"Ode to St. Cecilia's Day"

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes "Ode to St. Cecilia's Day," a poem written by John Dryden which celebrates the feast-day of Saint Cecilia on November 22, as well as the majesty of music. The paper shows that music is a heavenly treat that leads to celestial harmony and the mystery of music is clarified through Dryden's use of metaphor and personification. The paper discusses how in different stanzas, Dryden lends various instruments individual qualities according to their particular sounds. It shows how these instruments become metaphors for human passions and for the wonders of nature.

From the Paper:

"Throughout the "Ode to St. Cecilia's Day," John Dryden personifies music in general and instruments in particular. From the second to the sixth stanza, Dryden outlines the specific qualities of certain instruments. Stanza 2 is devoted to Jubal's corded shell. Alluding to the biblical character of Jubal, Dryden further exemplifies the divine nature of music. The corded shell "spoke so sweetly and so well," (line 23). The music that emanates from Jubal's shell has the power to "raise and quell" any human passion (line 24). Because the poet chooses verbs regularly delegated to the realm of human experience, music becomes anthropomorphised. Furthermore, because these verbs tend to be uplifting in nature, music becomes deified."

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