Abou Ben Adhem
by Leigh Hunt
Abou Ben Adhem, may his tribe increase!
Awake I, the old, the old? I was a humble man, and I came to a dream of peace, and within the moonlight in my room, I saw an angel writing in a book of gold.
I wrote: “What writes you?” The angel raised its head, and with a sweet accord answered: “The names of those who love the Lord.”
“Is mine one?” I asked. “Nay, not so,” replied the angel. I spoke more lowly, but cheerfully still, and said, “I pray thee, then, write me as one who loves his fellow men.”
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night it came again with a great awakening light, and showed the names whom love of God had blessed, and lo! Ben Adhem’s name led the rest.
Summary of Abou Ben Adhem
- Popularity of “Abou Ben Adhem”: This poem, penned by Leigh Hunt, is a beautiful exploration of love, faith, and humanity. First published in 1834, it recounts a pivotal moment in Abou Ben Adhem’s life, illustrating a path to divine favor through selfless love.
- “Abou Ben Adhem” as Representative of Faith: The poem centers around Abou Ben Adhem, who awakens to find an angel recording the names of those who love God. When Abou discovers his name is absent from the list, he does not despair. Instead, he humbly requests to be written among those who love and cherish their fellow human beings. The next night, the angel returns, revealing a revised list where Abou’s name stands above all others. This showcases the poem’s central message: love for humankind is a powerful form of devotion.
- Major Themes in “Abou Ben Adhem”: The poem’s core themes are the importance of universal love and genuine faith. It suggests that devotion to God isn’t solely about religious practice but also about demonstrating compassion and kindness toward all of creation. Abou Ben Adhem’s story is a powerful reminder that loving others is at the heart of spiritual life.
Analysis of Literary Devices in “Abou Ben Adhem”
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words creates a musical effect and enhances the poem’s flow.
- Consonance: Like assonance, consonance adds to the musicality of the poem, as the repetition of the ‘i’ sound in “I was a humble man” creates a gentle echo.
- Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without punctuation helps maintain the poem’s momentum. In the line, “and with a sweet accord answered,” the idea carries over into the next line without pause.
- Imagery: The poem employs vivid imagery to convey the angel’s presence and the serene atmosphere. The image of an angel writing in a book of gold creates a striking visual.
- Simile: The poem uses a simile to describe the angel’s sweet accord, comparing it to a gentle, harmonious melody.
- Symbolism: The angel symbolizes divine guidance, while the book of gold represents the divine record of true love. Light in the poem often stands for enlightenment and spiritual truth.
Poetic Devices in “Abou Ben Adhem”
- End Rhyme: The poem employs rhyme at the ends of lines. The rhyme contributes to its musicality and memorability. For example, the pairs “peace” and “gold” as well as “men” and “rest” show this pattern.
- Iambic Pentameter: Many lines of the poem follow an iambic pentameter structure, with five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables. This rhythmic pattern adds a sense of order and calm.
- Rhyme Scheme: The overall rhyme scheme of the poem is alternating. For instance, the ending words “peace” and “gold” create a balanced rhythm.
- Stanza Structure: The poem is divided into two stanzas, each focusing on different aspects of Abou Ben Adhem’s request and the angel’s response.
Quotes to be Used
These lines are particularly useful when discussing themes of kindness, compassion, and the importance of loving others:
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night it came again with a great awakening light, and showed the names whom love of God had blessed, and lo! Ben Adhem’s name led the rest.