Introduction: “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
“The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti was first published in 1881 in the collection Ballads and Sonnets. The poem itself is a beautiful snapshot of a peaceful moment shared by lovers. Rossetti uses vivid imagery to capture the scene, with details like the woman’s hand compared to “rosy blooms” and the “visible silence” hanging heavy in the air. This tranquility is tinged with a touch of melancholy, as the speaker acknowledges the fleeting nature of the moment.
Text: “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Your hands lie open in the long fresh grass,—
The finger-points look through like rosy blooms:
Your eyes smile peace. The pasture gleams and glooms
‘Neath billowing skies that scatter and amass.
All round our nest, far as the eye can pass,
Are golden kingcup fields with silver edge
Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge.
‘Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass.
Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragon-fly
Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky:—
So this wing’d hour is dropt to us from above.
Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower,
This close-companioned inarticulate hour
When twofold silence was the song of love.
Annotations: “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
| Text | Annotation |
| Your hands lie open in the long fresh grass,— | The speaker describes the hands of the beloved lying open in the grass, evoking a peaceful image. |
| The finger-points look through like rosy blooms: | The fingers are compared to rosy blooms, suggesting a delicate and beautiful appearance. |
| Your eyes smile peace. | The beloved’s eyes convey a sense of tranquility and calmness. |
| The pasture gleams and glooms | The landscape is depicted with alternating brightness and darkness. |
| ‘Neath billowing skies that scatter and amass. | The sky is described as billowing, with clouds both dispersing and gathering. |
| All round our nest, far as the eye can pass, | The scene around them, extending as far as the eye can see, is described. |
| Are golden kingcup fields with silver edge | Fields of golden kingcups with silver edges are depicted, adding to the pastoral imagery. |
| Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge. | Cow-parsley grows alongside the hawthorn hedge, enhancing the natural setting. |
| ‘Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass. | The silence around them is described as visible, likened to the stillness of an hourglass. |
| Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragon-fly | The speaker observes a dragonfly hovering in the sunlit foliage, adding to the scene’s tranquility. |
| Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky:— | The dragonfly is compared to a blue thread, suggesting its delicate and ethereal presence. |
| So this wing’d hour is dropt to us from above. | The moment described is seen as a gift from above, emphasizing its special nature. |
| Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower, | The speaker implores the reader to hold onto this moment as an eternal treasure. |
| This close-companioned inarticulate hour | The hour of silence shared between them is described as intimate and wordless. |
| When twofold silence was the song of love. | Silence becomes the language of their love, emphasizing its depth and significance. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
| Device | Example | Explanation |
| Alliteration | “scatter and amass”, “silver edge” | Repetition of initial consonant sounds for musical effect |
| Amplification | “Your hands lie open… Your eyes smile peace” | Emphasizing a point by repeating or expanding on it |
| Enjambment | Lines 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 | Carrying a sentence or phrase over to the next line without punctuation |
| Hyperbole | “billowing skies” | Exaggeration for emphasis or effect |
| Imagery | “long fresh grass”, “rosy blooms”, “golden kingcup fields” | Vivid descriptions to create mental images |
| Inference | “This close-companioned inarticulate hour” | Suggesting something without directly stating it |
| Irony | “Visible silence” | Contrasting what is expected with what is actually said |
| Juxtaposition | “gleams and glooms” | Placing two contrasting ideas or images together |
| Metaphor | “Your hands… like rosy blooms”, “dragon-fly… like a blue thread” | Comparing two things without “like” or “as” |
| Meter | Iambic tetrameter | Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line |
| Personification | “Your eyes smile peace” | Attributing human qualities to non-human things |
| Repetition | “silence” | Repeating a word or phrase for emphasis or effect |
| Rhyme | “grass”/”pass”, “edge”/”hedge” | Similar sounds at the end of words |
| Simile | “like rosy blooms”, “like a blue thread” | Comparing two things using “like” or “as” |
| Symbolism | “dragon-fly”, “hour-glass” | Using objects to represent abstract ideas |
| Synecdoche | “Your hands” (representing the whole person) | Using a part to represent the whole |
| Tone | Peaceful, serene | The overall feeling or attitude conveyed |
| Understatement | “This wing’d hour” | Downplaying something for effect |
| Wordplay | “silent noon” (oxymoron) | Using words in a way that plays with their meaning or sound |
Themes: “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- Theme 1: Serenity and Peace: The poem embodies a profound sense of serenity and peace, enveloping the reader in a tranquil atmosphere. The speaker’s hands lie open in the fresh grass, symbolizing a release of tension and a surrender to the calm surroundings. The eyes, windows to the soul, “smile peace,” indicating a deep-seated contentment. The pasture, with its gentle gloom and gleam, creates a sense of stillness, further emphasized by the hour-glass image, which measures time’s passage without a sound. This peaceful ambiance invites the reader to pause and bask in the serenity of the moment.
