Analysis of Ithaca
Constantine P. Cavafy 1863 (Alexandria) – 1933 (Alexandria)
When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.
Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.
Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean.
Scheme | aAxBcdxeBcxf Axxxxxedxxx dxexxxxexf fxx |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111111 111111 1101011010 01001 100101111 11111101 1111111011101 01011100110 01001 1001011111 011101011 0111111011 111111 1100101110 111011 111011 1110101010 011110 1011010100100 01000111001 100011100111 1101001010 1101110101 111011 101011111101 1100110010 101111 11111010111 111111101 101011111 11101010 010111111 110101111 011101110011 111101110100 101011011111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,365 |
Words | 258 |
Sentences | 15 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 12, 11, 10, 3 |
Lines Amount | 36 |
Letters per line (avg) | 30 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 274 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 64 |
Font size:
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on May 03, 2023
- 1:18 min read
- 638 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Ithaca" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/7176/ithaca>.
Discuss this Constantine P. Cavafy poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In