by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
close to the sun in lonely lands,
ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
he watches from his mountain walls.
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
1. What/who is the poet describing (i.e. paraphrase the poem)?
2. Where do you think this poem takes place? How do you know?
3. What is your reaction when you read this poem - how does it make you feel?
I think the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson is describing the earth and is natural and exciting wonders. It talks about mountain walls, a person like thunderbolts, wrinkled seas, the sun and the azure world. Since it says this, that tells me that he is talking about the earth and what you would see when you are in it. Also, on one of the lines it says "close to the sun with lonely hands", that is when it really sounds like he is talking about the earth.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem takes place in heaven. I think this poem takes place in heaven because evrything that the poet says, you would see if you were in heaven or flying in the sky. When the poem says and talks about nature and what is in the earth that is what you would see if you were in heaven. Also when you are in heaven, and you lookn down, you are not just going to see dirt and dust on the dround. You will see earth and the wonderful things that live and are in the world.
My reaction to this poem is that I want to just go and explore and go on an adventure to see the world. When it says "the azure world he stands", it means to me that the world or earth is a wonderful place to be in and not one person should want to leave this exciting place called earth. I think Alfred, Lord Tennyson did a great job on this poem. I think he was thinking about nature and adventure when he wrote this poem. Last, I think it could have maybe been earth day considering what he wrote. But, evrybody in the world is very lucky to even live in one big home called earth.
Hannah #12
Nice job!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, is trying to describe a bird that is about to dive off of a cliff and fly. He makes me think this when he says “the wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; he watches from his mountain walls”, because it makes me feel like the bird’s high up. I think that this poem is on a cliff that stands over the ocean, because it says that the sea is beneath him, And that he is close to the sun. When I read this poem I feel kind of soothed. It makes me feel like this because the beginning is gentle sounding. Also to me, things that are high up remind me of being in a cool breeze, and this poem sounds high up. I am very excited to hear the title of this poem, because it can be talking about anything!
ReplyDeleteI always forget to put my name on my blog post! Sorry! The one above this is ben's :)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think that the poet is talking about a bird and the way it jumps or falls for his first flight I think this because of the words "mountain walls" and "like a thunderbolt, he falls". All of the things below him are the natural wonders he probley sees. Also his nest could be close to the sun and there are no people and it's peacful in the land.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem takes place in a peaceful, sunny, happy land where there are only animal and no people. I also picture it like a perfect land for animals and the bird has all of his siblings with him learning to fly. It makes me think of a happy place that I would like to live in if I were a bird.
When I first read this poem, I thought it was talking about nature. Then I read it a few times and noticed it had to be talking about someone or something. I tried thinking about an animal and I knew baby birds fell when tehy learned to fly. Also, birds live in nests up high and the poet described mountain walls and many things that were under him, like water. I think this poem was great and that when you read it, it can trick you. I loved the picture that this poem put in my head. I hope that baby bird used his wings!
Annie #2
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ReplyDeleteI think that the poet, Lord Tennyson, is describing an eagle. This solitary eagle is perched on a crag or piece of rock, jutting out from a cliff. It is so high up that it is close to the sun. The brilliant blue of the sky is all around the eagle, making it appear like it was sitting at the top of the world. Below is a sea of water with calm, rolling waves, which it is staring at with an intense gaze. As it watches from its resting place, the eagle notices a meal that looks appetizing. So, like a thunderbolt, it swoops downward toward its prey, in order to have its dinner.
ReplyDeleteI think that this poem takes place on a rocky cliff near a sea. This is because the poet describes a crag, which is a rock protruding out of a cliff. Also, he mentions a sea below the eagle. So that means that this eagle ‘s home is possibly in the area surrounding the cliff so it can find food that it needs.
My reaction to this poem was that I was struck by the power of the eagle. I also found the eagle inspiring. I could relate to it and almost felt like I was that eagle, sitting on the top of the world. Then, just as I see food, I dive straight down, knowing that no matter how fast I fall, I won’t crash. The eagle believes it can do the impossible. I think this is why the poet wrote this poem. This bird, so majestic and proud, is at the top of the world, and then it falls, knowing that it can do what we humans can’t. It can fly fast and attack with accuracy at the same time. We, too, can do certain impossible things but first we have to believe that we can.
#16
The poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, is describing a bird. The bird is gripping firmly on to the big cliff with its curved talons. The bird is standing on the steep, high cliff, above the sea where very few animals live. It is surrounded by the blue sky that is around him. He watches the wavy sea moving back and forth from the big mountains that surround him. Without warning, he dives speeding strait down, like lightning toward the ocean.
