from The Princess: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

Welcome to an exploration of one of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s most exquisite lyrical poems, “from The Princess: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal.” This piece, a jewel within his longer narrative poem The Princess, transports readers into a world of profound beauty, tender longing, and the quiet awakening of love. Prepare to delve into its rich imagery and masterful use of language.

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;
Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;
Nor winks the goldfinch in the porphyry font.
The firefly wakens; waken thou with me.

Now drops the milk white peacock like a ghost,
And like a ghost she glimmers upon me.

Now lies the earth, all Danae to the stars,
And all thy heart lies open unto me.

Now slides the silent meteor on, and leaves
A shining furrow, as thy thoughts within me.

Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,
And slips into the bosom of the lake.
So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip
Into my bosom and be lost in me.

Understanding “from The Princess: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal”

This lyrical masterpiece, originally published in 1847 as part of Tennyson’s narrative poem The Princess, stands alone as a powerful expression of desire and intimate connection. It is renowned for its musicality and dreamlike quality, often set to music due to its inherent melodic rhythm.

Central Idea and Summary

At its core, “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal” is a fervent invitation from a speaker to a beloved, urging a complete and tender union. The poem unfolds at night, portraying a world hushed in slumber, where nature’s elements are at rest. Against this backdrop of tranquil stillness, the speaker’s desire awakens, symbolized by the firefly. The poem progresses from observing the sleeping natural world to an intense plea for the beloved to shed her inhibitions and merge fully with the speaker, both physically and spiritually. It is a celebration of profound intimacy, seeking not just physical closeness but a complete merging of identities and souls.

Noteworthy Aspects for All Readers

A Nocturne of Love: The poem masterfully captures the atmosphere of a quiet night, using it as a canvas for the unfolding of deep emotion. The transition from the sleeping world to the speaker’s awakening desire is central.
Sensory Richness: Tennyson’s genius lies in his ability to evoke vivid sensory experiences. Readers can almost see the sleeping petals, hear the silence, and feel the gentle glimmer of the peacock.
Timeless Appeal: The themes of love, desire, and the yearning for complete union are universal, making the poem resonate across generations. Its elegant language and evocative imagery contribute to its enduring popularity.

In-Depth Analysis of Literary Devices in “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal”

Tennyson’s poetic artistry shines through his deliberate and effective use of literary devices, crafting a poem that is both beautiful and deeply moving.

Allusion

The poem subtly references classical mythology, enriching its thematic depth.

Now lies the earth, all Danae to the stars,

The comparison of the earth to “Danaë” is a powerful allusion. In Greek myth, Danaë was impregnated by Zeus, who visited her in a shower of gold. This reference elevates the beloved, and by extension the earth, to a figure of divine beauty and fertile power, suggesting a sacred and potent aspect to the speaker’s desire and the beloved’s allure.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds contributes to the poem’s musicality and emphasizes certain phrases.

Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;
Nor winks the goldfinch in the porphyry font.

The recurring “w” sound in these lines creates a gentle, lulling effect, mirroring the quiet stillness of the night and the sleeping world. It draws attention to the absence of movement, setting a tranquil scene.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds within words creates internal rhyme and enhances the poem’s melodic flow.

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;

The repeated long “e” and “i” sounds here contribute to a flowing, hypnotic rhythm, drawing the reader into the poem’s dreamlike atmosphere. This subtle musicality underscores the poem’s tranquil mood.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words adds a textural quality and reinforces the poem’s sonic beauty.

Now drops the milk white peacock like a ghost,

The repetition of “p,” “k,” and “s” sounds creates a soft, almost whispering effect, enhancing the ethereal and delicate image of the peacock. This sonic texture contributes to the poem’s overall sense of quiet intimacy.

Enjambment

Tennyson frequently uses enjambment, where a phrase or sentence continues from one line to the next without a grammatical break, creating a sense of continuous movement and heightened emotion.

Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,
And slips into the bosom of the lake.
So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip
Into my bosom and be lost in me.

