The speaker of "Meeting at Night" takes a little sailing trip, walks a mile on the beach, then across three fields, all under the cover of night, to reach a farmhouse where his (presumed) lover awaits. Sounds like a lot of hard work for a clandestine encounter, right? This poem sure showcases perseverance, and to what extent people will persevere for the sake of love. How far would you go?
Questions About Perseverance
- Did you feel like speaker was adequately rewarded for all of his effort?
- Do you think the speaker feels that his journey to meet his lover is hard work? Why or why not?
- What kinds of obstacles does the speaker face as he tries to meet his lover?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The speaker of the poem perseveres and succeeds in his goal, but at what cost? It is strange that the woman is only described in terms of a quiet voice, which suggests that the speaker's perseverance can become an end in itself.
In "Meeting at Night," perseverance is clearly a male pursuit.