ReplyDeleteThis poem takes place at a coast because it describes the ocean and the mountains around the bird.
This poem reminds me of the animal shows that I watched on TV. I remember seeing birds diving off of really high cliffs into the ocean to get fish. I also think that the scenery described by the poet was breath taking, amazing and beautiful. If I were the bird, I would be able to see the blue skies, the big mountains, and the blue ocean. The only thing that I would not like is diving off of the cliff. That is because I am afraid of heights. Besides that, if I were the bird, it would be pretty nice.
- #7
I think the poet is describing that he is climbing on a cliff that is over water. When he says "And like a thunderbolt he falls" I think he is saying he jumped into the water beneath him. This poem takes place on a cliff in the middle of no-where. I think it is in the middle of no-where because when the poem says "in lonely lands" that means a place where nothing is. This poem makes me feel like something is about to happen. It also makes me feel tense because the guy on the wall falls into the sea and it seems like something bad will happen to him
ReplyDelete~Nolan
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think this poet is describing a bird like a mountain climber. The first line, “He clasps the crag (a rock) with crooked hands, means he is reaching up to climb higher. The second line, “close to the sun in lonely hands”, I think means he is high up the mountain and is getting closer to the sun with every climb. I think the third line, “ringed with the azure world, he stands”, means he is probably standing on a cliff on the mountain looking at the clear blue sky. “The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;” means when he looks down he can see the wrinkles or waves of the sea beneath him crashing on shore. I think the fifth line, “he watches from his mountain walls” means he is watching his surroundings around him. I think the last line , “and like a thunderbolt he falls” means he probably lost his grip and fell into the ocean. This poem could also be describing a bird like a sea hawk or an eagle. An eagle could be clasping his claws on to his ledge, up near the top of a mountain close to the sun. He could be standing with the clear blue sky in the background and him looking down at the waves crashing against the base of the mountain or the shore. He is probably watching from him mountain walls looking for prey or fish in the sea and when his spots it he’ll swop down to get it.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem takes place on a mountain because it says he is watching from his mountain walls. Also it says he is close to the sun, and he looks at the sea bellow him. Now looking down at the sea could mean you are on a one foot cliff but you are then not really close to the sun.
My reaction to this poem is, well . . . for the mountain climber at the end I am a little scared for him because after he has climbed up so far he loses his grip and falls down and down. If this poem was real he would be most likely found dead. Now if we were talking about the bird idea I am just amazed because the fact that this creature can do this majestic move to help him survive in his life.
I think the poet is talking about a mountain climber that is talking about our home Earth.I thoght it was cool how they describe the ocean and the big blue sky. I think that the poem takes place on a mountain. I know this because in the second to last line it says "he watches from his mountain walls". This poem made me feel sort of sad because the mountain climer either fell off the mountain or got shocked by lightning and both of those aren't too happy.
ReplyDelete-#20
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ReplyDeleteI think Alfed Lord Tennyson is trying to describe how a bird dives off a cliff or a mountain, when it flies. The bird may be a hawk or a eagle because he said "like a thunder bolt he falls towords the ocean". It says, "The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls" so it must mean it's above an ocean or sea. "He watches from his mountain walls" this might mean that he might have built it's home on the mountain because it says his mountain. "And like a thunderbolt he falls", eagles and hawks are really fast and when you say eagle or hawk, I think really fast so it's a possibilty that this bird is an eagle or a hawk.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem takes place in a mountain or a cliff near the sea or the ocean because in the poem, it says, "his mountain walls" so he must be on some sort of cliff or mountain. It also says, "Close to the sun in lonely lands" so this land may not have a lot of other birds around because it says, "lonely" and it might live alone.
The first few times I read the poem, I thought it was just talking about the earth and how life was vaulable but after I read it again, I noticed a few hidden details; like when it said, "from his mountain walls" most mountain ranges aren't owned by people, but a bird can make it's home in a mountain cliff. When it said, "He clasps the crag with crooked hands" I looked up crag in the dictionary and I got rugged rock; rough, broken, projecting part of a rock; So without looking at the fifth verse of the poem, I already know that this bird lives on a rocky cliff or a really rocky mountain. This poem makes me feel like I'm watching chicks (baby birds) trying to fly and mother birds demonstrating how to fly. This poem is a puzzle that you have to find out the meaning of it. Sometimes I wish that I could fly in the sky like a bird and reading this makes me feel that I can do anything I want to, But I know that us humans can't fly, even if we tried, we'd fall and break a bone or something. This poem makes me feel free like a bird, and I think that's what the poem might be telling us.
