1. I Broke the Spell that
Held Me Long
By Willian Cullent Bryant
Reporter: Mala, Risse Soffe Margreth
C.
2. • American, Romantic poet, journalist, editor of New york evening post.
• Born on Nov. 3, 1794, Massachussets, U.S
• Died on June 12, 1878
• Second son of Peter Bryant, a physician and Sarah Snell, a state
legislator
• At 16 entered the sophomore class of Williams College. Because of
finances and in hopes of attending Yale, he withdrew without
graduating.
• Unable to enter Yale, he studied law under private guidance at
Worthington and at Bridgewater and at 21 was admitted to the bar.
• spent nearly 10 years in Plainfield and at Great Barrington as an
attorney.
• At 26 Bryant married Frances Fairchild
William Cullen Bryant
3. • 1825 he moved to New York City to become coeditor of the New York
Review.
• He became an editor of the Evening Post in 1827
• In 1829 he became editor in chief and part owner and continued in
this position until his death.
• Notable Works: “Thanatopsis” “The Embargo” “To a Waterfowl”
• "Thanatopsis" is Bryant's most famous poem, which Bryant may
have been working on as early as 1811.
• Early influences on William Cullen Bryant: religious and political
conservatism in childhood.
• Early poems reflected these conservative influences.
• Gained fame at 17 with "Thanatopsis," rejecting Puritan dogma for
Deism.
William Cullen Bryant
4. • Underwent ideological shifts throughout his life.
• Moved from Federalism to the Democratic party.
• Became a founder of the Republican party.
• Solidified literary standing with the publication of "Poems" in 1821.
• Later in life, dedicated time to translations.
• Bryant died in 1878 of complications from an accidental fall suffered after
participating in a Central Park ceremony to honor Italian patriot Giuseppe
Mazzini. He is buried at Roslyn Cemetery in Roslyn, New York
• Sources say that his poem “I Broke the Spell that held me long” was
published in 1832
William Cullen Bryant
5. I Broke the spell that held me long
I broke the spell that held me long,
The dear, dear witchery of song.
I said, the poet’s idle lore
Shall waste my prime of years no more,
For Poetry, though heavenly born,
Consorts with poverty and scorn.
I broke the spell–nor deemed its power
Could fetter me another hour.
Ah, thoughtless! how could I forget
Its causes were around me yet?
For wheresoe’er I looked, the while,
Was Nature’s everlasting smile.
Still came and lingered on my sight
Of flowers and streams the bloom and light,
And glory of the stars and sun; –
And these and poetry are one.
They, ere the world had held me long,
Recalled me to the love of song.
6. I Broke the spell that held me long
1. I broke the spell that held me long,
2. The dear, dear witchery of song.
3. I said, the poet’s idle lore
4. Shall waste my prime of years no more,
5. For Poetry, though heavenly born,
6 Consorts with poverty and scorn.
1. “Spell” = Poetry
2. The speaker is reffering to poetry as
something that captivating and enchanting in
nature
3-4. The speaker decides that he will no
longer allow the seemingly frivolous teachings
or knowledge of poets ("idle lore") to consume
the best years of his life.
5-6. The speaker acknowledges that while
poetry is considered to be of divine or heavenly
origin, a life dedicated to poetry will certainly be
associated with hardship (financial
problems/poverty) and disdain(scorn).
7. I Broke the spell that held me long
1. I broke the spell–nor deemed its power
2. Could fetter me another hour.
3. Ah, thoughtless! how could I forget
4. Its causes were around me yet?
5. For wheresoe’er I looked, the while,
6. Was Nature’s everlasting smile.
1. The poet believes that breaking free from the
spell would be a simple and immediate
process.
2. He realizes that the spell continues to affect
him and it cannot be easily be shaken off
3-4. He recalls that the reason why he cannot
let go of the spell was because of his
surroundings, the beauty of nature
5-6. Wherever the speaker looked, nature is
present. He personifies nature with the
statement “everlasting smile” refering to the
beauty nd influence of nature
8. I Broke the spell that held me long
1. Still came and lingered on my sight
2. Of flowers and streams the bloom and light,
3. And glory of the stars and sun; –
4. And these and poetry are one.
5. They, ere the world had held me long,
6. Recalled me to the love of song.
1. The beauty of nature captivated the speaker
2-3. Elements of nature are being used to
heighten the reader’s interpretation of the
beauty of nature.
4. Poetry and nature are inseperable and
interconnected with each other
5. Before the speaker got caught up in the
practical matters of the world, nature and
poetry deeply influenced him.
6. His love for poetry is rekindled through the
connection of nature and poetry
9. Themes
● Practicality/ Societal expectations vs. Artistic passion - The conflict of practicality or
societal expectations and artistic passion is shown in the first stanza when the speaker
was determined to let go of poetry because of hardships and disdain that it will bring.
● Nature and poetry - In the second and the third stanza mentioned that nature and poetry
are connected with each other.
● Influence of poetry - In the third stanza, the speaker realized that no matter how much
he tried to break free from poetry, its influence still remained.
11. I Broke the spell that held me long
I broke the spell that held me long,
The dear, dear witchery of song.
I said, the poet’s idle lore
Shall waste my prime of years no more,
For Poetry, though heavenly born,
Consorts with poverty and scorn.
I broke the spell–nor deemed its power
Could fetter me another hour.
Ah, thoughtless! how could I forget
Its causes were around me yet?
For wheresoe’er I looked, the while,
Was Nature’s everlasting smile.
Still came and lingered on my sight
Of flowers and streams the bloom and light,
And glory of the stars and sun; –
And these and poetry are one.
They, ere the world had held me long,
Recalled me to the love of song.
