THE MAD MAN
KHALIL GIBRAN
In the ancient days, when the first quiver of speech came to my lips, I ascended the holy mountain and spoke unto God, saying, “Master, I am thy slave. Thy hidden will is my law and I shall obey thee for ever more.”
But God made no answer, and like a mighty tempest passed away.
And after a thousand years I ascended the holy mountain and again spoke unto God, saying, “Creator, I am thy creation. Out of clay hast thou fashioned me and to thee I owe mine all.”
And God made no answer, but like a thousand swift wings passed away.
And after a thousand years I climbed the holy mountain and spoke unto God again, saying, “Father, I am thy son. In pity and love thou hast given me birth, and through love and worship I shall inherit thy kingdom.”
And God made no answer, and like the mist that veils the distant hills he passed away.
And after a thousand years I climbed the sacred mountain and again spoke unto God, saying, “My God, my aim and my fulfilment; I am thy yesterday and thou are my tomorrow. I am thy root in the earth and thou art my flower in the sky, and together we grow before the face of the sun.”
Then God leaned over me, and in my ears whispered words of sweetness, and even as the sea that enfoldeth a brook that runneth down to her, he enfolded me.
And when I descended to the valleys and the plains God was there also.
Figurative Language
Personification:
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"I ascended the holy mountain and spoke unto God"
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"I am thy yesterday and thou are my tomorrow"
Metaphor:
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"and like a might tempest passes away"
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"even as the sea that enfoldeth a brook and together runneth down to her, he enfolded me"
Symbolism:
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"out of clay has though fashioned me"
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"but like a thousand swift wings passed away"
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"like the mist that veils the distant hills he passes away"
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"I am thy root in the earth and thou art my flower in the sky"
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"together we grow befor the face of the sun"
Repetition:
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"after a thousand years i climbed the holy mountain"
Software Findings Reoccurring Words
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God, Thousand, Spoke, Saying, Mountain
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With these findings we can conclude that the narrator was speaking to god.
Interpretation
My interpretation of "God" revolved around a persons spirituality. To believe in god ment to render yourself to his love. Beliefe in god can give a person contentment and positiveness.