- Theme 2: Nature’s Beauty and Abundance: The poem is a masterful portrayal of nature’s splendor, with vivid descriptions that transport the reader to a vibrant landscape. The golden kingcup fields, adorned with silver-edged cow-parsley and hawthorn-hedge, create a tapestry of colors and textures. The dragonfly, suspended like a blue thread from the sky, adds an ethereal quality to the scenery. These images not only showcase nature’s beauty but also highlight its abundance, emphasizing the idea that life is full of wonder and magic waiting to be discovered.
- Theme 3: Love and Intimacy in the Stillness: The poem whispers hints of a romantic relationship, with the speaker describing a “close-companioned inarticulate hour” when “twofold silence was the song of love.” The use of words like “nest” and “our hearts” suggests a sense of closeness and togetherness, implying a deep emotional connection between two individuals. The stillness of the moment allows for a profound understanding and appreciation of this love, which transcends words and speaks directly to the soul.
- Theme 4: Transience and the Importance of Appreciation: The poem reminds us that life’s precious moments are fleeting and must be cherished. The dragonfly, “dropt to us from above,” symbolizes a gift that can be taken away at any moment. The speaker urges us to “clasp we to our hearts” the present moment, “for deathless dower,” emphasizing the importance of appreciation and gratitude. The poem encourages us to slow down, savor the beauty around us, and acknowledge the transience of life’s joys, so we may hold them dear and make the most of the time we have.
Literary Theories and “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
| Literary Theory | Interpretation | Example |
| Romanticism | Emphasizes the beauty of nature and the individual’s emotional response to it. Rossetti portrays nature as a source of tranquility and connection, evoking a sense of harmony and peace. | “Your hands lie open in the long fresh grass,— The finger-points look through like rosy blooms: Your eyes smile peace.” |
| Symbolism | Views objects and actions as symbols with deeper, often spiritual, meanings. The imagery of nature, such as the dragon-fly and the sun-searched growths, symbolizes the fleeting nature of time and the transcendent quality of love. | “Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragon-fly Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky:” |
| Ecocriticism | Analyzes literature in terms of its relationship with the natural world and ecological concerns. Rossetti’s depiction of nature reflects a pastoral ideal, yet hints at the fragility of the environment amidst human presence. | “All round our nest, far as the eye can pass, Are golden kingcup fields with silver edge Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge.” |
| New Criticism | Focuses on close reading of the text, exploring its form, language, and imagery to uncover layers of meaning. Rossetti’s use of sensory details and vivid imagery creates a sensory experience for the reader, enhancing the poem’s emotional impact. | “‘Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass.” |
Critical Questions about “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- Question 1: How does the poem use imagery to create a sense of serenity and peace?
The poem masterfully employs imagery to evoke a tranquil atmosphere, drawing the reader into a serene landscape. For instance, the speaker’s hands lie “open in the long fresh grass,” and their eyes “smile peace” (lines 1-2). The image of the hour-glass, “still as the hour-glass” (line 8), measures time’s passage without a sound, emphasizing the stillness of the moment. These examples demonstrate how Rossetti’s use of imagery creates a sense of calm, inviting the reader to bask in the peaceful ambiance. - Question 2: What role does nature play in the poem, and what symbolic meanings can be inferred?
