Poetry · Chapter
A Prophecy explained
The speaker invokes the moon, stars, and sky to listen to a lullaby for an infant.
What happens
The speaker invokes the moon, stars, and sky to listen to a lullaby for an infant. The child is prophesied to become a poet, as a flaming lyre appears above the cradle and the infant touches it unharmed, signaling a destined poetic future.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the King, overwhelmed by his own confession, reveals Bertha’s…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Dreams and Escape
The lullaby and prophetic vision create a dreamlike atmosphere, envisioning the child's escape into a poetic destiny.
- Art and Poetry
The central prophecy is that the child will become a poet, symbolized by the flaming lyre and the infant's fearless interaction with it.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Child, I know thee! Child no more, But a Poet evermore!”
I recognize you, child; you are no longer just a child but will be a poet forever.
The speaker declares the child's transformation into a poet.
“It lifts its little hand into the flame Unharm'd, and on the strings Paddles a little tune, and sings, With dumb endeavour sweetly— Bard art thou completely!”
The infant reaches into the fire without injury, strums the lyre, and produces a sweet sound, confirming its complete identity as a poet.
The miraculous act of touching the flaming lyre symbolizes the child's destined poetic gift.
