Question

Summary of sunrise on the hills

Answer 1

sunrise on the hills is a celebration of the healing power of nature. The poet muses upon the morning sun shining on the woods and hills, and urges readers to return to the lap of nature to soothe their souls. Throughout the poem, Longfellow compares the sun to a knight, and nature to his sweetheart; the princess.

The poem opens with a description of the grand glorious returning march of the sun which the poet witnesses from the top of a hill. Nature, the princess, has been waiting long under captivity. Now the city gates – heaven’s wide arch – is glorious with the knight’s arrival.

The sun’s glory outshines everything else, and the clouds that have gathered midway round the wooded height now look like an army overpowered in battle. The enemy forces retreat and rocking on the conquered fortress is left the dark pine blasted, bare and cleft.

The veil of cloud is lifted from above the face of princess nature and the sun’s first rays leave a mellow blush on her face. Nature begins to smile, and the rich valley begins to glow with all her charm. The distant waters dash and the current whirl and flash. And the lakes, princess nature’s blue eyes, with their silver beaches and the woods bending over them like eyelashes, brighten up.

From the beautiful sights of the valley, the poem gradually moves on to the mesmerising sounds that the valley sends out. Nature begins to sing and the noisy bittern wheels his spiral way up as in a musical note. The music of the village bells echoes in the hills. The voice of the wild horn and the merry shouts from the valley fill the air.

I hope you will satisfied.