Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem, “Crossing the Bar,” was written in 1889, just a few years before his death while crossing the Solent. Even in the face of his impending demise, Tennyson portrayed a tranquil acceptance of death. In fact, he specifically requested his son to include this poem at the end of all future editions of his poetry (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography).
In his poem, “Crossing the Bar,” Tennyson employs an extended metaphor of “crossing the bar” to signify his acceptance of death and transitioning into it. The poem combines nautical metaphors, tranquil language, and religious symbolism to convey the notion that having faith in God will lead to a fulfilling existence and a serene demise. Tennyson utilizes the metaphors of sailing to describe his death as a tranquil voyage into the sea, acknowledging that he approaches the conclusion of his life.
Tennyson acknowledges the presence of the “Sunset and evening star / And one clear call for me! ” (1-2). Being a sailor, Tennyson relies on the sun and stars for direction and keeping track of time. When the sun goes down and the evening star emerges, he understands that it is his signal to embark on a peaceful journey into death. Tennyson employs the metaphor of the sunset and evening star to symbolize his impending demise.
The symbolism of daylight and darkness in Tennyson’s work represents life and death respectively. The transition from daylight to night, or sunset, symbolizes Tennyson’s peaceful transition from life to death. Tennyson compares the evening star, which guides sailors to their destination, to his guidance towards a peaceful death.
When Tennyson passes away, he expresses a desire for no one to mourn his death. He asks for “…
When I put out to sea, there is no moaning of the bar. As a sailor, Tennyson desires a calm and quiet tide, so he can easily cross over a sandbar. He commences on a journey out to sea, to compare his departure into the afterlife. Tennyson compares the moaning sounds of the waves hitting the sandbar, to sounds of mourning that are typical after a death.
He requests that there be no sad noises at his death, drawing a parallel between the sandbar and his demise. The absence of crashing waves against the sandbar results in a lack of mournful sounds. Tennyson likens his peaceful passing to the tranquil nature of the calm tide. He further elucidates his serene death through the use of peaceful language.
Tennyson employs peaceful language to convey a serene and organic passing. Eager to commence his voyage into the ocean, Tennyson longs for a high tide. He wishes for a tide that appears motionless, too abundant to create any sound or foam (5-6). Tennyson yearns for a tranquil tide, one that remains silent and free of turbulence.
Despite the approach of his imminent demise, symbolized by the advancing tide, Tennyson’s satisfaction with his existence readies him for a tranquil passage into death. The phrase “too full for sound and foam” in Tennyson’s work signifies his contentment with life and preparedness for a serene demise. By employing the notion of a “sleeping tide,” he paints a picture of his impending death as peaceful. As the chosen language conveys a state of complete tranquility in the tide, Tennyson’s own death will similarly be calm.
As the night descends, Tennyson stoically declares the conclusion of the day. He recognizes that he encounters “Twilight and [the] evening bell, / And after that dark!” (9). Post-twilight, the evening bell’s sound signifies the onset of night. The darkness follows the day and symbolizes the culmination of Tennyson’s life.
The choice of the word “twilight” by Tennyson brings a feeling of tranquility to the poem as twilight is when people quiet down and get ready for sleep. Similarly, Tennyson’s use of the word “darkness” symbolizes death, representing his eternal rest. The pairing of “twilight” and “darkness” reinforces the notion that his life is nearing a peaceful conclusion. Tennyson employs religious metaphors to express his belief in returning to heaven through his unwavering faith in God.
Tennyson, a man of faith, believes that the faithful expect to return to heaven. He recognizes the cycle of the tide, which begins in the boundless deep of the ocean, comes to the shores of the beaches, and ultimately returns back to the deep. Tennyson sees this cyclical movement of the tide as representative of the cycle of humanity.
We all come from heaven, go to Earth, die, and then return to heaven, similar to the tide. Heaven is represented by the “boundless deep” and Tennyson’s return to heaven is symbolized by “the return home”. Tennyson believes that because of his faith, he will return to heaven just as the tide returns to the boundless deep. When he finally crosses the bar, Tennyson hopes to see his Pilot face to face.
Tennyson expresses his hope to encounter the pilot of his ship as he crosses the sandbar. Similarly to how the pilot skillfully navigates the ship to its intended destination, Tennyson relies on his faith in God to guide him to heaven. Just as a sailor aims to safely cross the sandbar, Tennyson’s aspiration is to behold God in heaven after he passes away. Through this metaphor, Tennyson emphasizes the significance of faith in order to attain the joys of heaven and God. In his poem “Crossing the Bar,” Tennyson presents the idea that maintaining a strong belief in God leads to a gratifying life and a tranquil death, employing nautical and religious metaphors along with peaceful wording.
In his poem, Tennyson employs nautical metaphors to liken his death to a tranquil voyage. The nautical imagery mirrors Tennyson’s present stage in life as it portrays a sailor prepared to embark on his journey, which aligns with his peaceful passing. Furthermore, Tennyson consistently utilizes serene diction throughout the poem to convey the tranquility of his death. The inclusion of phrases such as “sleeping tide” and “twilight” further enhances the serenity associated with his demise.
Tennyson anticipates reuniting with God in heaven after his death. He conveys this notion through religious metaphors, likening faith to a pathway back to heaven and the presence of God. He employs phrases like “the boundless deep” and “home” to symbolize heaven, while referring to God as the “Pilot.”
