Reflection- The Chambered Nautilus

For tonight's relfection on poetry and its meaning, I chose to read the poem The Chambered Nautilus by Oliver Wendell Holmes.  In the following paragraphs, I will share the literal meaning of the poem, how this poem reflects the Romantisim period, and the meaning based on the literal meaning, poetic devices and personal knowledge.

First, I will start with the literal meaning of the poem, or what I think it is.  At first, Oliver Wendell Holmes is describing a ship.  The ship is very majestic and is sailing in a place that seems very mystical because of the creatures described in it.  Sirens and sea-maids are both made up, so the literal meaning is obviously not the true meaning of the poem.

"THIS is the ship of pearl, which, poets feign,
Sails the unshadowed main,—
The venturous bark that flings
On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings
In gulfs enchanted, where the siren sings,
And coral reefs lie bare,
Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their streaming hair." (Holmes).

 The poem The Chambered Nautilus most definitely reflects the Romanticism time period for several reasons.  The first reason is the description.  Every detail is described so you feel like you can actually see it or are experiencing it.  For example, the stanza quoted above is describing where the ship is sailing, and how it is sailing.  Things like "In gulfs enchanted" (Holmes) and "And coral reefs lie bare" (Holmes) let your imagination create a picture of what is going on in the scene, which is a trait that was very common during the Romanticism period.  Another reason why this poem is an obvious one from the Romanticism period is how prevelent nature is.  The entire poem is about a sea creature and how he lives.  Before reading this poem, I did not know what a nautilus was or looked like, so I looked it up.  Once I saw an image of it, I knew what it was right away because I am very familiar with the beach and ocean, etc.  I thought it was remarkable how Oliver Wendell Holmes was able to write an entire poem about such a little guy.  I think they are cute and I am weird.  Look them up.

Based on the literal meaning and my own personal knowledge, I think Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote this poem telling the tail of a small sea crustasaian to tell a story of survival.  He is telling how the small nautilus lives in part of his shell, and when he is ready for something different, he simply creates a new level in his home.  I think Oliver Wendell Holmes is trying to let people know that life goes on; you have to face challenges everyday and learn how to overcome them.  When the nautilus outgrew his living conditions, he moved on and started a new life for himself.  Through all of the trials and errors, the small nautilus manages to stick it out, look forward and move on into the future.






"801. The Chambered Nautilus. Oliver Wendell Holmes. 1909-14. English Poetry III: From Tennyson to Whitman. The Harvard Classics." Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Quotes, Poems, Novels, Classics and Hundreds More. Web. 08 Dec. 2011. http://www.bartleby.com/42/801.html.