HORSES: EDWIN MUIR

The Bible New Testament Revelation: Chapter 6 John’s vision of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

The First Seal--Rider on White Horse 1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come’. 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. The Second Seal--War 3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come’. 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. qp55-H1-lSM As you listen: look at the poem. What is the relevance of this Biblical extract?

The Third Seal--Famine 5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, ‘Come’. I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the centre of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.’ The Fourth Seal--Death 7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come’. 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Horses: Edwin Muir  Those lumbering horses in the steady plough, On the bare field - I wonder, why, just now, They seemed terrible, so wild and strange, Like magic power on the stony grange. Perhaps some childish hour has come again, When I watched fearful, through the blackening rain, Their hooves like pistons in an ancient mill Move up and down, yet seem as standing still. Their conquering hooves which trod the stubble down Were ritual that turned the field to brown, And their great hulks were seraphims of gold, Or mute ecstatic monsters on the mould. And oh the rapture, when, one furrow done, They marched broad-breasted to the sinking sun! The light flowed off their bossy sides in flakes; The furrows rolled behind like struggling snakes. But when at dusk with steaming nostrils home They came, they seemed gigantic in the gloam, And warm and glowing with mysterious fire That lit their smouldering bodies in the mire. Their eyes as brilliant and as wide as night Gleamed with a cruel apocalyptic light, Their manes the leaping ire of the wind Lifted with rage invisible and blind. Ah, now it fades! It fades! And I must pine Again for the dread country crystalline, Where the blank field and the still-standing tree Were bright and fearful presences to me. DOES the poem represent the end of an era? The poem looks back at “time lost” Can you find “apocalyptic” imagery Which is linked to the horses? You will work in small groups according To the next slide…

Group work instructions: in your groups – answer the set questions for your allotted stanzas.  Stanzas 1 and 2 How does Muir describe the horses literally/physically?  Stanza 3 How does Muir describe the horses literally/physically? How are they presented as something supernatural and fearful?  Stanzas 4 and 5 How does Muir describe the horses literally/physically?  Stanza 6 How does Muir describe the horses literally/physically? How are they presented as something supernatural and fearful?

How does Muir describe the horses literally/physically? Physical: Heavy (lumbering), To be tamed (wild, eyes as brilliant and wide as night), Strong (hooves like pistons), Huge (great hulks, monsters, broad-breasted, gigantic) Hot (warm and glowing, smouldering) Which of these descriptions relates To machinery? Why is this, do you Think?

How are they presented as something supernatural and fearful? Magic: (strange, like magic power, mysterious) Causing fear and awe (terrible, Fearful, their eyes gleamed… with a cruel apocalyptic light) Angry( their manes the leaping ire of the wind Lifted with rage) Conquering, Angelic (seraphim of gold, mysterious) What is suggested by the last ideas here? The poet regrets that the magic of childhood Has been lost as he has grown up?

In the light of this use of imagery, what links can be made between ‘A Different History’ and ‘Pied Beauty’? Animals: Beauty and power, majesty, skill, man/beast: essential differences Presentation of God/Godliness – here now but lost in our new age.

What should our response to such themes and messages be? The effect of these poems on the reader is…? Look at Line 25: What is the effect of the sudden present tense shift? How might the past be both “Bright” and “Fearful”? Discuss, write a response and feedback to the class.