I need help interpreting his Bishop St. Praxed poem.....
I need help analizing his poem: "My last dutches"
Try this link and see if it helps.
[www.emule.com] />
pam
Please help me with a detailed discussion of 'The Incident of the French Camp' & a few lines on Robert Browning himself.
Please help me with a detailed discussion of 'The Incident of the French Camp'& a few lines on Browning.
I'm not sure that I understand. Do you want others to discuss the poem for you, while you sit back and watch?
This poem seems fairly straightforward. Napoleon is seen as a somewhat heroic, or at least non-evil figure, which is interesting, since Browning was a British writer.
pam
Incident of the French Camp
You know, we French stormed Ratisbon:
A mile or so away
On a little mound, Napoleon
Stood on our storming-day;
With neck out-thrust, you fancy how,
Legs wide, arms locked behind,
As if to balance the prone brow
Oppressive with its mind.
Just as perhaps he mused, "My plans
That soar, to earth may fall,
Let once my army-leader Lannes
Waver a yonder wall," --
Out 'twixt the battery-smokes there flew
A rider, bound on bound
Full-galloping; nor bridle drew
Until he reached the mound.
Then off there flung in smiling joy,
And held himself erect
By just his horse's mane, a boy:
You hardly could suspect --
(So tight he kept his lips compressed,
Scarce any blood came through)
You looked twice ere you saw his breast
Was all but shot in two.
"Well," cried he, "Emperor, by God's grace
We've got you Ratisbon!
The Marshal's in the market-place,
And you'll be there anon
To see your flag-bird flap his vans
Where I, to heart's desire,
Perched him!" The chief's eye flashed; his plans
Soared up again like fire.
The chief's eye flashed; but presently
Softened itself, as sheathes
A film the mother-eagle's eye
When her bruised eaglet breathes:
"You're wounded!" "Nay", the soldier's pride
Touched to quick, he said:
"I'm killed, Sire!" And his chief beside,
Smiling the boy fell dead.
-- Robert Browning
The only time Napoleon himself was ever wounded, if memory serves, not to say that has anything to do with the poem.
[www.napoleonguide.com]
Shot in the foot, huh?
pam