Melancholy by John Fletcher | Melancholy Poem | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
Melancholy
HENCE, all you vain delights,
As short as are the nights
Wherein you spend your folly!
There’s naught in this life sweet,
If men were wise to see’t,
But only melancholy—
O sweetest melancholy!
Welcome, folded arms and fixed eyes,
A sight that piercing mortifies,
A look that’s fasten’d to the ground,
A tongue chain’d up without a sound!
Fountain-heads and pathless groves,
Places which pale passion loves!
Moonlight walks, when all the fowls
Are warmly housed, save bats and owls!
A midnight bell, a parting groan—
These are the sounds we feed upon:
Then stretch our bones in a still gloomy valley,
Nothing ‘s so dainty sweet as lovely melancholy.
line-by-line explanation of the poem
HENCE, all you vain delights,
As short as are the nights
Wherein you spend your folly!
Explanation
The poem begins with a forceful dismissal of fleeting pleasures, like parties or material possessions. The speaker uses an imperative (“HENCE”) to demand their departure and compares their brevity to the short span of nights spent pursuing them.
Poetic Device
Simile: comparing pleasures to short nights.
Metaphor: “follies” representing meaningless pursuits.
There’s naught in this life sweet,
If men were wise to see’t,
Explanation
The speaker asserts that life holds no true sweetness if one truly understood it. This line suggests a disillusionment with the world and its superficial joys.
But only melancholy—
O sweetest melancholy!
Explanation
A striking shift occurs as the speaker embraces melancholy as the only source of true sweetness in life. The exclamation (“O sweetest melancholy!”) expresses deep affection for this unconventional choice.
Poetic Device
Oxymoron: “sweetest” melancholy.
Welcome, folded arms and fixed eyes,
A sight that piercing mortifies,
Explanation
The speaker welcomes physical manifestations of melancholy, like crossed arms and fixed gaze, even though they are sad and morbid. This suggests a preference for introspection over outward expression.
Poetic Device
Metaphor: “folded arms and fixed eyes” represent sadness.
Imagery: folded arms and fixed eyes
A look that’s fasten’d to the ground,
Explanation
This line continues describing the melancholic state, emphasizing a downward gaze signifying introspection and detachment from the world.
A tongue chain’d up without a sound!
Explanation
Melancholy silences communication, leaving the person lost in their own thoughts. This suggests a withdrawal from social interaction.
Poetic Device
Metaphor: “A tongue chain’d up” to illustrate the silence of melancholy.
Fountain-heads and pathless groves,
Places which pale passion loves!
Explanation
The poem finds solace in secluded natural spaces, contrasting them with the intense emotions of “pale passion.” This suggests that melancholy seeks serenity in nature.
Poetic Device
Personification: “pale passion” loves.
Imagery: Fountain-heads and pathless groves
Moonlight walks, when all the fowls
Are warmly housed, save bats and owls!
Explanation
Melancholy enjoys nighttime solitude, preferring the company of nocturnal creatures like bats and owls. This suggests a preference for the unconventional and a connection with the darkness.
Poetic Device
Personification: “moonlight walks”.
Imagery: Moonlight
A midnight bell, a parting groan—
These are the sounds we feed upon:
Explanation
The poem finds sustenance in melancholic sounds, like the solemn toll of a midnight bell and the sorrowful cry of parting. This suggests that sadness nourishes the speaker’s soul.
Poetic Device
Imagery: midnight bell
Then stretch our bones in a still gloomy valley,
Nothing ‘s so dainty sweet as lovely melancholy.
Explanation
Finally, the speaker embraces complete surrender to melancholy, finding pleasure even in death and darkness. This suggests a complex relationship with sadness, where it becomes both a source of sorrow and beauty.
Poetic Device
Metaphor: “stretch our bones” to suggest rest or death
Oxymoron: lovely melancholy
Summary
The poem “Melancholy” by John Fletcher explores the theme of melancholy and the beauty found in reflective and contemplative moments. The speaker bids farewell to frivolous and transient pleasures, emphasizing the brevity of such delights. According to the speaker, life lacks inherent sweetness if one is wise enough to perceive it. The true sweetness, as celebrated in the poem, lies in melancholy.
