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His Return To London By Robert Herrick
1- What does ‘dropping west’ refer to in the poem?
The ‘drooping west’ is an image of the ending of a day. It might be used in two senses in the poem. Firstly, the poet was working in Devonshire as a clergyman there. He was later expelled from the dignified position. Such a place for him is the ‘dropping west. Secondly, the poet is worn out and weak both physically and mentally. He thinks that he is in the eleventh stage of his life.
2-What does ‘pregnant East’ refer to?
‘East’ is called pregnant because the sun remains in the womb of the East and comes out when the day breaks. The poet might have used the ‘pregnant east’ to refer to his new life in Londo.
3- What made Herrick write this poem?
In 1630, Herrick left London and its cultural life to assume the vicarage of Dean Prior in rustic Devon, a position he held until 1647, because of his loyalties to the kind and the church of England. He was repelled and he came back to London.
4- What do you mean by ‘thus with the hallowed foot I touch the ground’?
This expression is an instance of transferred epithet or hypallage. It will be a great miskate to think of a poet’s foot as hallowed or holy. The poet means to say that his native place, London is a hoy palace.
5- What does the poet decide not to go back to Devonshire?
The poet was a vicar at a church in Devonshire. He was a loyalist to the King. So he was dishonored, tortured, and dismissed from the dignified position. Such an act of insult in Devon brought down his recognition and caused his mental turmoil so he decided not to go back to Devonshire.
6-How does the poet glorify London?
The poet glorifies London from different angles. London is the native land of the poet. He loves this place more than any other place in the world. He says that he is a free-born Roman. The people, language, manners, and customers of London are superior to those of other places in the world.
7- Why does the poet say ‘I am a free-born Roman’?
London is called the Rome of England. London is so called because of its modernization and advancement like Rome in several fields, including economy, art, literature, beauty, etc. Life in London is full of enjoyment. He can enjoy his freedom.
8- What is the last wish of the poet?
The poet says that he has been weak both physically and mentally so he will leave this world very soon. His last wish after death is for his corpse to be buried in his native London.
His Return to London By Robert Herrick
