Reflection- The Chambered Nautilus

Oliver Wendell Holmes’s “The Chambered Nautilus” has several symbolic meanings. For instance, the poem is about a ship’s journey gone wrong, but it also incorporates a nautilus, an ocean squid, in the description.  The poem tells of a ship that is sailing, but becomes wrecked along its journey. The broken ship is open and bare for all to see. As every journey must continue, the ship is left and a new path is built. In his poem, Holmes uses a number of poetic techniques and devices to add detail and figurative language to his writing. In line five, Holmes mentions a ‘singing siren’ (Holmes). This is a form of allusion because a siren is a reference to Greek Mythology. Another example of allusion in the poem is in line twenty-six. Holmes refers to Triton who “blew from wreathed horn” (Holmes). Triton is also a Greek Mythology figure. He was known for being a messenger, which modifies the poem nicely since it is about a ship wrecked at sea. The poem “The Chambered Nautilus” follows many themes that the Romanticism period is known for. The imagination and nature scenes are two of the most common traits of Romanticism, and they are both often portrayed in “The Chambered Nautilus”. Line eleven reads, “Where its dim dreaming life was wont to dwell” (Holmes). This line shares a great amount of imagination into the poem while describing the ship’s journey. Another common characteristic in Romanticism writings is the portrayal of innocence and youth, both of which are discussed in this poem. Holmes writes, “Thanks for the heavenly message brought by thee child of the wandering sea. Cast from her lap, forlorn!” (Holmes). The Romanticism period preferred to focus on innocence in purity rather than educated or knowledge. This is most likely because the time period was very much against the ideas of the Age of Reason. Youth is also a recognizable symbol for purity and imagination, which are other common characteristics for the Romanticism period. “The Chambered Nautilus” also describes the beautiful scenery by saying, “The venturous bark that flings on the sweet summer wind its purpled wings” (Holmes). With adjectives like enchanting and shining, the poem is sending a message of beauty. The journey in the story is also building up to the end where foundation is laid, and a house is built. One could easily categorize this as a spiritual journey for the narrator of the poem. Finally, the allusions that were previously discussed are simple examples of the inspiration behind the poem. Authors of the Romanticism period often found inspiration through legend and mythology. It’s safe to say that “The Chambered Nautilus” hit on almost every characteristic of Romanticism writing. In most cases, a reader can take a poem and somehow relate it to their own life. In one critique, Holmes says, “Following the usual pattern of 19th-century American nature poetry, he announces what he has learned from observing this aspect of nature that will better help him conduct his own life” (Holmes Facts).

Holmes, Oliver Wendell. “The Chambered Nautilus”.English Poetry III: From Tennyson to Whitman. Vol. XLII. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14; Bartleby.com, 2001.

Holmes, Oliver Wendell. "The Chambered Nautilus." The Facts On File Companion to American Poetry, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.