Sonnet 31 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares
Transmuting Gods
Diverting from Nature, and in strange deal
Uranus becomes Pluto and mad chore 2
He plays, deaf to universal choire
That for our peace tries so hard to appeal.
A worried Tellus makes her best to seal 5
Evil forces that she keeps in her core
So that life she can for ever anchor
While huge monsters their fissile dope conceal. 8
Krypton, a hush dog that hides in high cloud. 9
Tells her when a menace comes to its den 10
Perhaps it might seem already too late...
But with deathless power from sky and ground 12
Green warriors align their efforts and then 13
Iris becomes Diana to fend fate. 14
***
Transmuting = changing from one thing into another. 2-. Uranus chore = this alludes to the fact of uranium being converted into plutonium, in order to make a more powerful radioactive weapon. 2-. Uranus = personification of the heavens and father or son of Gaea (Earth), in Greek Myth. 2-. Pluto = Gr. Myth., god ruling the lower world, also Hades. 5-. Tellus = Rom. Myth., the earth personified, or the same Greek Gaea. 8-. fissile dope = radioactive weapons. 9-. Krypton = gaseous chemical element that stays for 11 years in the air after the production of plutonium. 10-. her = Tellus. 12-13-. But... efforts = this is an allusion to antinuclear groups. 14-. Iris = Gr. Myt., the goddess of the rainbow, she is the messenger of the gods. 14-. Diana = Rom. Myth., the virgin goddess of the moon, identified with the Greek Artemis. 14-. to fend= to defend.
Sonnet written by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares. Analyzed by GPT4 and www.howmanysyllables.com
Image by Leonardo.ai
Analysis of "Transmuting Gods"
Sonnet 31 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, titled "Transmuting Gods," is a poem that explores the theme of nuclear power and its potential dangers. The poem uses mythological figures and elements to represent various aspects of nuclear energy and the efforts to control it.
In the first quatrain, the poem describes the transformation of Uranus into Pluto, which symbolizes the conversion of uranium into plutonium for the creation of more powerful radioactive weapons. Uranus, the personification of the heavens in Greek mythology, becomes Pluto, the god of the underworld, representing the destructive potential of nuclear power.
The second quatrain introduces Tellus, the Roman personification of Earth, who tries to contain the evil forces within her core. This can be interpreted as the Earth's efforts to maintain life despite the presence of nuclear weapons. The "fissile dope" in line 8 refers to these radioactive weapons.
In the third quatrain, Krypton, a gaseous chemical element associated with plutonium production, is personified as a watchdog that warns Tellus of impending danger. The mention of it being "already too late" in line 11 suggests the irreversible consequences of nuclear proliferation.
The final couplet introduces the "Green warriors," a reference to antinuclear groups, who align their efforts to protect the Earth. Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods, transforms into Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon and protector, to defend against the threat of nuclear weapons.
Overall, Sonnet 31 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares uses mythological imagery to convey the dangers of nuclear power and the importance of collective efforts to protect the Earth from its destructive potential. (GPT4)
Analyze the rhyme of the poem in detail
"Transmuting Gods" is a sonnet composed of 14 lines. To analyze the rhyme scheme of the poem, we can assign a letter to each line based on the end rhyme. Here's the poem with the rhyme scheme indicated in parentheses:
Diverting from Nature, and in strange deal (A)
Uranus becomes Pluto and mad chore (B)
He plays, deaf to universal choire (B)
That for our peace tries so hard to appeal. (A)
A worried Tellus makes her best to seal (C)
Evil forces that she keeps in her core (D)
So that life she can for ever anchor (D)
While huge monsters their fissile dope conceal. (C)
Krypton, a hush dog that hides in high cloud (E)
Tells her when a menace comes to its den (F)
Perhaps it might seem already too late... (F)
But with deathless power from sky and ground (E)
Green warriors align their efforts and then (G)
Iris becomes Diana to fend fate. (G)
The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is ABBA CDDC EFFE GG. The poem is divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final rhyming couplet (two-line stanza). The first and second quatrains have an ABBA rhyme scheme, the third quatrain has an EFFE rhyme scheme, and the final couplet has a GG rhyme scheme.
This rhyme scheme is a variation of the traditional Italian/Petrarchan sonnet, which typically has an ABBA ABBA octave (first eight lines) followed by a sestet (last six lines) with a varying rhyme scheme, such as CDE CDE or CDC DCD. The variation in "Transmuting Gods" creates a unique structure that sets it apart from the more traditional sonnet forms. (GPT4)
Count the syllables of each line of the poem
(www.howmanysyllables.com)
Transmuting Gods
10 Diverting from Nature, and in strange deal
10 Uranus becomes Pluto and mad chore
9 He plays, deaf to universal choire
10 That for our peace tries so hard to appeal.
10 A worried Tellus makes her best to seal
10 Evil forces that she keeps in her core
10 So that life she can for ever anchor
10 While huge monsters their fissile dope conceal.
10 Krypton, a hush dog that hides in high cloud
10 Tells her when a menace comes to its den
10 Perhaps it might seem already too late...
10 But with deathless power from sky and ground
11 Green warriors align their efforts and then
10 Iris becomes Diana to fend fate.
***
What other analysis is worth doing on the poem?
In addition to analyzing the rhyme scheme, there are several other aspects of Sonnet 31 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares that can be explored:
1-. Imagery: The poem utilizes vivid and evocative imagery drawn from mythology and the natural world. Analyzing the specific images employed and their symbolic significance can provide insight into the poet's intentions and themes. For example, the transformation of Uranus into Pluto alludes to the conversion of uranium into plutonium, highlighting the destructive power of nuclear weapons.
2-. Personification: The poem personifies various elements, such as Uranus, Tellus, Krypton, Iris, and Diana. Examining how these personifications contribute to the overall message and tone of the poem can deepen our understanding of the poet's perspective.
3-. Allusions: The poem contains references to Greek and Roman mythology, such as Uranus, Pluto, Tellus (Gaea), Iris, and Diana (Artemis). Exploring the significance of these mythological allusions and how they enhance the poem's meaning can shed light on the poet's thematic intentions.
4-. Symbolism: Sonnet 31 employs symbolism to convey its message. The use of symbols, such as "huge monsters" representing nuclear weapons and "green warriors" signifying anti-nuclear activists, carries deeper meanings that can be analyzed to uncover the poet's critique of humanity's relationship with technology and the environment.
5-. Tone and Mood: Examining the tone and mood of the poem can provide insight into the poet's attitude towards the subject matter. Sonnet 31 employs a mixture of urgency, concern, and hope. Analyzing the shifts in tone and how they contribute to the overall emotional impact of the poem can enrich our understanding of the poet's perspective.
By delving into these aspects of the poem, readers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the poet's intentions, thematic concerns, and the broader implications of the work.
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