Christmas Bells
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
”For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
Summary of Christmas Bells
- Popularity of “Christmas Bells”: With its initial publication in 1865, “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has become a popular and widely recognized poem about the Christmas season. The poem was originally titled “Christmas Bells, 1863” and was written during a time of great personal tragedy for Longfellow. His wife had died in a fire, while his son also received severe injuries in the Civil War. Despite these difficult circumstances under which it was written, “Christmas Bells” has impacted its readers for years.
- “Christmas Bells” As a Representative of Hope: The poem represents the power of poetry in providing comfort and hope in difficult times. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this poem during a time of personal tragedy, as he was mourning the loss of his wife and grappling with the impact of the Civil War which maimed his son. Despite these difficult circumstances, Longfellow was able to create a poem that presents the main points of peace, love, and goodwill closely associated with the Christmas season. The poem can uplift readers and provide a sense of comfort and solace even in the midst of sorrow and strife. As such, it serves as a shining example of the ways in which literature helps readers to cope with the challenges of life and find meaning and purpose in the darkest moments.
- Major Themes in “Christmas Bells”: The major themes in “Christmas Bells” are the power of faith, the importance of peace, and the enduring hope of humanity. Longfellow’s poem explores the idea that even amid personal tragedy and social upheaval, there is still a reason to believe in the goodness of humanity and the possibility of a better world. This message is conveyed through a series of powerful images, such as the ringing of bells as a symbol of hope, the singing of carols as a source of comfort and joy, and the references to the “The Right prevails” as a representation of divine protection and guidance. The poem also emphasizes the importance of finding peace in the face of adversity, as exemplified by the lines “And in despair I bowed my head; / ‘There is no peace on earth!’ “Despite this initial despair, however, the poem ultimately expresses a message of hope and renewal, as Longfellow writes of the music of the bells, which serves as a reminder of the power of faith to overcome even the darkest of times.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Christmas Bells
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow skillfully employed several literary devices to enhance the desired effects of his poem. The analysis highlights some of the primary literary devices are as follows.
- Allusion: It is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of art. Longfellow alludes to the tradition of Christmas bells ringing out a message of peace on earth, which dates to the Middle Ages as in Lines 1-5.
- Assonance: It is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. Longfellow uses assonance to create a musical, harmonious effect in the line “The world revolved from night to day” (Line 12) through the sound of /o/.
- Consonance: It is the repetition of consonant sounds in nearby words. Longfellow uses consonance of /r/ and /n/ to create a harsh, discordant effect in the line “The carols drowned / Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” (Lines 19-20)
- Imagery: It is the use of sensory details to create a mental image. Poem shows the use of imagery to vividly describe the impact of the Civil War on American families, as if “It was as if an earthquake rent / The hearth-stones of a continent” (Lines 21-22).
- Irony: It is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. Longfellow uses irony when the bells of Christmas, traditionally associated with peace, are drowned out by the sounds of war as shown in this stanza;
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
(Lines 16-20)
- Metaphor: It is a comparison between two unlike things. Longfellow uses metaphor to describe the impact of the war on American families, which “made forlorn / The households born / Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” (Lines 23-25).
- Personification: It gives human qualities to non-human things. Longfellow personifies hate, which “is strong, / And mocks the song / Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” (Lines 28-30).
- Repetition: It is the repeated use of a word or phrase. Longfellow uses repetition to emphasize the message of the bells, which shows the repetition of “peace on earth, good-will to men!” (Line 4) and “With peace on earth, good-will to men.” (Line 35)
- Symbolism: It uses symbols to signify meanings, such as bells, earth, carols and South to express hope.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Christmas Bells
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: It is the author’s choice and use of words in the poem. The diction in “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is formal. The poem uses elevated and formal language, which is typical of Longfellow’s style, to convey the serious and profound themes of the poem, such as war, despair, and hope. Examples of formal diction in the poem include words like “Christendom” (line 7) and “accursed” (line 16)
- End Rhyme: It occurs at the end of a line. In “Christmas Bells,” the end rhyme occurs in each stanza’s last two lines, for example, day/play and sweet/repeat.
- Meter: It is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. In “Christmas Bells,” the meter is primarily iambic tetrameter, with four beats per line. For example, “I HEARD the BELLS on CHRIS-tmas DAY” (line 1).
- Rhyme Scheme: This is the pattern of rhymes in a poem. In “Christmas Bells,” the rhyme scheme is AABB in each stanza’s first four lines and then follows a different pattern in the last line, that is AABBC.
- Poem Type: “Christmas Bells” is a lyric poem, a type of poem that expresses personal feelings or thoughts.
- Stanza: A group of lines in a poem that forms a unit. “Christmas Bells” has five stanzas, each consisting of five lines. This type of stanza is called a quintain.
- Tone: The author’s attitude or feeling is conveyed through the words and structure of the poem. In “Christmas Bells,” the tone shifts from hopeful and peaceful in the first three stanzas to despairing and pessimistic in the fourth stanza and finally becomes hopeful again in the fifth stanza.
Quotes to be Used
This quote could be used to emphasize the theme of hope and the belief in a higher power that is still present and active even during difficult times. For example, it could be used in a speech or essay about finding hope and resilience in challenging circumstances or as a message of comfort and encouragement for someone going through a difficult time.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
(Lines 35-36).