-25
I think the poet is talking about someone looking out on the earth and seeing all these amazing features. This poem talks about mountains, people like thunderbolts, the sun, and wrinkled seas. I knew he was talking about the earth when he said "close to the sun, in lonley hands". I think that this peom takes place in space. I think that someone is looking down on the earth and seeing all its wonderful features. After reading this peom I felt sad because someone or something got shocked by lighting. That is not a good thing. That is what I feel about this peom.
ReplyDelete#8
I think he is describing the earth because it saw the “thunderbolt he falls, his Mountain walls, and the wrinkled sea beneath him.” Those are all the main reasons I think Alfred is talking about earth. I also think it takes place at a beach because it says “wrinkled sea beneath him.” This poem makes me feel like we need to look outside and see what nature has given us and how nature reacts to us and what is out there.
ReplyDelete#13 Jack
I think that the poet is describing the world and it's natural beauties. All of these things are natural causes. I also think that this is about the earth, and how you should protect it. For example, using fluorescent light bulbs, not littering, helping plant trees, almost anything can make a big difference. This poem was about earth day. There are many different settings in this poem. When it talks about the sea, it's at the beach. I also think it's near a mountain because the poet said his mountain walls and then talked about thunderbolt's. So I think this takes place in Hawaii. The beaches and the mountains, Hawaii has a ton of them. It makes me think about the earth and how tons of people on the it, keep on helping and destroying it. To take care of the earth that we live on.
ReplyDelete#6
by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
ReplyDeleteHe clasps the crag with crooked hands;
close to the sun in lonely lands,
ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
he watches from his mountain walls.
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
I think the poet is describing a bird, which is about to dive off a cliff and fly. The clues of this poem make me think that because the lines, “The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; he watches from his mountain walls.” The mountain wall must be the cliff he is about to jump off and fly, and he must be flying over a sea with waves. The wrinkles in the sea are probably waves. The bird must be flying over the world because he is close to the sun.
I think this takes place near a bay with high cliffs and calming ocean waters, choppy and smooth. I know this because it says, “ringed with the azure world, he stands. The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls, as he watches from his mountain walls.” That told me he must be in a tropical place near a bay or seashore.
This poem surprised me. I felt like the poem shared a secret with the poet. He knew something I didn’t. Why did he decide to write this poem? Who is the voice of the person reading this? What is a crag? I wondered why the
author wrote this.
~#15
I think that the poet is describing a bird of prey, like an eagle or a hawk because of the way it says "he clasps the crag with crooked hands." I think that the poet is describing how the bird claps the crag (which is like a large rock) with his tallons. It also says "close to the sun", which must mean that it is up high. A bird would be up high. When it says "the wrinkled sea beneath him crawls", I think that a meat eating bird would like to live near a sea because then he can fish for food. In the end of the poem, it tells how like a thunderbolt, the bird falls, or flies down to the sea so it can hunt for fish.
ReplyDeleteI belive that the the poem takes place in the mountains, right above the sea. I belive this because it actualy says that he watches from his mountain and there is a sea below.
After I read the poem, I felt free beause when I pictured the bird, I saw a golden eagle in a nest on a cliff, looking so wild and free that I almost felt as if I was that bird. And when it dived, it made me really want to be that bird because if I jumped of a cliff as a human, I would probably break my neak, but if I was a bird, I could just fly around and not get as much as a scratch.
#81
oops for the post above i ment #18 :)
ReplyDeleteI think that this poem is describing about the world and it's natural beauties like the thunder bolt and the sun.It also could be about an eagle and its prey.I think that this might take place in a forest because that is where I think most of the stuff in the poem is taking place, like the eagle that searches for its prey in the wild. My reaction to the poem is that I don't understand some of the words the poet is talking about like azure, I have no idea what that means.
ReplyDeleteLucas
I think the man in the poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a rock climber. The poem is about a man trying to climb down rocks to get to a sea. A man is clasping or holding tight on to a crag which is a steep rugged mass of rock projecting upward or downward. His hands are crooked which could mean that one hand could be on top of the other to hold onto the rock. It says close to the sun so I know he is up high climbing down the mountain and not climbing up. When the poem says ringed with the azure world, he stands, that means that it was a bright blue clear day and he is standing. The sea is below him and he watches it from the rocks. Like a thunderbolt he falls means that since he's a rock climber he is held up by ropes but when he falls he goes side to side which looks a little bit like lightening.
ReplyDeleteI think the poem takes place near the sea with a lot of mountains. I know because it talks about him hanging onto rocks and going down them and that there is a sea.
When I read this poem it made me feel like I was the man going down the mountain trying to get to the sea. As I read along I wondered what it would feel like to climb down a mountain.
Max #21
I think that this poem is talking about an eagle or a hawk on top of a cliff. I think it is an eagle or a hawk because it says that "he clasps the crag with crooked hands." Eagles and hawks have crooked hands, or talons. I think that it is on top of a cliff because the he is high up and close to the sun. It says that the sea is beneath him which means he is up high, he is on his mountain walls, which could be a cliff. Finally, it says that he falls. He needs to be up high to fall like a thunderbolt because if you are down low, you won't fall very hard of far. I believe that this poem would take place on a cliff by the ocean. I also think that there are only animals and no people because when I hear this poem, I think "alone." I think that it takes place on a cliff near the ocean because it talks about being up very high, and there is an ocean because "The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls." The sea could be the ocean. This poem makes me feel alone. Alone, but not afraid. It makes me fell proud. I feel proud because if this poem was about a bird, and I were the bird I would feel on top of the world standing on the cliff. I also have many other emotions, but I cannot explain in words how I feel. I like this poem a lot.
ReplyDeleteAshley #4 :)
I think this poem is describing earth and nature and its exciting wonders. It talks about mountains, thunderbolts, the sun, and oceans and waters. I think the poem takes place in Heaven because it describes most of the wonders in a point of view from above. I know this because many people believe Heaven is above us in the sky. I liked how the poet described this poem in a different point of view than just on the ground. The poem was good and the poem made me feel happy.
ReplyDelete#10
by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
ReplyDeleteHe clasps the crag with crooked hands;
close to the sun in lonely lands,
ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
he watches from his mountain walls.
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
1. What/who is the poet describing (i.e. paraphrase the poem)?
2. Where do you think this poem takes place? How do you know?
3. What is your reaction when you read this poem - how does it make you feel?
I think the poet is describing someone who is having adventures. Also it sounds like he is lonely.
I think this poet is talking about new worlds that he went to, also the adventures he's having.
This poem makes me sad, and it sounds deppressing, and he sounds lonely.
#22
I believe that in the poem, Lord Tennyson is talking about an eagle or another predatory bird like a hawk for many reasons. For example, in the first line, he states "he clasps the crag with crooked hands”, implying that the person (or bird) is holding on to something. And because a crag is basically a rocky part of a mountain or a cliff that would simply mean that the bird is standing on the top part of a cliff or something. Also, many birds of prey have crooked talons. In the second line, he says "close to the sun in lonely lands" meaning that it is on a high part of a place not very close to civilization. This is the perfect place for a predatory bird to live. In the third line, he says "ringed with the azure world, he stands". Because azure means blue that means that he is standing near a large blue area. Also, the first line says that he is grasping the crag with his hands, so how can a man grasp a crag while standing on the top of a cliff? An eagle can because his talons are on his feet. On the fourth line, he says "the wrinkled sea beneath him crawls". This means that he is standing over an ocean, where birds would get fish. That also ties into the third line saying that he is surrounded by an azure land. The fifth line says "he watches from his mountain walls". This may be describing a nest built on the top of a mountain. In the final line, he says "and like a thunderbolt he falls". This would mean that the bird is diving down to grab fish. This also reassures that the main character is an eagle because the Native American would associate the eagle with the thunder bird.
ReplyDeleteThe poem is taking place on a cliff over the ocean because he talks about crags and mountain walls. He also talks about the azure world and the raging ocean.
This poem makes me feel amazed by the eagle’s sheer beauty and power. It paints a beautiful picture in your mind. I can almost see the eagle swoop over the side of the cliff. I would like to see the real thing, though. All and all, it is an amazing poem.
R.D. 27
I really like this poem because it spoke to me and reminded me of a bird, comparing it to a climber, in this natural world called Earth. I think that's what the poet, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, is describing. I think the words of the poem take place in nature with mountains and water.
