How To Pronounce Toussaint L Ouverture

To Toussaint Fifty'Ouverture by William Wordsworth

'To Toussaint 50'Ouverture' by William Wordsworth is a sonnet defended to François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture, a renowned leader of the Haitian revolution. He transformed the slave rebellion into a revolutionary movement.

William Wordsworth, in his sonnet, 'To Toussaint Fifty'Ouverture' lauds the part of the Haitian full general Louverture in the Haitian revolution. He was a renowned historical figure and one of the inspirations for humankind. His zeal to relieve his brothers along with his political acumen made him famous in history. In this poem, Wordsworth gives his tribute to the late general, Toussaint Louverture. His decease means nothing as his contribution lives in homo minds. Moreover, the poet feels distressing for such a hero who has selflessly contributed to the greater skillful of his community as well every bit his motherland.

          To Toussaint 50'Ouverture                    William Wordsworth                    Toussaint – the most unhappy of men! – Whether the rural milkmaid by her cow Sing in thy hearing, or though liest now Lone in some deep dungeon's earless den, Oh miserable Chieftain, where and when Wilt thou detect patience? Withal die not! Exercise thou Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful forehead; Though fallen thyself, never to ascent again, Alive, and accept comfort! Thou hast left backside Powers that will work for thee – air, earth, and skies – At that place's not a breathing of the common current of air That will forget thee! One thousand hast great allies: Thy friends are exultations, agonies, And beloved, and man's unconquerable mind.        

Summary

'To Toussaint L'Ouverture' by William Wordsworth is a sonnet that describes how Louverture lives in the hearts of men even later on his sad demise.

Wordsworth wrote this poem just a few months before the Haitian anti-slavery and anti-colonial revolutionary, Toussaint L'Ouverture's death. The poet sees him every bit a office of nature. His demise ways to him a process of assimilation into the air, globe, and sky. Even so, the poet thinks he can hear his vox. Hence, he asks him whether he can hear the song of the milkmaid. It can also be possible that he is buried inside some deep dungeon. Those who come to redeem mankind never dice. And so, Toussaint remains everywhere. None can forget his contribution to humanity. Lastly, the poet eulogizes him saying his friends are exultations, agonies, love, and the "unconquerable listen."

Structure

Wordsworth wrote this sonnet in praise of the revolutionary leader Louverture. This poem follows the Petrarchan or Italian sonnet form. Hence, the poet divides this poem into two parts. The offset part comprising eight lines (octave) contains the ABBA ABBA rhyme scheme. While the sestet contains the CDCDDC rhyme scheme. So, the second department of the poem differs a little from the Italian model apropos the rhyme scheme. However, like any conventional sonnet, this poem is also composed in iambic pentameter. Forth with that, there are some metrical variations in this poem. For example, the first line of the sonnet is in iambic tetrameter.

Literary Devices

This sonnet, 'To Toussaint Fifty'Ouverture' begins with an apostrophe. In the beginning, invoking his spirit, the poet says he is "the nigh unhappy of men!" The quoted phrase contains hyperbole. Thereafter, ane can find the use of alliteration in the phrase, "deep dungeon'south". Here, the poet uses the repetition of the hard "d' sound for creating an internal rhythm. Forth with that, the line "Lone in some deep dungeon's earless den" contains a personification. In the post-obit line, the poet asks a rhetorical question. Moreover, the poet uses synecdoche in the "a cheerful brow." Here, "cheerful" is a transferred epithet. Thereafter, "mutual air current" is a metaphor for humankind and the concluding line contains a polysyndeton.

Detailed Analysis

Lines ane–4

Toussaint – the most unhappy of men! –

Whether the rural milkmaid past her moo-cow

Sing in thy hearing, or one thousand liest at present

Alone in some deep dungeon's earless den,

The first 4 lines of 'To Toussaint L'Ouverture' sets the tone and mood. In the showtime line, the poet says Toussaint is the most unhappy of humankind. The reason is that before Toussaint's death he was imprisoned by the French colonists. So, the concluding few days of his life were full of misery and suffering. Thereafter, the poet asks him whether he can hear the song of the rural milkmaid. Here, the poet paints a cute pastoral scene consisting of a milkmaid disposed her cows.

However, the poet makes it clear that he is no more. His mundane body lies deep in some dungeon. The place is then marooned that none residing at that place tin hear the rhythm of life. Moreover, the "dungeon'due south earless den" contains a personification.

Lines 5–8

Oh miserable Chieftain, where and when

Wilt thou find patience? Yet dice not! Practise thou

Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful brow;

Though fallen thyself, never to rise again,

In the last part of the octave, the poet refers to L'Ouverture as the "miserable Chieftain." The poet thinks his soul can never discover patience as the custom of slavery still exists. Nonetheless, the poet quickly changes the mood of the poem by saying "Nonetheless die not!" Here, the poet implicitly says that his contribution to the anti-slavery revolution cannot be forgotten. However, the poet is non sure whether his soul rests cheerfully or not. In the final line of this section, the poet uses an enjambment. Hence, i has to go through the first line of the next section to empathise the meaning of the line.

Lines 9–14

Live, and take comfort! Yard hast left behind

Powers that will work for thee – air, earth, and skies –

There's not a breathing of the mutual air current

That will forget thee! Thou hast corking allies:

Thy friends are exultations, agonies,

And love, and human being'south unconquerable mind.

Though Toussaint has fallen never to ascension over again, he volition never die. In the last section of 'To Toussaint 50'Ouverture' , the poet says he volition live forever. He has left backside the natural powers that work for him. Being a office of nature, he lives in the air, earth, and skies. Moreover, the "common wind" that humankind breathes, contains his essence. As long every bit nature exists, his existence will never exist lost. Lastly, the poet says he has great allies. His friends are "exultations". The pain he has suffered is his friend. Too, the dear of flesh and his "unconquerable heed" is always with him. Hence, the hero volition live forever in the hearts of men.

Historical Context

Wordsworth'southward poem, 'To Toussaint L'Ouverture' is dedicated to the former slave Toussaint L'Ouverture. He was an influential leader in the Haitian Revolution of 1791 to 1804. Moreover, he led the anti-slavery and anti-colonial coup by self-liberated slaves against French colonial dominion in Saint-Domingue. It is now a sovereign nation of Haiti. However, 50'Ouverture was imprisoned by the French and died in captivity shortly after Wordsworth wrote this poem. He penned down this slice in January 1803 and Fifty'Ouverture died on 7 April 1803 at Fort-de-Joux in Doubs. Moreover, the opening phrase of this verse form, "the well-nigh unhappy of men" appears in Louverture's memoir written during his imprisonment.

Similar Poetry

Here is a list of a few poems that similarly talk about the major themes of Wordsworth's 'To Toussaint Fifty'Ouverture' .

• Checking Out Me History by John Agard – In this poem, John Agard too talks near Toussaint L'Ouverture who was a great source of business organisation for slavers and a source of promise for the slaves.
• Parsley by Rita Dove – This poem deals with the mass murder of thousands of men in the Dominican Commonwealth in 1937. This poem taps on the themes of grief and violence.
• The Slave's Lament by Robert Burns – This poem presents a Senegalese slave'southward lamentation after being captured and deported to Virginia.
• Poems On The Slave Trade – Sonnet V by Robert Southey – In this poem, Southey anticipates how the slaves would revolt against the brutish men who were responsible for the deposition of their lives.

You can besides read most the incredible poems on blackness history and empathetic poems apropos slavery .

Source: https://poemanalysis.com/william-wordsworth/to-toussaint-louverture/

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