"Break, Break, Break" is a poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, published in 1842. The poem is a tribute to Tennyson's close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam, who died suddenly at the age of 22. The poem is a moving expression of grief and loss, and it explores the theme of the transience of life.
The poem is written in three stanzas, each containing four lines, or quatrains. The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef. The repetition of the word "break" in the title and throughout the poem serves to reinforce the theme of loss and the breaking of relationships.
In the first stanza, the speaker reflects on the beauty of the sea and the way it crashes against the shore, breaking the waves. He compares the sea to a "great voice" that speaks to him and fills him with a sense of awe and wonder. However, the speaker also recognizes that this voice is a reminder of the fleeting nature of life, as the waves will inevitably break and recede.
The second stanza shifts to a more personal reflection on the speaker's own grief and sense of loss. He speaks of the "death-white robes" he wears in mourning, and the way that his heart is "broken" by the loss of his friend. The speaker compares his grief to the way the sea breaks against the shore, suggesting that it is a constant, ongoing process that he must endure.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker once again reflects on the sea and its unending cycle of breaking and receding. He speaks of the "eternal" nature of the sea, and the way it continues to break and flow despite the passing of time. The speaker seems to find solace in this idea, suggesting that even though his friend is gone, his memory will continue to live on in the same way that the sea will always break against the shore.
Overall, "Break, Break, Break" is a poignant and powerful tribute to a lost friend. Through the use of vivid imagery and repetition, Tennyson captures the feeling of grief and the transience of life in a way that is both moving and timeless.