"A subtle chain of countless rings The next unto the farthest brings; The eye reads omens where it goes, And speaks all languages the rose; And, striving to be man, the worm Mounts through all the spires of form."
As Emerson equates "nature" to the mind, then we have a formula that looks something like this, by substituting the word "mind" for the word "nature": language is to the mind as the mind is to thought. I think Emerson is telling us that language builds into the mind the thoughts that the mind can then express in language. Perhaps this is further borne out by the line "A subtle chain of countless rings The next unto the farthest brings," where Emerson tells how each word builds upon the next until the entire thought is revealed and expressed. The eye, or the processing by the mind, interprets the ring of words (the language), into the complete thought that is what separates man, who speaks many different languages (each beautiful) from the worm. The worm is a living creature, yet without the mind to interpret and understand and give meaning, beauty, and discipline, there is no "language." --Evie
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The kenning of "ring of words" as a metaphor for language has a "ring" to it! That would make a great title for a poem. Let me know if you have trouble accessing the Emerson essay "The Poet" on the HBLL website at EReserve.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lessons--the language of the gospel most of all--that you've taught us all. Thank you for this particular comment: I hadn't even realized that I had used a metaphor, and as one who is trying to learn how to think and put those thoughts on paper, I appeciated having a specific success, though innocent, illuminated for my learning, discovery, and delight.
ReplyDeleteLove, Evie
P.S. I hope our learning can continue, as before, outside of the classroom. I would be loathe to lose such a light from my life. (Too much Shakespeare this summer--but the thought is sincere.)
One of the best blessings of a professor's career is lifetime friendships with former students!
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