The deserted village is a poem written by Oliver Goldsmith in 1770. It is a long and descriptive poem that tells the story of a village that was once thriving and full of life, but is now abandoned and desolate. Goldsmith uses vivid imagery and descriptive language to paint a picture of the village's decline and the sorrow and loss that come with it. In this essay, we will do a line-by-line analysis of the poem, examining the language, imagery, and themes that Goldsmith uses to convey the story of the deserted village.
The first line of the poem introduces the setting: "Sweet Auburn! Loveliest village of the plain." Auburn is a small village that is situated in a beautiful and idyllic setting. Goldsmith describes it as the "loveliest village of the plain," suggesting that it is the most beautiful and desirable place in the surrounding area.
The second line introduces the theme of decline: "Where health and plenty cheered the laboring swain." The villagers are described as being healthy and prosperous, with plenty to cheer them as they go about their labors. However, the use of the past tense "cheered" suggests that this is no longer the case.
In the third line, Goldsmith begins to describe the physical changes that have occurred in the village: "Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid." Spring is a time of renewal and growth, and Goldsmith's use of the word "smiling" suggests that it was a happy and joyful season in the village. However, the use of the past tense "paid" again indicates that this is no longer the case.
In lines four and five, Goldsmith continues to describe the physical changes in the village: "And parting summer's lingering blooms delayed." The use of the word "parting" suggests that summer is leaving, and the mention of "lingering blooms" indicates that there are still some signs of life in the village. However, the fact that the blooms are "delayed" suggests that they are not as plentiful or vibrant as they once were.
In lines six and seven, Goldsmith introduces the theme of loss: "Here too where once the garden smiled." The use of the word "once" and the past tense "smiled" indicate that the garden is no longer as beautiful or productive as it once was. The loss of the garden is symbolic of the larger loss that the village has experienced.
In lines eight and nine, Goldsmith continues to describe the physical changes in the village: "And still where many a garden flower grows." The use of the word "still" suggests that the garden is still present, but the use of the word "many" suggests that it is not as abundant as it once was. The mention of "garden flowers" further underscores the theme of loss, as these flowers are typically associated with beauty and life.
In lines ten and eleven, Goldsmith introduces the theme of neglect: "Unseen by any human eye." The fact that the garden is "unseen" suggests that it has been abandoned and left to grow wild. This is a metaphor for the overall neglect and abandonment of the village.
In lines twelve and thirteen, Goldsmith describes the physical effects of this neglect: "The village master scarce himself can know." The village master is the person responsible for overseeing the village and its affairs. The fact that he "scarce himself can know" the state of the village suggests that it has fallen into such disrepair that even the person responsible for it has lost track of its condition.
In lines fourteen and fifteen, Goldsmith introduces the theme of sadness: "The village master scarce himself can know." The use of the