The seamless flow of these lines, particularly in the final stanza, mirrors the speaker’s yearning for an uninterrupted and complete merging with the beloved. It creates a feeling of urgency and an irresistible pull towards union.

Imagery

The poem is exceptionally rich in vivid imagery, appealing to multiple senses and painting a clear picture of the nocturnal setting and the speaker’s emotions.

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;
Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;
Nor winks the goldfinch in the porphyry font.

These lines evoke striking visual images of sleeping flowers, still trees, and a motionless bird, establishing a scene of profound tranquility. Further examples include “milk white peacock like a ghost,” which creates an ethereal visual, and “A shining furrow,” which provides a tangible representation of abstract thoughts.

Simile

Tennyson employs direct comparisons using “like” or “as” to illuminate the beloved’s qualities and the nature of the desired union.

Now drops the milk white peacock like a ghost,
And like a ghost she glimmers upon me.

This simile immediately establishes a sense of ethereal beauty and spectral grace, highlighting the beloved’s delicate and otherworldly presence. The comparison of the earth to “Danaë to the stars” functions as a simile, suggesting the beloved’s radiant and fertile beauty. Similarly, “A shining furrow, as thy thoughts within me” directly compares the trace of a meteor to the beloved’s thoughts, emphasizing a deep, internal connection.

Symbolism

Certain elements within the poem carry symbolic weight, deepening its meaning.

Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,
And slips into the bosom of the lake.

The lily, traditionally associated with purity, beauty, and innocence, symbolizes the beloved’s delicate allure. Its act of folding up and slipping into the lake’s “bosom” becomes a powerful symbol for the desired surrender and merging of the beloved into the speaker’s embrace. The darkness and stillness of the night itself symbolize a private, intimate world, conducive to the unfolding of deep passion and shared experience.

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal”

Beyond specific literary figures, the poem’s structural and sonic elements contribute significantly to its overall impact and emotional resonance.

Diction

Tennyson’s choice of words, or diction, is formal and poetic, elevating the language to suit the profound subject matter of love and desire.

The firefly wakens; waken thou with me.

Words like “wakens,” “bosom,” “porphyry,” and “furrow” contribute to the poem’s timeless and elegant quality. This elevated vocabulary creates a sense of reverence and seriousness appropriate for the speaker’s deep emotional plea.

Rhyme Scheme and Meter

The poem does not adhere to a strict, regular rhyme scheme or meter, which contributes to its organic and natural flow.

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;
Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;
Nor winks the goldfinch in the porphyry font.
The firefly wakens; waken thou with me.

While there are occasional internal rhymes and assonance that create musicality, the absence of a rigid structure allows the language to dictate the rhythm, mimicking the natural cadences of speech and thought. This contributes to the poem’s intimate and conversational tone, making the speaker’s plea feel more immediate and heartfelt.

Stanzaic Form

The poem is structured into five stanzas of varying lengths, contributing to its dynamic and unfolding expression of emotion.

The first stanza is a quatrain (four lines).
The second, third, and fourth stanzas are couplets (two lines each).
The final stanza is another quatrain.

This varied structure allows Tennyson to build the atmosphere of the sleeping world in the opening quatrain, then focus on specific images and comparisons in the concise couplets, before culminating in the powerful, extended plea of the final quatrain. This progression mirrors the gradual intensification of the speaker’s desire.

Tone

The poem’s tone is a delicate blend of reverence, tender longing, and passionate invitation. It is sensuous without being overtly explicit, creating a feeling of deep intimacy and unspoken yearning.

So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip
Into my bosom and be lost in me.

The speaker’s voice is gentle yet insistent, conveying a profound desire for emotional and physical closeness. The tone is one of profound affection and a yearning for complete, transcendent union.

The Enduring Appeal of Tennyson’s Lyrical Masterpiece

“from The Princess: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal” remains a testament to Tennyson’s unparalleled skill in crafting lyrical poetry. Through its evocative imagery, subtle allusions, and masterful use of sound devices, the poem creates an atmosphere of hushed intimacy and profound longing. The speaker’s invitation to the beloved, culminating in the unforgettable lines: