đź’”

Exploring Victor Hugo's Poem on Love

Mar 5, 2025

Notes on Victor Hugo's Poem "Demande Ă  l'Elopement"

Introduction

  • Discussing one of Victor Hugo's most loved poems, taught in French schools.
  • Focus on understanding the poem and its context.

Reading the Poem

  • Opening Lines:
    • "Demande Ă  l'Elopement demain Ă  l'aube" - The poet's intention to travel at dawn.
    • Invites the reader to think of a loved one.
  • Theme of Journey:
    • The poet expresses he cannot stay away from his love.
    • Mentions passing through nature (forest and mountains) to reach love.

Mood and Tone

  • Tone Change:
    • Transition from hope to sadness in the second stanza.
    • "I will walk eyes fixed on my thoughts" - Focus on love, indifferent to surroundings.
  • Solitude:
    • Describes himself as "unknown" - complete solitude.
    • "Sad and the day for me will be like the night" - Reflects on sadness and darkness.

Symbolism

  • Metaphors:
    • "Hold of the evening" - Represents sunset, a metaphor for the end of the day.
    • Reaches the water (Aflur) where his love is, indicating a twist in the narrative.
  • Final Lines:
    • "I will put on your tomb..." - Realization that he is visiting his deceased daughter.
    • "Holly and flowering heather" - Symbolizes eternity and immortalizes his daughter.

Background of the Poem

  • Personal Context:
    • Victor Hugo had five children; only four survived.
    • His favorite, LĂ©opoldine, died tragically at age 19.
    • Hugo's deep sorrow influenced the creation of this poem on her fourth death anniversary.

Poem Structure

  • Form:
    • Three stanzas with four verses each.
    • Written in Alexandrine form (12 syllables).
    • Uses alternate rhymes.
  • Emotional Expression:
    • Tone reflects both promise and hope, as well as darkness and loneliness.
    • Verbs in future tense depict stages of the journey.

Influence on Hugo's Work

  • Shift in Writing Style:
    • LĂ©opoldine's death marked a turning point in Hugo's perspective.
    • Transition from pro-monarchy to awareness of the oppressed.
    • Themes visible in works like "Les MisĂ©rables."

Conclusion

  • The poem is a poignant tribute, reflecting love and mourning.
  • Suggestion to visit Hugo's home in Paris to see memorials of LĂ©opoldine.
  • Encouragement to explore more poetry and share thoughts.

Full transcript