Poetry · Question
How does Poetry develop the theme of Nature and the Divine?
Answer
Poetry by James Weldon Johnson develops Nature and the Divine across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Nature serves as a backdrop for spiritual and emotional reflection, from the tropical landscapes in 'Down by the Carib Sea' to the cosmic imagery in 'The Creation,' linking the natural world to God.
Night is depicted as a divine, maternal force that both precedes creation and offers eternal rest.
Stars and waves are depicted as eternal, singing and falling in a natural cycle that contrasts with human loss.
The sunrise and sunset are depicted as majestic, almost divine events, with the sun as a 'mighty lord' and the sky's colors as a miracle.
Evidence in the book
- Mother Night
Night is depicted as a divine, maternal force that both precedes creation and offers eternal rest.
- I Hear the Stars Still Singing
Stars and waves are depicted as eternal, singing and falling in a natural cycle that contrasts with human loss.
- Down by the Carib Sea
The sunrise and sunset are depicted as majestic, almost divine events, with the sun as a 'mighty lord' and the sky's colors as a miracle.
- I: Sunrise in the Tropics
The sunrise is portrayed as a sacred miracle, with the sun as a 'mighty lord' and 'King of Day,' blending natural imagery with divine reverence.
- Sunset in the Tropics
The sunset is portrayed as a majestic, almost divine display of color and light, emphasizing the beauty and power of the natural world.
- Deep in the Quiet Wood
The wood is portrayed as a sacred space where silence becomes a conduit for God's harmonies, blending nature with spiritual transcendence.
- Ma Lady’s Lips Am Like de Honey
The Southern night, stars, moon, and mockingbird create a divine, enchanted setting for the lovers' stroll.
- Nobody’s Lookin’ but de Owl and de Moon
The moon and owl are personified as natural, trustworthy confidants in the lovers' secret.
