Break , Break, Break
October 11, 2025
Personal Information.
Name : maniya Manasvi Aravinadbhai
Roll no : 31
Sem : 1 ( B . A)
Pepper Name: English Literature major - 2
Submitted to : Mr. Mitwa ma'am pandya
Dated on : 12/10/25
Email id :
Assignment Details
Topic : poetry Break, Break, Break
Paper : English Literature major -2
Submitted to : mr. Mitwa ma'am pandya
Submition date : 12 /10 /25
Break, break, break
By Alfred, lord Tennyson
Break, break, break
On thu cold gray stones !
And I would that my tongue cold utter
The thoughts that arise in me.
O, well for the fishermen 's boy
That he shouts with his sister at play !
O, well for the sailor lad,
That he sings in his boat on the bay !
And the stately ships ho on
To their haven under the hill ;
But o for the touch of a vanish 'd hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still !
Break, Break, Break
At the foot of the crags (cliffs, rocks) ,o sea !
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.
✻ About poem :
Break, Break, Break was written by Alfred lord Tennyson in the 19 th century He wrote it around 1834, and it was published 1842. Who was Alfred lord Tennyson 's close friend.
✻ structure and form :
→ The poem has 16 lines
→ stanza 4
✻ Rhyme scheme :
→ The sheme of this ABAB
✻ Abut poet :
Alfred lord Tennyson was born on 6, August 1809 in Tiptree , Essex , England. Died on 6, October 1892 in haslemere , surrey , England. nationality was British. He written 4 plays and written 8 poems.
✱ Born : 6, October 1809
✱ Died : 6, October 1892
✱ occupation : poet
✱ Language : English
✱ Nationality : British
✱ Quote : " Break, Break , Break on thy cold Gray stones ,o sea! "
By Alfred,lord Tennyson
❋ stanza by explanation :
Stanza : 1
Break, break , break
On thy cold Gray stones, o sea !
And I would that my tongue cold utter
The thoughts that arise in me .
➡ The speaker addresses the sea, commanding its waves to "Break, break, break" upon the "cold gray stones." This ceaseless crashing of the waves symbolizes the repetitive, relentless pain and sorrow in the poet's own heart. He laments that his tongue is unable to utter or express the turbulent thoughts and deep grief that are constantly rising within him, much like the waves.
Stanza : 2
O, well for the fishermen 's boy ,
That he shouts with his sister at play !
O, well for the sailor lad,
That he sings in his boat on the bay !
➡ The speaker observes the joyful life around the seaside. He notes the happiness of the fisherman's boy who shouts while playing with his sister, and the sailor lad who sings happily
in his boat. The poet highlights the stark contrast between this innocent, carefree joy of
the external world and his own overwhelming , isolated sorrow.
Stanza : 3
And the statcly ships ho on
To their haven under the hill ;
But o for the touch of a vanish 'd hand ,
And the sound of a voice that is still !
➡ The scene shifts to the "stately ships" that
calmly proceed on their journey to their "haven under the hill." This illustrates how the world and time move forward regardless of an individual 's personal tragedy. The poet, however, feels a deep , unfulfilled longing he desperately wishes for the return of his friend 's presence, specifically the touch of a vanish 'd hand and sound of a voice that is still silent due to death.
Satanza :4
Break, Break, Break
At the foot of thy crags cliffs, rocks,o sea !
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back me.
➡ The speaker returns to the image of the sea, urging the waves to "Break, break, break" at the foot of the cliffs. Yet, he concludes with the painful realization that while the waves may return over and over again, the "tender grace of a day that is dead" (the beautiful, happy past spent with his friend) will never come
back to him. This acceptance of the permanent loss is the core of his enduring grief
❋ symbol :
1.The Sea Waves ("Break, break, break")
The poet's grief and heartbreak The unstoppable passage of Time nature's power vs. human Helplessness the repeated crashing of waves reflects the poet's inner sorrow that keeps returning again and again.
