# Sun and Moon explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The speaker awakens with the rising sun, feeling invigorated to cast aside doubt and idleness, but by evening the sun's setting mocks his resolve. In the night, the moon's silent wisdom brings a tempered hope that transforms his strength into truth.

## Themes in this chapter

### Spiritual Struggle and Doubt

The speaker resolves to shake the pillars of all doubt, but the sun's setting mocks his readiness, highlighting an ongoing spiritual struggle.

### Nature as Divine Revelation

The sun and moon serve as natural phenomena that reveal deeper truths about the speaker's soul, with the moon's silent youth feeding hope and fear.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who awakens and reflects on the sun and moon.

### Moon

The white moon that meets the speaker and imparts mellow wisdom.

## Key lines

> First came the red-eyed sun as I did wake; He smote me on the temples and I rose, Casting the night aside and all its woes;

The sun, appearing red at dawn, struck me awake, and I got up, leaving behind the night and its troubles.

_Describes the awakening and casting off of darkness._

> And I would spurn my idleness, and take My own wild journey even like him, and shake The pillars of all doubt with lusty blows,

I wanted to reject laziness and embark on a bold journey like the sun, forcefully challenging all uncertainty.

_Expresses the speaker's initial resolve to overcome doubt._

> The white moon met me, and my heart confess’d A mellow wisdom in her silent youth, Which fed my hope with fear, and made my strength a truth.

The pale moon encountered me, and my heart acknowledged a gentle wisdom in her quiet newness, which nourished my hope with fear and turned my strength into something genuine.

_The moon's influence transforms the speaker's strength into truth._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/sun-and-moon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters