Allusions In Bermudas

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The 17th Century, dominated by the Age of Discovery and the Church of England sparked a new era for exploration and poets. Poets took exploration to their writing, implementing metaphors to express love. England was primarily Anglican with the Church of England holding most power. However, after the English Civil War, The Church’s power began to waver and those with Christian faith began receiving religious and civil rights. Andrew Marvell grasped this Age to take the New World language and apply it to the growing religion of Christianity in his poem ‘Bermudas’. Yet, how do poets like Marvell capture love through New World language? Marvell’s poem takes the New World language to shed light upon his oppressed faith. I will uncover how he incorporates…show more content…
Marvell looked forward to an Eden, a place given to him by God as promised in the Bible. Biblical allusions are used to express his desire and love for this Eden. Marvell writes “With Cedars chosen by his hand, From Lebanon,” to allude to a flourished promised land. These Cedars can also be seen in Psalm 92:12 “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”. Marvell shows love towards God for what is to be promised to him. This love is a part of possession that the sailors feel for the Eden. The words “ours” “us” “own” are repeated in the passage to show possession. This Eden, promised in the Bible would be given to “them”, it is only theirs to “own”. Why? As followers of God they are being rewarded. This Age of Discovery for the sailors was not for “Jewels more rich than Ormus shows” but for a fruitful, bountiful…show more content…
He formulates his whole passage as a map with a definite destination. To follow along with the flow of water and sea travel, Marvell uses end rhymes to provide a likeness to water in the flow of his poem. “Bermuda’s ride” and “bosom unespied” are examples of how Marvell’s alliterations are present throughout his poem. Although in the start of the passage the water is unknown, rough and a maze by providing a steady pace through alliterations, Marvell signals tough times clearing up and becoming softer. This is supported by the middle of the poem. After the sailors are led to safety by God, “He gave us an eternal spring”. Instead of rough waters which they traveled on to reach the Eden, they are now being sustained for life by a spring of
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