Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Cremation of Sam McGee" is a narrative poem written in 1917 by Robert W. Service that tells the story of a prospector named Sam McGee and his friend, who agrees to cremate Sam's body after he dies in the cold and frozen North.

The poem is structured in eight stanzas of equal length, each consisting of four lines with a rhyme scheme of A-B-A-B. The poem's language and imagery evoke a sense of the harsh and unforgiving environment of the frozen North, as well as the challenges and dangers faced by the prospectors who sought their fortunes there.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the "Arctic trails" and the "Northern Lights" that illuminate the land. The speaker then introduces Sam McGee, a prospector who is cold and miserable and begs his friend to cremate his body after he dies.

The rest of the poem follows the speaker's journey as he tries to fulfill Sam's dying wish. The journey is treacherous, and the speaker faces many obstacles, including freezing temperatures and dangerous wildlife. However, he eventually finds a boat that he can use to build a cremation fire, and he burns Sam's body as he had promised.

The poem's emotional climax comes in the final stanza, when the speaker describes the relief he feels after fulfilling his promise to Sam. The poem ends with the line, "And the Northern Lights danced in the sky," suggesting that even in death, Sam McGee has found a sense of peace and freedom in the frozen North.

Overall, "The Cremation of Sam McGee" is a powerful and evocative narrative poem that explores the themes of death, loyalty, and the challenges of life in the frozen North. The poem's language and imagery evoke a sense of the harsh and unforgiving environment, and the story of Sam McGee and his friend is a testament to the human spirit and the power of friendship.

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