ReplyDeleteWhen it says, "He clasps the crag (rock) with crooked hands," He's saying that he's climbing the really high mountain or he's building up courage to fly. It's so high that he's close to the sun. When it says, "and like a thunderbolt, he falls," I think it's talking about how a bird is taking his first flight down the mountain.
My reaction to this poem and how I feel was happy and peaceful. I was also a bit scared if it was a climber because he said that like a thunderbolt, he falls but if it was abird taking flight then thats happy. I really enjoyed reading this poem.
~Cameron
I believe this poem take place somewhere with huge cliffs next to the ocean because he talks about these, the sun and mountain walls. I think what Alfred, Lord Tennyson is describing on this poem is that he is climbing a very high cliff with some difficulties or challenges (maybe a problem) but in a beautiful natural environment that make him feel relax.
ReplyDeleteThis poem made feel that Alfred, Lord Tennyson or maybe somebody he knows feels tense, lonely and desperate so he or that person decide to die in a place that makes he or that person feel calm and confident. Also when he says " like a thunderbolt he falls" he or the other person believe is a fast way to run away from that emotional state.
My reaction to this poem is that the poet has been stressed out (or maybe somebody else) and wants to be in a place where he doesn't want to think about stuff that make him suffer. but at the same time maybe not all in his life is bad because he describes a nice place, even when the ocean is with high tide and he worked hard to get there (maybe trying to solve his problem). This poem made me feel sad because one of my family members stressed out and she was very desperate and when I saw her suffering made me realize that I need to take care of that family member helping and talking to her and not let her do anything crazy.
Mariana#19
Call me crazy but I think this person is describing suicide. A crag could be a knife or gun used to kill ones self, he could be standing on a cliff on a sunny day where the ocean lies below, waiting to swallow him as he falls.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem takes place at the edge of a trecherous cliff, sea waiting below- taunting with an icy lure. On a day were the sun comes out to play, pushing away clouds and warming its earth.
The first time I read this poem, I was confused, it made no since to me at all. I read it a second time and I thought of someone falling off a cliff, having been pushed or jumped I do not know but that was me reaction to this poem.
#1
I think that Lord Tennyson is describing how an eagle is preparing to take flight from its mountain-top nest. He describes the eagle as holding onto a crag, which is a large rock, with his crooked hands, which would be his talons. When you see an eagle take flight, it looks as though they are falling like a thunderbolt. This would be especially true if the eagle were flying to catch its prey. Although he uses few words, I was still able to visualize the eagle in my mind. It describes the eagle perched at the highest peak of a mountain because it says he is ring'd by the azure world. Since azul means blue, I think he is talking about the blue sky that surrounds him as he stands.
ReplyDeleteThis poem makes me feel excited, because seeing an eagle take flight is amazing. The poet choses words that helped me paint a picture in my mind of what the eagle may have been feeling perched up there all alone. This made me feel lonely, because the poets words made you feel like you were the eagle. I looked up this poem on PoemFinder.com, and after reading more of Lord Tennyson's poetry, realized that many of his poems are depressing and difficult to understand. This poem was different in that it was easier to understand. I enjoyed this poem because it made me think hard about who or what the subject could have been.
Noah #24
I think the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson is describing a bird. He talks about being close to the sun, looking at the sea beneath him, watching from his mountain walls, and like a thunderbolt he falls. I think the poem takes place in the birds nest and he is looking for food.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to poem is peacefulness. It would be cool to be a bird and sit in your nest and be free to fly around anywhere you want whenever you want.
Natalie #23
BOOM CRASH!!! When I heard this poem by: Alfred, lord Tennyson made me think of glaciers. When it said, “ringed with the world’s azure” I think it is talking about how the ice is so rough. By, “the wrinkled sea beneath him crawls” I think he is talking about the glaciers moving and shifting round. By, “like a thunder bolt he falls” I think the he is talking about the glaciers falling down. I think the poem is talking place at the ice age when all of the glaciers were falling. When I read this poem I felt like I was in the ice age watching the glaciers fall down. I think this poem’s has very descriptive words like, azure. I yhink it should be titled, GLACIERS.
ReplyDelete-Cory#11
I think the poet is describeing the veiw of a bird as it flys above the beuty of nature. I think this because when he said "He clasps the crag with crooked hands", I tought of birds' feet. I think this place is on a mountain because when he said "he watches from his mountain walls", it says the word mountain. This poem made me feel amazed at the beuty of the world. It also makes me sad, because we are destroying the world. We need to save our world.
ReplyDeleteIt is our home.
A.M.B. #3