager to be with their beloved.

The journey begins with the speaker setting out on a boat in the dark. The sea is "grey" and the land is "long black land," and the moon is "yellow half-moon large and low." The waves are "startled little waves that leap / In fiery ringlets from their sleep," which suggests that the speaker is approaching the shore unexpectedly.

The speaker disembarks from the boat and walks a mile along the beach. They then cross three fields until they reach a farm. The speaker taps on the window pane, and the beloved answers with a "quick sharp scratch" and "blue spurt of a lighted match." The two lovers are overjoyed to be together, and their hearts beat loudly in their chests.

The journey of the lover in the poem is a journey of love.

 

Discuss the functions of Imagery in the poem.

The imagery in the poem "Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning serves a variety of functions.

To create a sense of atmosphere: The poem is set at night, and the imagery helps to create a sense of darkness, mystery, and excitement. The "grey sea" and the "long black land" create a sense of foreboding, while the "yellow half-moon large and low" and the "startled little waves" suggest the passion and excitement of the lovers' meeting.

To describe the landscape: The imagery also helps to describe the landscape of the poem. The "warm sea-scented beach" and the "three fields to cross" create a sense of place, while the "quick sharp scratch" and "blue spurt of a lighted match" suggest the urgency and excitement of the lovers' reunion.

To represent the lovers' emotions: The imagery also represents the lovers' emotions. The "startled little waves" that "leap" in "fiery ringlets" suggest the passion of the lovers' meeting, while the "voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears, / Than the two hearts beating each to each!" captures the intensity of their reunion.

To symbolize the power of love: The imagery in the poem also symbolizes the power of love. The sea represents the unknown, while the farm represents the security of home. The meeting place itself is a liminal space, where the two lovers can be together without fear of being seen.

The imagery is essential to the poem's effectiveness, as it helps to create a vivid and memorable portrait of the lovers' meeting.

Give a description of the nocturnal atmosphere in the poem.

The nocturnal atmosphere in the poem "Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning is one of darkness, mystery, and excitement. The poem is set at night, and the imagery helps to create this sense of atmosphere.

The nocturnal atmosphere in the poem is created through the use of imagery, sound, and rhythm. The imagery of the "grey sea" and the "long black land" creates a sense of darkness and mystery. The sound of the "startled little waves" and the "quick sharp scratch" of the match create a sense of urgency and excitement. The rhythm of the poem is also fast-paced, which helps to create a sense of excitement.

The nocturnal atmosphere in the poem is essential to the poem's effectiveness. It helps to create a sense of suspense and excitement, and it also helps to set the scene for the lovers' reunion. The nocturnal atmosphere is also symbolic of the lovers' passion and desire. The darkness and mystery of the night represent the secrecy of their relationship, while the excitement and urgency of the moment represent the intensity of their feelings for each other.

How does the poet use colour in the poem?

The poet, Robert Browning, uses colours in the poem "Meeting at Night" to create a sense of atmosphere and to enhance the emotional impact of the poem.

The poet describes the sea as "grey" and the land as "long black land." These colours create a sense of darkness and mystery, which is appropriate for a poem about a secret meeting at night. The moon is described as "yellow half-moon large and low," which is a warm colour that contrasts with the darkness of the sea and land. The waves are described as "startled little waves that leap / In fiery ringlets from their sleep," which suggests that the speaker is approaching the shore unexpectedly. The use of the word "fiery" suggests passion and excitement, which foreshadows the lovers' reunion.

The colours in the poem are used to create a sense of atmosphere and to enhance the emotional impact of the poem. The darkness and mystery of the night suggest the secrecy of the lovers' relationship, while the warm colours of the moon and the beach suggest the passion and excitement of their reunion. The use of colour is essential to the poem's effectiveness, as it helps to create a vivid and memorable portrait of the lovers' meeting.

What does the poet observe in course of his journey to the farm house in the poem? What does the speaker do when he reaches the farm house?

