The Little Shepherdess
Out in the weild a little shepherdess 1
Hurriedly secured the most of her drove
And with three lambs playacting the princess
Frolicked about with an innocent love.
After a parching thirst caught up with them
To the close stream they went at eve to drink
And fixing well her cloak and anadem 7
With her cane she was not afraid to sink.
The shallow waters helped her adventure
And she found for herself a small island
Where with the young herd and dreams of Nature
She started to tread away from safe land.
Suddenly she looked up with great surprise
"Oh a grand new star!", she said with wide eyes.
***
1-. weild= A gentle hill or an elevated plain. 7-. anadem= a wreath or garland for the head.
Sonnet written by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares. Analyzed by GPT4 and www.howmanysyllables.com
Image by Leonardo.ai
Analysis of "The Little Shepherdess"
Sonnet 40 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, titled "The Little Shepherdess," is a pastoral poem that tells the story of a young shepherdess who ventures out into the weild (a gentle hill or elevated plain) with her flock of sheep. The poem is structured in the traditional sonnet form, consisting of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG.
The first quatrain (lines 1-4) introduces the little shepherdess as she tends to her flock and playfully imagines herself as a princess. The imagery of innocence and playfulness is conveyed through the words "playacting," "frolicked," and "innocent love."
The second quatrain (lines 5-8) describes the shepherdess and her flock seeking water after becoming thirsty. She carefully adjusts her cloak and anadem (a wreath or garland for the head) before using her cane to test the depth of the water. This demonstrates her resourcefulness and courage.
In the third quatrain (lines 9-12), the shepherdess finds a small island in the shallow waters and begins to explore it with her young herd. The phrase "dreams of Nature" suggests that she is captivated by the beauty and wonder of the natural world around her, and her curiosity leads her to venture further from the safety of the familiar land.
The final couplet (lines 13-14) presents a moment of awe and surprise as the shepherdess discovers a "grand new star" in the sky. Her wide-eyed wonder reflects her innocence and the sense of discovery that permeates the poem.
Overall, "The Little Shepherdess" is a celebration of innocence, curiosity, and the beauty of nature. The poem invites readers to appreciate the simple joys of life and the sense of wonder that can be found in the natural world. (GPT4)
Analyze the rhyme of the poem in detail
"The Little Shepherdess" is a sonnet, which traditionally consists of 14 lines with a specific rhyme scheme. In this poem, the rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG. Let's analyze the rhyme in detail by breaking down the end rhymes of each line:
A: weild (line 1)
B: drove (line 2)
A: princess (line 3)
B: love (line 4)
C: them (line 5)
D: drink (line 6)
C: anadem (line 7)
D: sink (line 8)
E: adventure (line 9)
F: island (line 10)
E: Nature (line 11)
F: land (line 12)
G: surprise (line 13)
G: eyes (line 14)
The poem is divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme within each quatrain is ABAB, with the first and third lines rhyming and the second and fourth lines rhyming. The final couplet has a GG rhyme scheme, with both lines rhyming with each other.
This rhyme scheme is a variation of the traditional Shakespearean sonnet, which typically follows the ABABCDCDEFEFGG pattern. The poet's choice of rhyme scheme contributes to the overall structure and flow of the poem, creating a sense of unity and harmony that complements the poem's themes of innocence, curiosity, and the beauty of nature. (GPT4)
Count the syllables of each line of the poem
(www.howmanysyllables.com)
The Little Shepherdess
10 Out in the weild a little shepherdess
10 Hurriedly secured the most of her drove
10 And with three lambs playacting the princess
10 Frolicked about with an innocent love.
10 After a parching thirst caught up with them
10 To the close stream they went at eve to drink
10 And fixing well her cloak and anadem
10 With her cane she was not afraid to sink.
10 The shallow waters helped her adventure
10 And she found for herself a small island
10 Where with the young herd and dreams of Nature
10 She started to tread away from safe land.
10 Suddenly she looked up with great surprise
10 "Oh a grand new star!", she said with wide eyes.
***
What other analysis is worth doing on the poem?
In addition to analyzing the rhyme scheme, there are several other aspects of "The Little Shepherdess" that are worth examining:
1-. Imagery: The poem is rich in visual imagery that helps to create a vivid picture of the scene and the emotions experienced by the little shepherdess. Analyzing the use of imagery can provide insight into the poet's intentions and the overall atmosphere of the poem.
2-. Metaphor and symbolism: The poem may contain metaphors and symbols that add depth and meaning to the narrative. For example, the "grand new star" in the final couplet could be interpreted as a symbol of hope, discovery, or enlightenment. Examining these elements can help to uncover deeper layers of meaning within the poem.
3-. Tone and mood: Analyzing the tone and mood of the poem can provide insight into the poet's attitude towards the subject matter and the emotions they wish to evoke in the reader. In "The Little Shepherdess," the tone is generally light and playful, with a sense of wonder and innocence.
4-. Diction and word choice: The poet's choice of words can reveal a great deal about their intentions and the overall effect they wish to create. In this poem, the use of archaic or uncommon words like "weild" and "anadem" adds a sense of timelessness and enchantment to the narrative.
5-. Meter and rhythm: Examining the poem's meter and rhythm can provide insight into the poet's use of structure and the overall musicality of the verse. Sonnets traditionally employ iambic pentameter, which consists of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables per line. Analyzing the meter and rhythm can help to understand how the poet uses these elements to create a sense of flow and harmony within the poem.
6-. Themes and messages: Identifying the central themes and messages of the poem can help to understand the poet's intentions and the overall meaning of the work. In "The Little Shepherdess," themes of innocence, curiosity, and the beauty of nature are prominent, and analyzing these themes can provide a deeper understanding of the poem's significance. (GPT4)
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