The Shield of Achilles

"The Shield of Achilles" is a poem by W.H. Auden that describes the mythical shield of Achilles, a powerful and indestructible weapon that was given to Achilles by the god Hephaestus. The poem is structured in a way that reflects the different layers and elements of the shield, with each section of the poem describing a different aspect of the weapon.

Here is a line-by-line explanation.

She looked over his shoulder
       For vines and olive trees,
    Marble well-governed cities
       And ships upon untamed seas,
    But there on the shining metal
       His hands had put instead
    An artificial wilderness
       And a sky like lead.

The lines describe the contrast between the peaceful and idyllic landscape depicted on the shield, with vines, olive trees, and marble cities, and the artificial wilderness and sky like lead that are depicted instead. The phrase "She looked over his shoulder" suggests that the speaker is observing the shield from a distance, and the phrase "For vines and olive trees" suggests that the speaker is looking for signs of a peaceful and natural environment. The phrase "Marble well-governed cities" suggests that the speaker is also looking for signs of civilization and order.

However, the lines go on to say that "there on the shining metal / His hands had put instead / An artificial wilderness / And a sky like lead." This contrast suggests that the shield contains multiple layers and elements, and that it is able to capture and preserve both peaceful and chaotic scenes. The phrase "an artificial wilderness" could be interpreted as a symbol of the way in which human intervention can alter and destroy the natural world, while the phrase "a sky like lead" could be interpreted as a symbol of bleakness and despair.

A plain without a feature, bare and brown,
   No blade of grass, no sign of neighborhood,
Nothing to eat and nowhere to sit down,
   Yet, congregated on its blankness, stood
   An unintelligible multitude,
A million eyes, a million boots in line,
Without expression, waiting for a sign.

The lines describe a plain that is bare and brown, with no features or vegetation, and no signs of life or civilization. The phrase "No blade of grass, no sign of neighborhood" suggests that the plain is desolate and uninhabited, and the phrase "Nothing to eat and nowhere to sit down" suggests that it is inhospitable and uninviting.

Despite these barren and inhospitable conditions, the lines go on to say that "An unintelligible multitude / A million eyes, a million boots in line" are congregated on the plain, waiting for a sign. The phrase "An unintelligible multitude" suggests that the crowd is large and diverse, and the phrase "A million eyes, a million boots in line" suggests that it is disciplined and orderly. The phrase "Without expression, waiting for a sign" suggests that the crowd is passive and inactive, and that it is waiting for some kind of guidance or direction.

Out of the air a voice without a face
   Proved by statistics that some cause was just
In tones as dry and level as the place:
   No one was cheered and nothing was discussed;
   Column by column in a cloud of dust
They marched away enduring a belief
Whose logic brought them, somewhere else, to grief.

The lines describe a voice that speaks "out of the air" and provides statistics that support a just cause. The phrase "a voice without a face" suggests that the speaker is unseen or anonymous, and the phrase "tones as dry and level as the place" suggests that the speaker is impersonal and detached. The phrase "No one was cheered and nothing was discussed" suggests that the speaker's words have no emotional impact or resonance.

Despite the dry and uninspiring nature of the voice, the lines go on to say that "Column by column in a cloud of dust / They marched away enduring a belief / Whose logic brought them, somewhere else, to grief." The phrase "Column by column" suggests that the crowd is organized and disciplined, and the phrase "a cloud of dust" suggests that they are moving quickly and with purpose. The phrase "enduring a belief" suggests that they are willing to suffer and sacrifice for their cause, and the phrase "Whose logic brought them, somewhere else, to grief" suggests that their belief has consequences that are ultimately tragic or painful.

 She looked over his shoulder
       For ritual pieties,
    White flower-garlanded heifers,
       Libation and sacrifice,
    But there on the shining metal
       Where the altar should have been,
    She saw by his flickering forge-light
       Quite another scene.

The lines describe the contrast between the peaceful and idyllic landscape depicted on the shield, with "ritual pieties" and "white flower-garlanded heifers," and the chaotic and violent scene that is depicted instead. The phrase "She looked over his shoulder" suggests that the speaker is observing the shield from a distance, and the phrase "For ritual pieties" suggests that the speaker is looking for signs of ritual and tradition. The phrase "White flower-garlanded heifers" suggests that the speaker is looking for signs of peace and prosperity.