Nature is a central element in the poem, with vivid descriptions of the landscape and its components. The “golden kingcup fields” and “silver edge” of the cow-parsley (lines 5-6) may symbolize the beauty and value of the natural world. The dragonfly, suspended like a “blue thread loosened from the sky” (line 9), could represent the fleeting nature of life or the connection between heaven and earth. These examples illustrate how nature is not only a backdrop but also a rich source of symbolic meaning in the poem. - Question 3: How does the poem explore the theme of love, and what is the significance of the “twofold silence”?
The poem hints at a romantic relationship, with the speaker describing a “close-companioned inarticulate hour” when “twofold silence was the song of love” (lines 11-12). The “twofold silence” may suggest a deep understanding and connection between two individuals, where words are unnecessary. This silence is not empty but rather filled with the unspoken language of love. The poem thus explores the idea that true love can transcend verbal communication, speaking directly to the heart. - Question 4: What message do you think the poem conveys about appreciating the present moment, and how is this conveyed through language and imagery?
The poem urges the reader to cherish the present moment, as it is fleeting and precious. The speaker implores us to “clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower, / This close-companioned inarticulate hour” (lines 13-14). The use of words like “clasp” and “hearts” emphasizes the importance of embracing the present, while the image of the dragonfly, “dropt to us from above” (line 10), reminds us that life’s gifts can be taken away at any moment. The poem’s language and imagery thus convey a sense of urgency, encouraging the reader to appreciate the beauty and love in their life.
Literary Works Similar to “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot – Like Rossetti’s poem, Eliot’s work delves into themes of time, love, and introspection, employing rich imagery and complex emotions.
- “To Autumn” by John Keats – This poem by Keats celebrates the beauty of nature and reflects on the passage of time, much like Rossetti’s contemplation of a tranquil moment in “Silent Noon.”
- “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot – Eliot’s masterpiece is a modernist exploration of disillusionment and fragmented identity, similar to Rossetti’s exploration of love and mortality in the “House of Life” series.
- “The Darkling Thrush” by Thomas Hardy – Hardy’s poem reflects on the end of the year and the potential for renewal, echoing Rossetti’s themes of fleeting moments and the passage of time.
- “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats – Keats’s ode explores the contrast between the beauty of nature and the pain of human existence, resonating with Rossetti’s contemplation of love and mortality in “Silent Noon.”
Suggested Readings: “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Vol. 1. 1895.
- Dickey, Frances. The Modern Portrait Poem: From Dante Gabriel Rossetti to Ezra Pound. University of Virginia Press, 2012.
- Spector, Stephen J. “Love, unity, and desire in the poetry of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.” ELH 38.3 (1971): 432-458. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2872228
- Weatherby, Harold L., and Harold Weatherby. “Problems of Form and Content in the Poetry of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.” Victorian Poetry 2.1 (1964): 11-19. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40001241
- McGann, Jerome. “Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the betrayal of truth.” Victorian poetry 26.4 (1988): 339-361. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/VIC.2009.51.3.409
Representative Quotations from “The House of Life 19 Silent Noon” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Your hands lie open in the long fresh grass,— The finger-points look through like rosy blooms: Your eyes smile peace.” | The speaker describes the serene scene of a loved one lying in the grass, surrounded by nature’s beauty. | Romanticism – Emphasizes the beauty of nature and the individual’s emotional response to it. |
| “Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragon-fly Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky:” | The speaker observes a dragonfly suspended in the sunlight, highlighting the tranquility and stillness of the moment. | Symbolism – Views objects and actions as symbols with deeper, often spiritual, meanings. |
| “‘Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass.” | The speaker reflects on the profound silence that permeates the scene, comparing it to the measured passage of time in an hourglass. | New Criticism – Focuses on close reading of the text, exploring its form, language, and imagery to uncover layers of meaning. |
| “All round our nest, far as the eye can pass, Are golden kingcup fields with silver edge Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge.” | The speaker describes the idyllic surroundings, with fields of golden flowers and hedges adorned with cow-parsley. | Ecocriticism – Analyzes literature in terms of its relationship with the natural world and ecological concerns. |
| “Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower, This close-companioned inarticulate hour When twofold silence was the song of love.” | The speaker cherishes the silent moment shared with their beloved, suggesting its eternal significance. | Romanticism – Emphasizes the transcendental quality of love and nature. |