The speaker welcomes a contemplative posture with folded arms and fixed eyes, describing it as a sight that pierces and mortifies. The poem depicts the allure of melancholy through images of pathless groves, moonlight walks, and the sounds of a midnight bell and a parting groan. The speaker finds solace in these quiet and reflective moments, stretching bones in a still gloomy valley.
The concluding lines express a deep appreciation for melancholy, describing it as “dainty sweet” and asserting that nothing in life is as sweet as lovely melancholy. Overall, the poem celebrates the beauty and depth found in the quieter and more introspective aspects of life, emphasizing the fleeting nature of frivolous pleasures and the enduring sweetness of melancholy.
Key Points
Author
John Fletcher was a renowned English Jacobean playwright. He was known for his collaborative works with other playwrights, most notably Francis Beaumont.
Form
The poem is written in verse form with a varying rhyme scheme. It consists of two stanzas with a total of 19 lines.
Speaker
The speaker in the poem is an unnamed individual who is reflecting on the nature of melancholy and its impact on their life.
Setting
The setting of the poem is not explicitly stated, but the imagery suggests a quiet, introspective environment. The speaker mentions “fountain-heads and pathless groves”, “moonlight walks”, and a “still gloomy valley”, indicating a natural, serene setting.
Theme
The main theme of the poem is the exploration of melancholy. The speaker finds a unique kind of sweetness in sadness and solitude.
Plot
The poem doesn’t have a traditional plot, as it’s more of a reflection on the state of melancholy. The speaker describes their experiences and feelings associated with melancholy, using vivid imagery and metaphors.
Tone
The tone of the poem is contemplative and introspective. The speaker seems to be in a state of deep thought, reflecting on the nature of melancholy.
Style
Fletcher’s style in this poem is characterized by its rich imagery and thoughtful exploration of emotion. He uses metaphorical language to convey the speaker’s feelings and experiences.
Message
The message of the poem is that there can be a certain beauty and wisdom in recognizing and embracing moments of melancholy. It suggests that these moments of introspection can offer a unique perspective on life.
Word Meaning
| Line | Tough Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
| 1 | Hence | Therefore | इसलिये |
| 1 | Vain | Futile, useless | व्यर्थ, बेकार |
| 1 | Delights | Pleasures, enjoyments | सुख, आनंद |
| 3 | Spend | use up | खर्च करना |
| 3 | Folly | Foolishness, stupidity | मूर्खता, बेवकूफी |
| 4 | Naught | Nothing, not anything | कुछ नहीं, ना |
| 5 | See’t | (To) see it | इसे देखना |
| 6 | Melancholy | Sadness, pensiveness | उदासी, मायूसी |
| 8 | Folded arms | Arms crossed | बंधी हुई बाहें |
| 8 | Fixed eyes | Staring intently | स्थिर आँखें |
| 9 | Piercing | Sharp, painful | तेज, चुभने वाला |
| 9 | Mortifies | Humiliates, shames | अपमानित करता है, शर्मिंदा करता है |
| 10 | Fasten’d | (Fastened) Attached firmly | जुड़ा हुआ, मजबूती से लगा हुआ |
| 11 | Chain’d up | (Chained) Bound with chains | जंजीरबंद |
| 12 | Fountain-heads | Sources of springs | झरने |
| 12 | Pathless groves | Groves without paths | अनजानी राहों वाले बगीचे |
| 13 | Pale | Weak, faint | कमजोर, मंद |
| 13 | Passion | Intense emotion, desire | जुनून, तीव्र इच्छा |
| 14 | Fowls | Birds | पक्षी |
| 15 | Housed | Sheltered, kept indoors | घर में रखा हुआ |
| 15 | Bats | Flying mammals with wings | चमगादड़ |
| 15 | Owls | Nocturnal birds of prey | उल्लू |
| 16 | Parting groan | Mournful cry of separation | विदाई का रुदन |
| 17 | Feed upon | Derive sustenance from | पोषण प्राप्त करना |
| 18 | Stretch our bones | Lie down, die | लेटना, मरना |
| 18 | Still gloomy valley | Quiet, dark valley | शांत उदास घाटी |
| 19 | Dainty sweet | Delicately pleasant | नाजुक मीठा |
Very Short Answer Questions
Q: Who is the author of the poem “Melancholy”?
