He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
This is one of Tennyson’s shortest yet most powerful poems, capturing the majesty and strength of an eagle in just six lines.
Analysis of the Poem
🌟 Theme: Power, Freedom, and Nature’s Majesty
Tennyson portrays the eagle as a dominant and almost divine creature, ruling over the vast skies and seas.
🦅 Imagery & Symbolism:
- “Claps the crag with crooked hands” – The eagle’s talons gripping the rock evoke a sense of power.
- “Close to the sun” – Suggests nobility, like the myth of Icarus, but here the eagle is in control.
- “Ring’d with the azure world” – Highlights the bird’s isolation in the vast blue sky.
🌊 Contrast Between Sky and Sea:
- The “wrinkled sea crawls”, making it seem weak and slow compared to the eagle.
- The final “like a thunderbolt he falls” creates a striking image of the eagle’s deadly speed, emphasizing both grace and ferocity.
⚡ Structure & Effect:
- The poem is written in two triplets (three-line stanzas) with a strong rhyme scheme (AAA, BBB).
- The short, energetic lines create a sense of urgency, mirroring the eagle’s swift dive.
Final Thoughts
Tennyson’s The Eagle is a masterpiece of precision, using just six lines to create an unforgettable portrait of a powerful creature. It is often interpreted as a symbol of strength, solitude, and dominance—perhaps even a reflection of human ambition and fate.