Page 1 :
APPRECIATION OF THE POEM, ‘SUNRISE ON THE HILLS’, ‘Sunrise on the Hills’ by, H. W Longfellow is a celebration of the, healing power of nature. The poet, looks upon the morning sun shining on, the woods and hills and asks readers, to return to nature to soften their, mind. Throughout the poem,, Longfellow compares the sun to knight, and nature to his sweetheart; the, princess., The poem opens with a description of, the grand glorious returning march of, the sun which the poet witnesses from, 1

Page 2 :
the top of a hill. Nature, the princess,, has been waiting long for the Sun’s, arrival. Now heaven’s wide arch – is, glorious with the knight’s arrival., The sun’s glory outshines everything, else, and the clouds that have, gathered midway round the wooded, height now look like an army, overpowered in battle. The enemy, forces retreat and there left a dark, pine blasted, bare and cleft., The veil of cloud is lifted from above, the face of princess nature and sun’s, first rays leave a mellow blush on her, face. Nature begins to smile, and the, rich valley begins to glow with all her, 2

Page 3 :
charm. The distant waters dash and, the current whirl and flash. And the, lakes, princess nature’s blue eyes,, with their silver beaches and the, woods bending over them like, eyelashes, brighten up., From the beautiful sights of the valley,, the poem gradually moves on to the, mesmerizing sounds that the valley, sends out. Nature begins to sing and, the noisy bittern wheels his spiral way, up as in a musical note. The music of, the village bells echoes in the hills., The voice of the wild horn and merry, shouts from the valley fill the air., , 3

Page 4 :
Watching sunrise on the hills leaves a, profound soothing effect on the poet, and the poem ends with a piece of, advice to the readers. Whenever you, are surrounded by the sorrows of life,, whenever you fall upon the thorns of, life and bleed, go to the woods and, hills! Nature’s charm will never fail to, leave a smile on your face. It has, everything in it to keep your heart, from fainting and your soul from, sleep. No tears can blur the wonderful, look that Nature wears for us., As far as images are concerned,, ‘Sunrise on the Hills’ holds images of, love, adventure and battle in the, 4

Page 5 :
poem. ‘Soft gales going forth to kiss, the sun- clad vales’ and, ‘the mellow blush of day’ evoke an, atmosphere of love, whereas, ‘returning march’, ‘hosts in battle, overthrown’ and ‘shattered lance’ are, suggestive of adventure and battle., , ...................................................., , 5