# The New Helen explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Oscar Wilde.

## What happens

The poem addresses Helen, questioning her whereabouts since the Trojan War and marveling at her reappearance in the modern world. It reflects on her past glory, her association with love and war, and the speaker's own devotion and suffering in her presence. The speaker pleads for her to stay, acknowledging her divine origin and eternal beauty.

## Themes in this chapter

### Beauty and Aesthetics

Helen's beauty is described as divine and transcendent, with imagery of 'silver splendour of the foam' and 'white glory of thy loveliness.'

### Love and Loss

The speaker expresses intense love for Helen, coupled with the pain of her inevitable departure and the suffering of unrequited devotion.

### Classical Mythology and Antiquity

The poem is steeped in references to the Trojan War, Greek heroes, and mythological figures like Calypso and the Erycine.

### Transience and Mortality

Helen's fleeting presence and the speaker's awareness of time passing ('summer of my days') highlight the theme of impermanence.

## Character check-ins

### Helen

The central figure of the poem, addressed as the reincarnated Helen of Troy, whose beauty and divine origin are celebrated.

### Aphrodite

Referenced as 'treacherous Aphrodite’s mocking eyes' and later as the 'Erycine,' the discrowned queen associated with love and deception.

### The Wretched Cyprian

Mentioned as the 'discrowned Queen men call the Erycine,' linking to Aphrodite's Cyprian aspect.

### Love

Personified as a god whose 'terrible wheel' causes the speaker's suffering and devotion.

### Mary

Implied through references to 'Her, before whose mouldering shrine / To-day at Rome the silent nations kneel' and 'only a sword to pierce her heart,' alluding to the Virgin Mary.

### Death

Mentioned in 'the lotus-leaves which heal the wounds of Death,' symbolizing mortality and its relief.

## Key lines

> Where hast thou been since round the walls of Troy / The sons of God fought in that great emprise?

Where have you been since the time of the Trojan War, when divine beings fought in that great endeavor?

_The speaker questions Helen's whereabouts since the mythological past._

> No other god save him, before whose feet / In nets of gold the tired planets move, / The incarnate spirit of spiritual love / Who in thy body holds his joyous seat.

I recognize no other god except Love, who controls the planets with golden nets and resides joyfully in your body as the embodiment of spiritual love.

_The speaker declares Love as the only deity, manifest in Helen's form._

> Thou shalt not die: no asps of Egypt creep / Close at thy heels to taint the delicate air; / No sullen-blooming poppies stain thy hair, / Those scarlet heralds of eternal sleep.

You will not die: no Egyptian asps threaten you, and no poppies, symbols of eternal sleep, will touch your hair.

_The speaker asserts Helen's immortality, free from mortal decay._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/the-new-helen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters