On the Tombs in Westminster Abbey Summary

The poem is “On the Tombs in Westminster Abbey” by Francis Beaumont. Francis Beaumont (1584-1616) was an English dramatist and poet, best known for his collaboration with John Fletcher on plays during the Jacobean era.

In this poem, Beaumont reflects on the mortality of human beings, especially the powerful and royal figures who are now laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. The verses convey a sense of the transience of earthly greatness, emphasizing that even those who once held realms and lands now lie in stillness, unable to exert any strength.

The poet draws attention to the contrast between the past grandeur of these individuals and their current state as lifeless bones in a heap of stones. The notion that even gods, as powerful as they may have been in their time, succumbed to mortality and died as men is also emphasized.

The imagery of an “acre sown” with the richest and royal seed symbolizes the burial ground, and the mention of “sands, ignoble things” dropped from the sides of kings reinforces the idea of the fallen and decayed state of once-majestic rulers. The poem reflects on the inevitable fate of all, regardless of their past glory, as they are buried in dust and reduced to insignificance by the passage of time.

Key Points

Author Francis Beaumont (1584-1616) was an English poet and playwright.

Form The poem follows a rhyme scheme of AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHII and is written in iambic tetrameter.

Speaker The speaker in the poem is an observer reflecting on the mortality and the transience of earthly power and wealth.

Setting The setting of the poem is Westminster Abbey, a notable burial site in London.

Theme The central theme of the poem is the inevitability of death and the transience of earthly power and wealth.

Plot The poem begins with the speaker addressing mortality and reflecting on the change that death brings. The speaker contemplates the bones of once-powerful rulers who now lie in graves, unable to move or speak. The final lines describe a world of “pomp and state” buried in dust and forgotten by fate.

Tone The tone of the poem is somber and reflective, inviting the reader to contemplate the transience of life and the inevitability of death.

Style Simple and direct language, with occasional use of metaphor and personification . The rhyme scheme contribute to a sense of order and formality, reflecting the solemnity of the setting.

Message The message of the poem is a reminder of our mortality and the fleeting nature of power and wealth. No matter how great or powerful someone may be in life, they will ultimately end up buried in dust like everyone else.

Francis Beaumont

Birth and Early Life Francis Beaumont was born around 1584 in Grace-Dieu, Leicestershire, England.

Education He was educated at Broadgates Hall (now Pembroke College), Oxford.

Career Beaumont was a dramatist in the English Renaissance theatre.

He is most famous for his collaborations with John Fletcher on comedies and tragedies between about 1606 and 1613.

His first work, “Salmacis and Hermaphroditus”, appeared in 1602.

His solo work, “The Knight of the Burning Pestle”, was first performed by the Children of the Blackfriars in 1607.

Personal Life Around 1613, Beaumont married Ursula Isley, daughter and co-heiress of Henry Isley of Sundridge in Kent.

They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Frances.

Death Beaumont died on March 6, 1616, in London.

Legacy It is believed that Beaumont’s hand appears in 10 plays published in 1647 as by “Beaumont and Fletcher” and in 3 plays substantially written by Fletcher and Philip Massinger.

“The Knight of the Burning Pestle” is considered Beaumont’s unaided work.

Word Meaning