The Night Land · Chapter
Homeward by the Shore explained
The Narrator and Naani emerge from the Upward Gorge into the Country of the Seas, where Naani experiences wonder and joy at the open light and sea.
What happens
The Narrator and Naani emerge from the Upward Gorge into the Country of the Seas, where Naani experiences wonder and joy at the open light and sea. They share a tender moment of love and playfulness, but their journey is threatened by bird-monsters. The Narrator uses the Diskos to defend them, killing one monster and continuing cautiously.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Loss
The Narrator and Naani share deep affection and playful intimacy, set against the backdrop of their perilous journey.
Memory and Dreams
Both are stirred by vague, olden memories and dreams of the ancient world, especially Naani, who weeps from the pain and pleasure of these recollections.
The Sublime and Terrible Nature
The vast, light-filled Country of the Seas and the monstrous bird-creatures evoke both awe and danger.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Guides Naani out of the Gorge, protects her, and fights a bird-monster with the Diskos.
- Naani
Experiences wonder and joy at the open country and sea; shares playful and tender moments with the Narrator; shows courage by readying her knife.
- The Diskos
Used by the Narrator to defend against the bird-monster; roars and spins with fire.
- The Monsters
Bird-monsters inhabit the warm Country; one attacks the Narrator and is killed by the Diskos.
Key passages
“And she to turn constant this way and that, and to be never ceased of looking, and of deep breathings of the wide air; for never in that life had she been in a broad place of light, as you shall have perceived.”
Naani kept turning in all directions, unable to stop gazing and taking deep breaths of the open air, because she had never before been in such a bright, wide space.
Highlights Naani's overwhelming wonder at experiencing open light and space for the first time.
“And she to break sudden from her rapture, and to set back her speech an Eternity with vague words, and memories so olden and englamoured that they did be as moonlight that once hath shone.”
She suddenly interrupted her joy, speaking in vague terms about ancient, enchanted memories that seemed like moonlight from a distant past.
Illustrates the haunting power of ancient memories that surface in Naani.
“And I to laugh, all tender; for I loved her so utter, as you do know; and I to tell her, as you sure likewise to have told your maid, that I wanted a pocket sufficient, that I might have her therein alway anigh to my heart.”
I laughed tenderly, because I loved her completely, and I told her—as you have surely said to your beloved—that I wished for a pocket big enough to keep her always close to my heart.
Expresses the depth of the Narrator's love and his desire for constant closeness with Naani.
“And, in verity, the monster gave out a mighty squarking, and went backward this way and that, and beat all about upon the stones, and did strike with the great bill at the place where it did be hurt.”
The monster let out a loud squawk, staggered back and forth, thrashed around on the stones, and struck with its beak at its own wound.
Describes the bird-monster's violent reaction after being struck by the Diskos.