Poetry · Chapter
In the Mist of the Moon explained
The speaker describes a vision of Nanette in the moonlight, portraying her as a blend of darkness and light, lovelier than the moon itself.
What happens
The speaker describes a vision of Nanette in the moonlight, portraying her as a blend of darkness and light, lovelier than the moon itself.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs in the final line, "Tell them to leave you alone!..."—a raw, defiant outburst that s…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Love and Loss
The poem captures a moment of idealized love and longing for Nanette.
- Nature and the Elements
The moon and mist create a natural, ethereal setting for the vision.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker who sees Nanette in the mist of the moon.
Key passages
“In the mist of the moon I saw you, O, Nanette, And you were lovelier than the moon.”
Through the hazy moonlight, I glimpsed you, Nanette, and your beauty surpassed the moon's.
The speaker compares Nanette's beauty favorably to the moon.
“You were darkness, And the body of darkness. And light, And the body of light.”
You embodied both darkness and light, physically and spiritually.
Nanette is portrayed as a union of opposites.
