The Old Woman - Joseph Campbell

" All the gods , all the heavens , all the                                hells, are within you " 

                       - Joseph Campbell 

Joseph Campbell was an American poet . He was born on 26 March 1904 and died on 30 March 1987 . He was mostly famous as mythologist and was writer and lecturer . 

Campbell is best known for his work in Comparative religion . His work is vast , It covers many aspects of human experience . His philosophy is often summarized by his phrase : " Follow your Bliss ". 

His best known works are : 

1 . At Harvest
2 . Fires
3 . On waking  

Poetry Introduction : 

The poem " The Old Woman " is very small but simple and realistic in nature . Campbell has really given a simple description of old lady by comparison . By the poem , we get the idea of Campbell's treatment of old beauty . 

Analysis : 

The poem " The Old Woman " is written by Joseph Campbell . The poem divided into 3 stanza . The poem is very simple , realistic poem . The poet has given the description of the lady by different comparison . It is very natural to see beauty in young woman , but it is very understanding to describe the beauty of old woman . It requires great imagination power to see beauty in old age . 

         " As a white candle 
                        In a holy place . " 

In the first stanza , the poet compares the old lady with the white candle . As the white candle in the holy place gives light and guided the person who comes there . It is the symbol of lady ' s face compared with the white candle . The old lady guides others by the using experience . She enlightens the life of others . Moreover , the white candle is a symbol of beauty . The poet finds beauty in her face . 

               " So is a woman 
                         With her travail done " 

In the second stanza , the poet comapres the old lady with the spent radiance of the winter's sun . It means passing of time , and as the sun travels more and more in the sky it spends it's radiance more and more . Through the time passes . She has gathered a wide experience of lief . Moreover , at the sunshine the sunset looks beautiful dye to radiance . Here , the same thing for the old lady . Here wide range of experience iS an extra ornaments in the lief of old lady . It adds charms in her beauty . 
 
        " Her brood gone from her 
                    And her thoughts are still . "

In the final stanza , the poet compares the old with the ruined water of the mill . They neither vanished nor runs away . So here the same position for the old lady . Her broods have gone thoughts are still as ruined waters of the mills . It means it suggests steadiness and maturity in the lief of old lady . 

It's real  and natural to see beauty in young woman , but it is very understanding to describe the beauty of old woman . It is great imagination by Campbell to see that beauty in old age . 

Phonological level : 

Simille : 

Poet has compared there elements with the woman . White candle , winter sun , still water of the ruined are compared with the lady 

Rhyme : 

          There is a rhyming pattern clearly shown through the poem like : Place- face , Sun- done  , still- mill . 

Language :

          The language of this poem is so easily presented that it needs only one look to understand it's deeper and real meaning .

Rhyming Scheme : 

       The rhyming scheme of this poem is ABCBBDD . 

Conclusion : 

In the poem , the poet skill . He presents the old woman's beauty by comparing her with natural elements . So , we realize that an elements of comparison which is one of the figures of speech is perfectly seen through the poem .