Silence
by Thomas Hood
There is a silence where hath been no sound,
There is a silence where no sound may be,
In the cold grave, under the deep deep sea,
Or in the wide desert where no life is found,
Which hath been mute, and still must sleep profound;
No voice is hush’d, no life treads silently,
But clouds and cloudy shadows wander free,
That never spoke, over the idle ground:
But in green ruins, in the desolate walls
Of antique palaces, where Man hath been,
Though the dun fox, or wild hyena, calls,
And owls, that flit continually between,
Shriek to the echo, and the low winds moan,
There the true Silence is, self conscious and alone.
Summary of Silence
- Popularity of “Silence”: ‘Silence’ is a philosophical and evocative poem penned by Thomas Hood, a renowned English poet. First published in 1829, the poem explores the multifaceted nature of silence, portraying it not merely as an absence of sound, but as a palpable presence in various landscapes and settings. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to provoke contemplation on the nature of being, loss, and the enduring power of the natural world.
- “Silence” as a Representative of the Natural World: The poem beautifully contrasts two distinct types of silence. Initially, Hood presents a silence born of complete absence—the silence of the grave, the deep sea, and the barren desert. These are places where life does not exist, and therefore no sound is generated. This silence is absolute and unchanging. However, the poet then shifts focus to places touched by human history—ruins and desolate palaces. While seemingly empty, these locations are inhabited by animal life—foxes, hyenas, and owls—creating a different kind of silence—one punctuated by natural sounds, but still marked by the absence of human presence.
- Themes in “Silence”: Central to “Silence” are the themes of silence and nature. The poem isn’t simply about silence; it demonstrates it through imagery and contrasting settings. Hood contemplates silence as a fundamental aspect of existence, associating it with both death and the untouched beauty of the natural world. The poem also subtly explores the theme of time and decay—the ruins stand as testaments to vanished civilizations, and the silence within them carries the weight of history. Ultimately, the poem suggests that true silence isn’t merely the absence of sound, but a profound and self contained state of being.
Analysis of Literary Devices in “Silence”
Literary devices are the tools writers use to enrich their work and convey meaning. Thomas Hood skillfully employs several devices in “Silence” to create a vivid and thought‑provoking experience for the reader.
- Assonance: Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, adds to the musicality and emotional resonance of the poem. For instance, notice the repetition of the short “o” sound in “Shriek to the echo, and the low winds moan.” This repetition creates a haunting, melancholic effect, mimicking the mournful sound of the wind.
- Imagery: Hood masterfully uses imagery—language that appeals to the five senses—to paint a compelling picture in the reader’s mind. Consider the lines, “Or in the wide desert where no life is found,” or “But in green ruins, in the desolate walls.” These phrases create a strong visual impression, allowing us to vividly imagine the stark landscapes and crumbling structures.
- Consonance: Consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds, contributes to the poem’s texture and mood. Notice the repetition of the “p” sound in “In the cold grave, under the deep deep sea.” This alliteration subtly emphasizes the weight and finality of death.
- Enjambment: Enjambment—the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next—creates a sense of fluidity and momentum. For example:
“But in green ruins, in the desolate walls
Of antique palaces, where Man hath been.”The thought isn’t contained within a single line, but flows seamlessly into the next, mimicking the vastness and continuity of time.
- Anaphora: Anaphora—the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses—emphasizes a particular idea. The repetition of “There is a silence” in the opening lines,
“There is a silence where hath been no sound,
There is a silence where no sound may be.”Immediately establishes silence as the poem’s central focus and underscores its pervasive presence.
- Personification: Personification—giving human qualities to inanimate objects—brings the natural world to life. The lines “Shriek to the echo, and the low winds moan” imbue the wind with the ability to express sorrow, creating a sense of empathy and connection to the natural world.
- Alliteration: Alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds, adds to the poem’s musicality and emphasizes certain phrases. Notice the repetition of the “c” sound in “But clouds and cloudy shadows wander free” and the “s” sound in “There the true Silence is, self conscious and alone.”
A closer examination reveals that the poet skillfully employs these literary devices to convey his ideas about silence, creating a deeply evocative and thought‑provoking experience for the reader.
Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Silence”
Poetic devices are tools specifically used in poetry to create rhythm, sound, and meaning. “Silence” demonstrates a sophisticated use of these techniques.
- Structure: The poem consists of fourteen lines, which gives it the length of a sonnet, although its rhyme scheme and meter differ from a traditional sonnet.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem has an irregular rhyme scheme. While the opening lines rhyme with “sound” and “found,” and “sea” and “be,” the later lines use varied rhymes such as “profound” with “ground” and “alone” with “moan.” This irregularity supports the poem’s thematic exploration of silence in different contexts.
- End Rhyme: The use of end rhyme—rhyming words at the ends of lines—creates a sense of closure and musicality. For instance, in the opening lines, the rhyming words are “sound” and “found,” and “be” and “sea.”
- Iambic Pentameter: The poem is written in iambic pentameter—a metrical pattern consisting of five iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line. This rhythm creates a natural, flowing cadence that enhances the poem’s readability and impact. For example: There is a silence where hath been no sound.
Quotes to be Used
The lines stated below can be used when describing the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of deserts where there is silence all around.
“Or in the wide desert where no life is found,
Which hath been mute, and still must sleep profound;
No voice is hush’d, no life treads silently,
But clouds and cloudy shadows wander free.”