Journey Of The Magi Analysis

“The Journey of the Magi” by Thomas Sterns Eliot and ‘A Found Poem’ by Seamus Heaney are both poems that explore the overarching notion of belief and struggle. Eliot’s poem pursues the expedition that the Magi experienced through the description of their hardships, skepticism and physical battle against the elements. On the other hand, Heaney’s poem depicts the internal struggle that the poet himself experienced and the yearn for a religious identity. Both poets employ numerous techniques to narrate their stories, ideas and themes.

Eliot’s poem, ‘The Journey of the Magi’ is a narration of the magi’s journey to spectate the nativity of Jesus Christ. This poem accompanies the journey that the magi experienced, from the perspective of one of

The concept of struggle is portrayed in numerous aspects throughout both poems. In the “Journey of the Magi”, the magi experience a physical battle against the elements. “ A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year, For a journey and such a long journey.” The use of alliteration and a superlative places emphasis on the physical hardship the magi battled. From biblical tales and texts the magi had housed in desert areas, hence the main reason for physical struggle - the cold weather they experienced were unaccustomed. In Heaney’s poem the struggle that juxtaposes with the one in Eliot’s is the interior battle Heaney experiences. In Heaney’s poem the struggle portrayed occurs internally with himself concerning his religious identity. The interpolation used in stanza 1, line 4 “‘ (whatever it means)” provides the readers with an insight into his mental battle. Though he respects the traditions, he has lost his faith in them and he is struggling with the loss of faith. In this poem the internal battle reveals to the audience his spirituality and belief. From this poem we can see the mental battle of confusion which he overcomes. Though the themes of struggle is mirrored in both poems the experience of struggle varies. Eliot proposes a physical battle against the elements unlike Heaney who presents an internal