Welcome, fellow explorers of language and meaning, to a journey into one of English poetry’s most enduring and hopeful verses. Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Ring out, wild bells” is a powerful and resonant poem, often celebrated independently, yet it holds a profound place within his monumental work, In Memoriam A.H.H. This particular section, a vibrant call for renewal and progress, transcends its original context to speak to universal human desires for a better world. Prepare to uncover the layers of meaning, the masterful use of language, and the timeless wisdom embedded in these lines, offering an authoritative guide to its enduring appeal.
In Memoriam – “Ring out, wild bells”
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let it die.Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let it go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.Ring out the old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old;
Ring in the thousand years of peace.Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Understanding “Ring out, wild bells”
Tennyson’s “Ring out, wild bells” is a deeply reflective yet ultimately celebratory poem, originally serving as CVI (106) within his larger elegy, In Memoriam A.H.H., a profound work mourning the death of his beloved friend, Arthur Henry Hallam. While the broader elegy grapples with personal grief, doubt, and faith, this specific section shifts focus dramatically. It moves beyond individual sorrow to become a sweeping invocation for positive societal and spiritual transformation.
The poem is not merely about bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, although it is famously associated with New Year’s Eve celebrations. It functions as a powerful metaphor for shedding all that hinders human progress and embracing a more enlightened future. The central idea revolves around the cyclical nature of time and the profound potential for renewal inherent in every ending. Tennyson masterfully employs the image of ringing bells as a dual symbol: signaling both a definitive conclusion and an optimistic commencement. This encourages a simultaneous acknowledgement of past burdens and a hopeful outlook toward the future. The poem’s lasting power lies in its ability to resonate with universal human experiences of loss, hope, and the persistent desire for a more just, peaceful, and spiritually enriched world.
A Deeper Dive: Analyzing the Poem
The Power of Repetition and Structure
One of the most immediate and impactful features of “Ring out, wild bells” is the consistent and deliberate use of the imperative phrases “Ring out” and “Ring in.” This literary device, known as anaphora, involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines. It creates a compelling, almost chant-like rhythm, mimicking the insistent, rhythmic sound of bells. More significantly, this repetition powerfully reinforces the poem’s core theme of transformation and renewal.
Each “Ring out” functions as a decisive dismissal, a conscious act of releasing something negative or outdated, while each “Ring in” represents an embrace, a welcoming of something positive and progressive. Observe the opening lines:
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let it die.
Here, the bells do not merely mark the end of a calendar year; they symbolize a broader letting go of the transient, the sorrowful, and the impediments to growth. The structure itself, with its clear parallelisms, guides the reader through a process of purging and welcoming, creating a sense of purposeful movement towards an ideal future.
Imagery and Symbolism
Tennyson’s poem is rich with vivid imagery and potent symbolism, conveying complex ideas through evocative pictures. The “wild bells” themselves are central to the poem’s symbolic landscape. Bells traditionally announce significant events such as births, deaths, and celebrations. Their “wild” quality suggests an unrestrained, passionate, and urgent call for profound change, not merely a gentle transition. The poem is constructed around a series of powerful antitheses, or contrasts of opposing ideas, which clearly delineate what is being discarded and what is being welcomed.
Consider the stark contrast in lines such as:
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
This direct opposition highlights the moral and societal choices the poem advocates. Similarly, the line
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
is not simply a list of negative individual traits. It represents the collective burdens, anxieties, and moral failings that weigh down humanity. The poet desires to eradicate these not just from a passing year, but from the very fabric of society, ushering in a new era of spiritual and ethical clarity.
Exploring Poetic Devices
- Alliteration: Tennyson frequently employs alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds in close proximity, to enhance the poem’s musicality and emphasize certain phrases. For instance, in the opening stanza, the phrase “frosty light” and “flying cloud” draws attention to the imagery and subtly echoes the chime-like quality of the bells.
- Personification: The poem imbues abstract concepts and inanimate objects with human qualities, a device known as personification. The most striking example is found in the lines:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let it die.Here, the “year” is presented as a living entity capable of experiencing death, reinforcing the idea of time as a dynamic force that undergoes cycles of birth and demise.
- Metaphor: The entire poem functions as an extended metaphor, where the ringing of bells serves as a symbolic representation of the process of profound change, purification, and renewal. The call to
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
is not a literal expectation of a second coming, but rather a powerful metaphorical plea for the realization of ultimate spiritual, moral, and ethical ideals within humanity and society.
- Apostrophe: A direct address to an absent person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object is called apostrophe. The poem opens with and repeatedly uses this device, directly speaking to the bells:
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
This direct address gives the bells an active, almost sentient role in the process of ushering in change, making them powerful agents of transformation.
- Meter and Rhyme: The poem predominantly adheres to an ABAB rhyme scheme within each four-line stanza, creating a sense of order and musicality. The meter is largely iambic tetrameter, meaning each line typically contains four iambic feet (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable). This consistent structure provides a soothing, almost hymn-like rhythm, which contrasts with the “wild” nature of the bells and the profound changes being called for, offering a sense of controlled hope amidst the fervent appeals.
Social Commentary and Universal Themes
“Ring out, wild bells” transcends its origin in personal grief to offer a profound commentary on broader societal issues and universal human aspirations. Tennyson, writing in the Victorian era, critiques the social injustices and prejudices prevalent in his time. Lines such as:
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
and
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
reveal a deep concern for social justice, equality, and the eradication of class divisions and baseless arrogance. The poet advocates for a more equitable and compassionate world, where merit and character supersede inherited status.
Crucially, the poem’s message is not confined to a specific historical context. The desire for peace, justice, spiritual growth, and the triumph of good over evil are universal human aspirations that resonate across all cultures and generations. The powerful plea:
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
remains a poignant and hopeful cry in a world still grappling with conflict and division. The poem ultimately champions the enduring human capacity for moral improvement and the collective journey towards a more enlightened existence.
Why This Poem Still Matters
“Ring out, wild bells” is far more than a beautifully crafted poem; it stands as a powerful and enduring reminder of humanity’s capacity for change, renewal, and collective progress. It encourages a critical examination of individual lives and the broader society, prompting reflection on what outdated beliefs, harmful practices, or societal burdens might be holding back true advancement. The poem inspires an embrace of the possibilities that a brighter, more just, and more compassionate future can hold.
This timeless verse invites deep self-reflection and encourages active participation in shaping a world defined by greater justice, peace, and profound meaning. The resonant call of Tennyson’s bells continues to echo, urging all to consider what might be “rung out” from personal lives and the wider community – what habits, prejudices, or patterns no longer serve the greater good – and what new possibilities, virtues, and ideals might be “rung in” to foster a truly flourishing existence.