Analysis of Bécquer’s Rhymes XXXI, XXXV, and XXXVIII: Love, Loss, and Poetic Form
Analysis of Bécquer’s Rhymes
Rima XXXI: A Tragic Farce of Love
Our passion was a tragic farce,
Whose absurd fable
Confused comedy and seriousness,
Laughter and tears.
But the worst part of this story
Is that in the end,
She felt both laughter and tears,
And I, only tears.
Analysis:
Location: 19th Century
Genre: Romantic Poetry
Author: Bécquer
Theme:
- Introduction to beauty
- Contrasting feelings: “Laughter and tears”
- Frustration of a broken heart
- Tragic end of a love dream
Form:
This poem combines eleven-syllable (odd) and eight-syllable (even) verses with imperfect rhyme (assonance).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loose | Loose | Loose | a | B | a | B | a |
The poem uses antithesis (laughter and tears) and metaphor (passion as a tragic farce). Parallelism is evident in the final two verses.
Opinion:
Literary: The theme of love, with its joys and sorrows, is central. Bécquer uses simple stylistic devices characteristic of Romantic poetry.
Personal: This poem evokes the universal pain of heartbreak, yet its depth of sincerity resonates with a unique intensity.
Rima XXXV: Admiring Forgetfulness
I admired your forgetfulness!
Although one day
I admired your love more,
Because what’s in me is worth nothing,
That… nor could you suspect.
Rima XXXVIII: The Fate of Lost Love
Sighs are air and go to the air,
Tears are water and go to the sea.
Tell me, woman, when love is forgotten,
Do you know where it goes?
Analysis:
Location: Rhymes and Legends by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Theme: These rhymes explore indifference and the intangible nature of love.
Parts:
Rima XXXV expresses surprise at the ease of forgetting.
Rima XXXVIII portrays love as a poetic state, questioning its fate after being forgotten.
Form:
Both are short poems with assonant rhyme and eleven-syllable verses.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose | – | Loose | – |
Rima XXXV uses enjambment.
Rima XXXVIII uses similes (sighs are air, tears are water) and parallelism.
Opinion:
Literary: The poet expresses disappointment and the desire to forget. He aims to convey his feelings to the reader.
Personal: These rhymes reflect the pain of unrequited love and the author’s search for understanding.
Post-Romanticism and Bécquer’s Rhymes
Post-Romanticism (second half of the 19th century) bridges Romanticism and Realism. It retains themes like loneliness, death, love, and heartbreak, shifting away from historical and legendary subjects.
General Themes in Bécquer’s Rhymes:
Love is the main theme, divided into sub-themes:
- The ideal woman
- The inaccessible woman
- The sensed woman
- Derealized women
Bécquer’s Rhymes can be categorized into four types:
- Poems about poetry
- Poems about joyful love
- Poems about heartbreak
- Poems about the poet’s psychological state and uncertainties