A: The author of the poem “Melancholy” is John Fletcher.
Q: What is the main theme of the poem?
A: The main theme of the poem is the exploration of melancholy.
Q: What is the form of the poem?
A: The poem is written in verse form with a varying rhyme scheme.
Q: What is the tone of the poem?
A: The tone of the poem is contemplative and introspective.
Q: What does the speaker find sweet in life?
A: The speaker finds melancholy to be the only sweetness in life.
Q: What is the setting of the poem?
A: The setting of the poem is suggested to be a quiet, introspective environment.
Q: What does the speaker welcome in the poem?
A: The speaker welcomes the physical manifestations of melancholy: folded arms and a gaze that’s intense.
Q: What sounds does the speaker feed upon?
A: The speaker feeds upon the sounds of a midnight bell and a parting groan.
Q: What does the speaker do in a still gloomy valley?
A: The speaker stretches their bones in a still gloomy valley.
Q: What does the speaker compare vain delights to?
A: The speaker compares vain delights to the shortness of nights.
Q: What does the speaker criticize in the poem?
A: The speaker criticizes those who waste their time in frivolous pursuits.
Q: What does the speaker suggest about wisdom?
A: The speaker suggests that if people were wise, they would realize that there’s nothing truly satisfying in life.
Q: What does the speaker describe in the poem?
A: The speaker describes their experiences and feelings associated with melancholy.
Q: What does the speaker find dainty sweet?
A: The speaker finds lovely melancholy to be dainty sweet.
Q: What does the speaker associate with pale passion?
A: The speaker associates fountain-heads and pathless groves with pale passion.
Q: What creatures are awake during the speaker’s moonlight walks?
A: During the speaker’s moonlight walks, bats and owls are awake.
Q: What does the speaker compare fleeting pleasures to?
A: The speaker compares fleeting pleasures to the brevity of night.
Q: What does the speaker suggest about the nature of happiness?
A: The speaker suggests that happiness is transient.
Q: What does the speaker find in melancholy?
A: The speaker finds a unique kind of sweetness in melancholy.
Q: What does the speaker do with their gaze and tongue?
A: The speaker lowers their gaze and is unable to speak, metaphorically describing their tongue as chained up.
Short Answer Questions
Q: What is the central theme of the poem “Melancholy” by John Fletcher? A: The central theme of the poem is the exploration of melancholy. The speaker finds a unique kind of sweetness in sadness and solitude. They suggest that there’s a certain wisdom in recognizing and embracing these moments of melancholy.
Q: How does the speaker in the poem view melancholy?
A: The speaker views melancholy as the only real sweetness in life. They welcome the physical manifestations of melancholy and feed upon the sounds associated with it. They find a unique kind of beauty and wisdom in recognizing and embracing moments of melancholy.
Q: What kind of imagery does John Fletcher use in the poem?
A: Fletcher uses vivid and rich imagery in the poem. He describes “fountain-heads and pathless groves”, “moonlight walks”, and a “still gloomy valley”. He also mentions the sounds of a midnight bell and a parting groan. This imagery paints a vivid picture of quiet, introspective moments.
Q: How does the poem reflect the speaker’s state of mind?
A: The poem reflects the speaker’s state of mind through its contemplative and introspective tone. The speaker is in a state of deep thought, reflecting on the nature of melancholy. The use of vivid imagery and metaphors further convey the speaker’s feelings and experiences.
Q: What poetic devices does John Fletcher use in the poem?
A: Fletcher employs several poetic devices in the poem such as metaphor, imagery, personification, oxymoron, and repetition. He uses metaphorical language to convey the speaker’s feelings and experiences. The rhyme scheme varies, and the meter is closest to iambic tetrameter.
Q: How does the speaker describe the places and times that evoke melancholy?
A: The speaker describes the places and times that evoke melancholy as quiet natural settings and moonlit walks when most creatures are asleep except for bats and owls. They mention “fountain-heads and pathless groves” and a “still gloomy valley”, indicating a natural, serene setting.
Q: What does the speaker suggest about wisdom in the poem?
A: The speaker suggests that if people were wise, they would realize that there’s nothing truly satisfying in life. They assert that the only real sweetness in life comes from melancholy. This suggests that there’s a certain wisdom in recognizing and embracing these moments of melancholy.
Q: How does the speaker convey the physical manifestations of melancholy in the poem?
A: The speaker conveys the physical manifestations of melancholy by describing them as “folded arms and fixed eyes”, and a gaze that’s so intense it’s almost painful. They also describe a person in a state of deep melancholy, with their gaze lowered and unable to speak, metaphorically describing their tongue as chained up.
Q: What does the speaker feed upon in the poem?
A: The speaker feeds upon the sounds associated with melancholy: the tolling of a midnight bell and a parting groan. These sounds create a somber mood that the speaker finds appealing.
Q: What message does the poem “Melancholy” convey?
A: The poem conveys the message that there can be a certain beauty and wisdom in recognizing and embracing moments of melancholy. It suggests that these moments of introspection can offer a unique perspective on life.
Essay Type Questions
1. Write the critical appreciation of the poem.
Introduction “Melancholy” is a poignant exploration of the bittersweet nature of melancholy, where the speaker finds a unique kind of sweetness in sadness and solitude. The poem is a masterpiece of literature that delves into the human heart and soul, exploring themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of happiness.
Form and Structure The poem is written in verse form with a varying rhyme scheme. It consists of two stanzas with a total of 19 lines. The structure of the poem mirrors the speaker’s contemplative state of mind, with each line contributing to the overall theme of melancholy.
Imagery and Metaphor Fletcher uses vivid and rich imagery in the poem. He describes “fountain-heads and pathless groves”, “moonlight walks”, and a “still gloomy valley”. These images paint a vivid picture of quiet, introspective moments that evoke a sense of melancholy. The speaker also uses metaphorical language to convey their feelings and experiences, such as “a tongue chain’d up without a sound” to illustrate the silence of melancholy.
Theme and Message The central theme of the poem is the exploration of melancholy. The speaker finds a unique kind of sweetness in sadness and solitude. They suggest that there’s a certain wisdom in recognizing and embracing these moments of melancholy. The message of the poem is that there can be a certain beauty and wisdom in recognizing and embracing moments of melancholy. It suggests that these moments of introspection can offer a unique perspective on life.
Tone and Mood The tone of the poem is contemplative and introspective. The speaker is in a state of deep thought, reflecting on the nature of melancholy. The mood of the poem is somber and reflective, mirroring the speaker’s state of mind.
Language and Style Fletcher’s language is rich and evocative, filled with vivid imagery and thoughtful metaphors. His style is characterized by its exploration of emotion and introspection. He uses metaphorical language to convey the speaker’s feelings and experiences, creating a deeply personal and emotional resonance with the reader.
Poetic Devices Fletcher employs several poetic devices in the poem such as metaphor, imagery, personification, oxymoron, and repetition. He uses metaphorical language to convey the speaker’s feelings and experiences. The speaker uses an oxymoron by describing melancholy as “sweetest”, combining two contrasting ideas. The speaker gives human characteristics to “vain delights” and “pale passion”, which are forms of personification.
Conclusion In conclusion, “Melancholy” by John Fletcher is a profound exploration of the nature of melancholy. Through vivid imagery, thoughtful metaphors, and a contemplative tone, Fletcher paints a poignant picture of the sweetness found in moments of solitude and introspection. The poem serves as a reminder of the beauty and wisdom that can be found in recognizing and embracing our moments of melancholy. It is a testament to Fletcher’s mastery of language and his deep understanding of human emotion.
