The Role of Irony in the Poem, “To an Athlete Dying Young”

The Role of Irony in the Poem, “To an Athlete Dying Young”

This paper entails an analysis of how irony is reflected in A.E. Housman’s poem, “To an Athlete Dying Young.” Also, the literary and structural devices are examined on how they shape the meaning of the poem. The irony in the poem, which entails showing victory in death is supported by the literary and structural devices of metaphor, imagery, personification, and symbolism.

The poem, “To an Athlete Dying Young” by A. E. Housman involves a young man and his successful life as an athlete. Initially, the poem focuses on the accomplishments of the young athlete and how the society celebrated his victory. The excitement to celebrate the athlete’s success is reflected by carrying him home as everyone, including boys and men cheer. The other part of the poem entails the short life of the athlete. He is now carried on the shoulders as he is taken to the final resting place. Housman’s poem is based on transience, which is the short-lived athlete life. Despite the sportsman’s short life, he has set a record and has become part of society. Due to his death, he will not experience a downfall and the bitterness in his record being beaten. As he is laid in a silent place, he has maintained the victory, unlike other athletes who live to see their fame fade.

The irony in the poem “To an Athlete Dying Young,” is demonstrated by the death, yet the poet does not consider remorse. In the first stanza of the poem, Housman recounts the memories that the young athlete brought to the town through his victories. Two scenes compared to explain the meaning of the poem are carrying the athlete on the shoulders when he was victorious and later in a casket. Rather than being remorseful for the loss of a great sportsman, the poet considers his life as a victory. The role of the irony in the poem is to attribute the death to a victory. Notably, the young athlete has escaped a situation of embarrassment. Housman uses laurel to demonstrate praise and success. The laurel, however, loses value fast compared to the roses. The athlete’s victory in death is further reflected in the dark night preventing the young individual from experiencing the plight of other sportspeople, whose success faded as they were alive.

To the poet, the athlete will continue wearing the crown of victory, which will be watched by various people. The premise of “To an Athlete Dying Young,” is the victorious athlete being better off dead as a young person and being worshipped compared to dying aged but with a faded success.

Housman uses different literary and structural devices to convey ideas, feelings, and themes. Personification is reflected in associating inanimate elements with human status. Examples of personification are demonstrated in the fourth stanza. In the first line, the night is personified to shut the eyes of the athlete. In the last line of the same stanza, the earth is personified to stop the ears. Both night and earth are used to mean death. The poet has also used a metaphor to bring meaning to the poem. The townsman and cemetery show metaphor, which refers to a comparison between objects or people. In the second stanza, the road is a metaphor for the cemetery where every individual will be taken. The stiller town is another metaphor, which represents the cemetery’s calmness. The roles of personification and metaphor include showing the irony in the poem and the key themes. Notably, the poem has three themes of transience, death, and victory. A metaphor, such as a road to all runners, describes the themes of death and transience.

The poet also uses symbolism, which involves the use of suggestions and images to provide meaning to ideas, states, and emotions. In the poem “To an Athlete Dying Young” examples of symbolism include the laurel, which means victory. Another symbolism is the stiller town, which symbolises the graveyard. Housman also uses oxymoron, which entails the contradictory terms that present in coexistence. In the fourth stanza, the poet states “And silence sounds no worse than cheers after the earth has stopped the ears.” This line is interpreted as the silence being powerful and then introduces the cheers. Imagery is also used for death and victory. As the poet describes how the athlete won the town a race, he is referring to success. The still town describes death. Notably, the combination of these literary and structural devices is essential in promoting the quality of the poem and demonstrate the use of art. In addition, the use of imagery, personification, metaphor, and symbolism makes the poem interesting. It is imperative for poets to demonstrate mastery in these literary and structural devices, which explain their competence as artists.

In summary, the poem, “To an Athlete Dying Young,” by A.E. Housman, the irony is reflected in the victory and death. According to the poet, the young sportsman dying young is merit since he does not have to witness the victory fade. The role of the irony is to enhance the art of the poem and provide a better meaning. Housman has used different literary and structural devices, including metaphor, imagery, personification, and symbolism. Notably, the use of these literary devices is to provide meaning to the ideas and the poem. They also make the poem enjoyable to read and relate to the three core themes of death, victory, and transience.

Works Cited

Housman, A. E. “To an athlete dying young.” (1896).