Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Is the sea supposed to be a god, or is it just a tool of God? Is it possible for it to be both? Why?
- The rhyme and meter change quite a bit from section to section. How does that affect your reading of the poem? Why do you think Lowell purposefully arranged his poem in this way?
- Consider the non-human things that Lowell gives human qualities. Why does he give them human emotions and actions? How do these moments serve the poem?
- Section 6 is different from the other sections of the poem and was left out of a few versions; why do you think Lowell ultimately included it?
- What does Lowell ultimately say about the will of God? What does it mean for humanity? And how does the epigraph, which is about man's power over earthly creatures, fit into it all?
- The poem is dedicated to Lowell's cousin. Do you think it is really a fitting elegy for someone? Why or why not?