Break, break, break, On thy cold gray stones, O Sea! And I would that my tongue could utter The thoughts that arise in me.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker wishes his voice could match the sea's force to express his overwhelming grief.
- In plain terms
- He wants his voice to be as loud as the sea to say his sad thoughts.
- What can you take from it?
- Nature often outshines human expression in grief.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is too hard to say?
- How does nature reflect emotions?
Another view
Human language can sometimes be more powerful than natural sounds.
More from Alfred (Lord) Tennyson
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