Poetry · Chapter
Out in the Dark explained
The speaker describes a night scene in the snow, where fawns and a doe move invisibly, and the dark itself seems to hunt.
What happens
The speaker describes a night scene in the snow, where fawns and a doe move invisibly, and the dark itself seems to hunt. The speaker, stars, wind, and deer are together in the darkness, feeling both near and far, with fear drumming in the ear. The poem contrasts the weakness of light, love, and delight against the might of night, suggesting that only love can overcome its power.
Themes in this chapter
Solitude and Reflection
The speaker is alone in the dark with the natural world, reflecting on fear and the power of night.
Nature and the Seasons
The scene is set in a snowy landscape with fallow deer, wind, and stars, emphasizing the natural environment.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker who observes the dark and reflects on the insignificance of light and love before night's might.
Key passages
“Out in the dark over the snow / The fallow fawns invisible go / With the fallow doe;”
In the darkness above the snow, the young deer move unseen alongside their mother.
Describes the hidden presence of deer in the snowy night.
“And I and star and wind and deer, / Are in the dark together—near, / Yet far—and fear / Drums on my ear / In that sage company drear.”
The speaker, stars, wind, and deer all share the darkness, feeling close yet distant, with fear pounding in the ears amidst that solemn group.
Highlights the paradoxical closeness and separation in the dark, and the fear it evokes.
“How weak and little is the light, / All the universe of sight, / Love and delight, / Before the might, / If you love it not, of night.”
Light, everything visible, love, and joy are all feeble compared to the power of night, unless you love the night itself.
Contrasts the fragility of light and emotion with the overwhelming force of darkness.