Where Lies the Land, by Arthur
POETRY NOTES ENGLISH LITERATURE (0427) MAY/JUNE 2013 Clough
Introduction
These notes are part of a brief analysis of selected poems for CIE English Literature for the
May/June 2013 examinations in the USA. They are intended for teachers, although high-ability
students may also be able to use these study notes.
Poetry is sometimes difficult to analyse and comment upon, as one person’s interpretation may not
be another’s. Please be aware that the notes are my interpretation of each poem, and should be used
in conjunction with other materials, resources, and worksheets to have the best results. Nonetheless,
these notes can be a useful starting point for students and teachers, and to stimulate discussion for
the poem.
Poetry selection:
From Songs of Ourselves: The University of Cambridge International Examinations Anthology of Poetry in
English:
Poem analysed:
125 – Where Lies the Land? by Arthur Hugh Clough
There will only be partial annotations of the poem, as it is assumed that teacher/student discussions
may draw out more salient points. This document is one in a set of study notes, and it is intended to
be improved upon – so any feedback for suggested improvements or additions would be welcomed via
email at Samantha@eddistutorial.com
Each poem in the selection for the May/June CIE exams will be released as soon as they have been
cranked out . If you contact me, and you have found the resource useful, I will try to work harder.
Where Lies the Land? by Arthur Hugh Clough
Background
Arthur Clough (pronounced ‘cluff’) was born in 1819 in Liverpool but moved to the South Carolina,
USA when he was a young boy. He travelled quite a bit as he went back to England for his
education (aged nine) but also went to France, Italy, back to America and then back to England, as
well as visiting Greece and Turkey. Inspiration for this poem came from his sea voyages as well as
from a poem by William Wordsworth, as the first line to the poem is ‘Where lies the Land to which
yon Ship must go’.
Structure and Language
This lyrical poem has a recognisable structure, written in four quatrains (4-lined stanzas) with a
very rhythmic metre. The metre is in iambic pentameter (favoured by Shakespeare and Chaucer),
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Where Lies the Land, by Arthur
POETRY NOTES ENGLISH LITERATURE (0427) MAY/JUNE 2013 Clough
that is, five pairs of syllables (unstressed and then stressed). Each pair of lines rhyme at the end, and
this is the particular style called heroic couplets.
Iambic pentameter is a common metre used in poetry, especially at the time that Clough was writing
– it also requires thought and discipline to create a poem that follows such a structure. In this
instance, using the rhythmic pattern of stressed/unstressed iambs and rhymes, Clough could also be
subliminally mimicking the waves at sea on this voyage, thus doubling up the purpose of the poem’s
structure.
Not only is the pattern and rhythm an important strength to the poem, Clough has used repetition
to emphasise or reinforce meaning. You can see this as the first and last stanzas are repeated, so
‘topping and tailing’ the poem, or introducing and reinforcing the main theme of travel to the
reader. In addition, each line is rhymed with the next, and such end rhymes resonate longer in the
mind as a result. Clough liked the ‘oh’ sound so he repeats it in the second stanza (below, go) –
different interpretations can be given for his purpose.
Poetic devices used by Clough include plenty of alliteration in each stanza, to create rhythm, and
comfort in the repetition of sounds. This is to give an upbeat attitude towards travelling to unknown
places, rather than introducing apprehension of the unknown. In addition, to add a more natural
rhythm to the lines, Clough uses caesura and enjambment for effect. For example, ‘And where the
land she travels from? Away’ uses caesura to give a pause after the question. Enjambment, where the
line continues to the next line of verse with no pause in punctuation, is also used – ‘watch below the
foaming wake’ is an example of Clough’s desire to keep the natural conversation going.
This poem can be interpreted at two levels, I believe, and as long as examples from the poem
support the interpretations, both can stand as true. Firstly, this poem can simply be seen as a journey
by sea from one port to another – we know Clough travelled and that he would have experiences as
a result. So the first stanza is the start of the journey, with the travelers going ‘far, far ahead’ with the
seamen. By leaving everything ‘far, far behind’, the travelers are leaving the comforts of home
behind. The second stanza illustrates the good times on the ship with ‘sunny noons’, friends being
‘linked arm in arm’, ‘reclining’ and watching the waves ‘foaming’. The third stanza introduces stormy
weather, ‘stormy nights when wild north-westers rave’ and shows how the seamen bravely face the
storms. Their delight at getting through the bad weather is described by Clough as an exulted
dripping sailor. The last stanza, which repeats the first, brings the traveler back to shore and to the
beginning of his or her next journey – unknown to all, but also unafraid.
At a deeper level, Clough may have been using the imagery of the ship and the journey as a
metaphor for life and the journey that we take. With this interpretation, the first stanza is the start
of our journey, as we leave the comforts of home and leave our childhood behind. The second
stanza then represents the good times in life, such as the ‘sunny’ times, friendship with arms linked,
the ‘pleasant …pace’, and the relaxing state that we are in. Clough makes an effort to show that the
traveler and sailors are enjoying the ride, enjoying life. The third stanza represents the storms and
troubles that people undoubtedly face, and yet his perspective is proud and strong as we ‘fight’ and
‘exult’ when life’s battles are won. The last stanza, back to the beginning, is actually the start of
another journey in life, with its ups and downs to come, that does not faze anyone taking the
journey.
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Where Lies the Land, by Arthur
POETRY NOTES ENGLISH LITERATURE (0427) MAY/JUNE 2013 Clough
Linking this poem to a metaphorical journey of life can also be seen in Clough’s use of cycles (as in
life). Time is illustrated with ‘sunny noons’ and ‘stormy nights’ and the pleasant unknown journey of
life seems to be a trip that all want to take. It is as if being on the ship, or taking the journey of life in
stride, is better than the destination, and that there will always be another trip to take (the complete
cycle is portrayed by the identical first and last stanzas).
Tone
Though this journey, whether it is a simple ocean voyage or symbolic of life, is one where the
destination is unknown, the tone is joyful, almost excited. The first stanza does not give clues to the
destination, but Clough teases the reader as the seamen neither know nor can say much. There is
also pride in the journey when it is hard, as the sailors (and the travelers facing trials in life) ‘fight
wind and wave’ (either nature or life’s challenges). Their pride continues as they bravely exult in
victory over the elements and ‘scorn to wish it past’.
Themes
Taken at a superficial level, the themes of travel, exploring, joy (with travel), living in the moment
(the carpe diem perspective) all come to mind. If the poem is interpreted as symbolic for life, the same
themes run through as we take on the joy of life, exploring, seizing the day (good or bad) and doing
it all over again.
Where Lies the Land?
Arthur Hugh Clough
Examples of
alliteration
Repetition for
effect, in words
and in lines
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Where lies the land to which the ship would go?
Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know.
And where the land she travels from? Away,
Far, far behind, is all that they can say.
a
a
b
b
On sunny noons upon the deck’s smooth face,
Linked arm in arm, how pleasant here to pace!
Or, o’er the stern reclining, watch below
The foaming wake far widening as we go.
c
c
a
a
On stormy nights when wild north-westers rave,
How proud a thing to fight with wind and wave!
The dripping sailor on the reeling mast
Exults to bear and scorns to wish it past.
d
d
e
e
Where lies the land to which the ship would go?
Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know.
And where the land she travels from? Away,
Far, far behind, is all that they can say.
a
a
b
b
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Rhyme scheme –
heroic couplets
Example of caesura
Example of
enjambment
Example of consonance
Repetition of the
first stanza in the
last stanza
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Where Lies the Land, by Arthur
POETRY NOTES ENGLISH LITERATURE (0427) MAY/JUNE 2013 Clough
(1852)
Compare Clough’s poem to William Wordsworth’s poem, Where Lies the Land
www.portablepoetry.com/poems/william_wordsworth/where_lies_the_land.html
For further reading, find Arthur Clough on this website:
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/index.html
For the students, say:
Now make your own notes based on annotating this poem, using quotations, and categorizing your
notes under headings like: poem summary/overview; structure and poetic devices; language; themes;
tone, and so on.
[Draft version of document – final packet will contain all 14 poems for the CIE IGCSE English
Literature examination, May/June 2013]
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