In the poem "Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning, the speaker describes their journey to a farm house to meet their lover. The speaker observes the following in course of their journey: The sea, The moon, The waves, The beach, The farm, The sound of the waves.

The speaker's actions when they reach the farm house also help to create a sense of atmosphere and to enhance the emotional impact of the poem. The tap on the pane suggests the urgency and excitement of the moment, while the sound of the waves and the voice of the lover suggest the passion and intimacy of the reunion. The speaker's actions are also symbolic of the power of love. The tapping on the pane represents the lovers' desire to be together, while the sound of the waves and the voice of the lover represent the power of love to overcome all obstacles.

What is personification? Give an example of the personification used in the poem.

Personification is a figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstract concepts are given human qualities or abilities. For example, in the poem "Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning, the speaker describes the waves as "startled little waves that leap / In fiery ringlets from their sleep." In this line, the waves are personified as being startled and having the ability to leap and sleep.

Another example of personification in the poem is the line "And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears, / Than the two hearts beating each to each!" In this line, the voice is personified as having the ability to feel joy and fear, and to beat like a heart.

Personification is a powerful tool that can be used to create vivid imagery and to add emotional impact to a poem. In "Meeting at Night," the personification of the waves and the voice helps to create a sense of the passion and excitement of the lovers' meeting. It also helps to suggest that the lovers' relationship is a living, breathing thing that is full of emotion.

“As I gain the cove with pushing prow

And quench its speed I the slushy sand”- What is the cove? What do you mean by quenched its speed?

 

The word "cove" in the poem "Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning refers to a small, sheltered inlet of the sea. The speaker is traveling by boat to meet their lover, and they use the cove as a place to moor their boat and disembark.

The phrase "pushing prow" suggests that the speaker is using the boat's oars to propel it forward. The word "quench" means to extinguish or to make something less intense. In this context, the speaker is using the phrase "quench its speed" to describe how they are slowing down the boat's momentum as they approach the cove.

 

 

The cove is also a symbol of the lovers' relationship. The cove is a safe and protected place, and it is a place where the lovers can be together without fear of being seen. The cove is also a place of mystery and secrecy, and it is a place where the lovers can explore their feelings for each other without fear of judgment.

The phrase "quench its speed" is a powerful image that captures the speaker's desire to slow down time and to savor the moment of their reunion with their lover. The image also suggests that the speaker is willing to make sacrifices in order to be with their lover, even if it means slowing down their own life.

 

“Then a mile of sea scented beach

Three fields to cross till a farm appears”-Who is the speaker? How is the beach described? Why does the poet cross the beach and three fields?

 

The speaker is a lover who is traveling to meet their beloved at night.

The beach is described as being "sea-scented," which suggests that it is a place that is familiar to the speaker and that they have fond memories of it. The beach is also described as being "a mile" long, which suggests that it is a significant distance that the speaker has to travel in order to reach their beloved.

The speaker crosses the beach and three fields because they are on their way to meet their lover. The beach and the fields are obstacles that the speaker has to overcome in order to be with their beloved. The obstacles represent the challenges that the lovers face in their relationship, but they also represent the strength of their love.

 

The beach and the fields are also symbols of the lovers' relationship. The beach is a place of freedom and possibility, while the fields are a place of growth and maturity.

 

 

“And a voice less loud through its joys and fears.

Than the two heats beating each to each”- whose voice is this? what does the voice express? Why does the voice become less loud?

 

The voice in the poem "Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning is the voice of the speaker's lover. The voice is described as being "less loud" than the two hearts beating each to each, which suggests that it is a voice that is filled with both joy and fear.

The voice expresses the speaker's lover's excitement and anticipation at the prospect of their reunion. The voice is also filled with fear, as the lovers are meeting in secret and they are aware of the risks involved.

The voice becomes less loud as the lovers approach each other. This is because the lovers are so overcome with emotion that they can barely speak. The silence between them is a powerful expression of their love and their desire to be together.

The voice in the poem is a powerful image that captures the essence of the lovers' relationship. The voice is a voice of love, a voice of fear, and a voice of hope.