2.The Sea/ Ocean
Represents eternity, endless sorrow, and the continuity of life.The restless waves show the poet's disturbed feelings.
3. Cold Gray Stones
Symbol of death, lifelessness, and harsh reality.Shows the absence of warmth, comfort, and joy in the poet's life.
4. The Fisherman's Boy and Sailor Lad
They symbolize innocence, normal life, and ongoing happiness.While the poet is mourning, life goes on for others.
5. The voice that is still'
Refers to the dead friend's silent voice.Symbol of loss, memory, and irretrievable past.
✱ Thimes :
1.Grief and Sorrow:
The poet expresses deep sadness over the death of his close friend, Arthur Hallam. The tone of the poem is mournful and emotional.
2.Loss and Memory :
The poet remembers the person he has lost and longs for their presence: "O for the touch of avanish'd hand...
3.Helplessness :
The poet feels powerless to express his painfully: "I would that my tongue could utter.."
4.Nostalgia:
The poet remembers the happy times of the past and feels the absence of his friend more deeply in the present.
5.Inevitability of Death :
The poem highlights that death cannot be
avoided, and its impact stays with the living.
✱ figar of speech :
1. Repetition : The word "Break" is repeated at the beginning of the poem emphasizes the relentless crashing of the waves and the speaker's intense grief.
2. Alliteration: Example: "On thy cold gray stones, oSea!" Repetition of the consonant sound g'" mimics the hissing and sighing of the
sea, creating a musical effect.
3. Personification: The sea is described as if it has human qualities: "Break, break, break, on thy cold gray stones, O Sea!" Makes nature reflect the speaker's sorrow and loneliness.
4. Imagery:Words like "cold gray stones" and
"crashing waves" create strong visual images.
o Helps readers see, hear, and feel
the harshness of the sea and the emptiness left by the loved one's death.
5. Metaphor : The sea's waves symbolize grief and the unstoppable force of loss.Deepens the emotional impact of the poem.
✱ context :
Break, Break, Break" was written by Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1835 but published in 1842 in his collection "Poems", It is one of Tennyson's most famous elegiac poems, expressing grief and lodging.The poem reflects Tennyson's mourning for his close friend Arthur Hallam, who died suddenly in 1833. Hallam's death deeply affected Tennyson, and this poem captures the pain, helplessness, and emptiness of losing a loved one Tennyson uses the sea and its waves a symbols of the relentless passage of time and the inevitability of death.
✱ Tone and mood :
◾ The tone of the poem is melancholic, mourn full, and reflective.
◾ The mood evoked in the reader is somber pensive, and sympathetic.
✱ critical analysis :
Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Break, Break,Break" reflects deep human grief and the
transience of life. The poet expresses his sorrow over the death of a dear friend by using the image of waves breaking continuously on the shore, symbolizing the persistent and
overwhelming nature of his emotions. The repetition in "Break, break, break" intensifies the feeling of grief and despair, while images like cold gray stones"evoke a sense of desolation
and melancholy. The poet contrasts nature and human life-the waves keep breaking, children play happily, yet the poet experiences profound solitude and sorrow. The simple and rhythmic structure of the poem enhances its emotional impact, clearly portraying the sensitive relationship between nature, death, and human sorrow. In this way, the poem beautifully presents the pain of life, the impermanence of nature, and the poet's inner feelings.
✱ summary :
The poem reflects the poet's deep sorrow after the death of a close friend (or loved one). The opening lines describe the waves breaking on the cold, grey stones of the shore, symbolizing the poet's grief and the relentless passage oftime. Tennyson contrasts the lively scenes official working, children playing-with his own sadness, showing how the world continues even as he mourns. The repetitive sound Of break, break, break"emphasizes the unending pain and emotional turbulence he feels.Ultimately, the poem expresses a sense of loss,helplessness, and the stark loneliness that
comes with death, capturing both the beauty and cruelty of life moving on.
✱ Reference :
◾ https: //chatgpt.com/ s/t_68E79335boc
481919C7624ad3233E662.
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