However, the lines go on to say that "there on the shining metal / Where the altar should have been, / She saw by his flickering forge-light / Quite another scene." This contrast suggests that the shield contains multiple layers and elements, and that it is able to capture and preserve both peaceful and chaotic scenes. The phrase "Where the altar should have been" suggests that the scene depicted on the shield is unexpected and unexpected, and the phrase "by his flickering forge-light" suggests that it is chaotic and frenetic. The phrase "Quite another scene" suggests that the scene depicted on the shield is very different from what the speaker is looking for.

Barbed wire enclosed an arbitrary spot
   Where bored officials lounged (one cracked a joke)
And sentries sweated for the day was hot:
   A crowd of ordinary decent folk
   Watched from without and neither moved nor spoke
As three pale figures were led forth and bound
To three posts driven upright in the ground.

The lines describe a scene of execution, in which three pale figures are bound to three posts and left to die. The phrase "Barbed wire enclosed an arbitrary spot" suggests that the scene is taking place in a confined and controlled space, and the phrase "Where bored officials lounged" suggests that the officials responsible for the execution are indifferent and disinterested. The phrase "one cracked a joke" suggests that the officials are callous and insensate.

The lines go on to describe the reaction of the crowd, who are described as "ordinary decent folk." The phrase "Watched from without and neither moved nor spoke" suggests that the crowd is passive and inactive, and that they are unable or unwilling to intervene in the execution. The phrase "As three pale figures were led forth and bound / To three posts driven upright in the ground" suggests that the execution is being carried out in a methodical and orderly manner, despite the inherent brutality of the act.

Overall, these lines describe a scene of violence and injustice, and suggest that the shield is able to capture and preserve moments of great significance and importance. The lines could be interpreted as a commentary on the way in which human experience is complex and multifaceted, with both beauty and ugliness coexisting.

The mass and majesty of this world, all
   That carries weight and always weighs the same
Lay in the hands of others; they were small
   And could not hope for help and no help came:
   What their foes like to do was done, their shame
Was all the worst could wish; they lost their pride
And died as men before their bodies died.

The lines describe a scene of defeat and despair, in which a group of people are powerless and vulnerable to the actions of their foes. The phrase "The mass and majesty of this world, all / That carries weight and always weighs the same" suggests that the scene is representative of the larger forces and dynamics at play in the world, and that these forces are beyond the control of the people depicted on the shield. The phrase "Lay in the hands of others" suggests that the people are powerless and at the mercy of their foes.

The lines go on to describe the fate of the people, who are described as "small / And could not hope for help and no help came." The phrase "What their foes like to do was done" suggests that the people are unable to protect themselves or resist their foes, and the phrase "their shame / Was all the worst could wish" suggests that they are humiliated and degraded. The phrase "they lost their pride / And died as men before their bodies died" suggests that they are subjected to a slow and painful death, and that they are able to maintain their dignity and integrity despite their suffering.

 She looked over his shoulder
       For athletes at their games,
    Men and women in a dance
       Moving their sweet limbs
    Quick, quick, to music,
       But there on the shining shield
    His hands had set no dancing-floor
       But a weed-choked field.

The lines describe the contrast between the peaceful and idyllic landscape depicted on the shield, with athletes engaged in their games and people dancing to music, and the chaotic and violent scene that is depicted instead. The phrase "She looked over his shoulder" suggests that the speaker is observing the shield from a distance, and the phrase "For athletes at their games" suggests that the speaker is looking for signs of athleticism and competition. The phrase "Men and women in a dance / Moving their sweet limbs / Quick, quick, to music" suggests that the speaker is looking for signs of joy and celebration.

However, the lines go on to say that "there on the shining shield / His hands had set no dancing-floor / But a weed-choked field." This contrast suggests that the shield contains multiple layers and elements, and that it is able to capture and preserve both peaceful and chaotic scenes. The phrase "a weed-choked field" suggests that the scene depicted on the shield is overgrown and abandoned, and could be interpreted as a symbol of neglect or decay.

A ragged urchin, aimless and alone,
   Loitered about that vacancy; a bird
Flew up to safety from his well-aimed stone:
   That girls are raped, that two boys knife a third,
   Were axioms to him, who'd never heard
Of any world where promises were kept,
Or one could weep because another wept.

The lines describe a scene of violence and despair, in which a ragged urchin is aimless and alone, and witnesses acts of violence and abuse. The phrase "A ragged urchin, aimless and alone" suggests that the urchin is isolated and marginalized, and the phrase "Loitered about that vacancy" suggests that he is idle and aimless. The phrase "a bird / Flew up to safety from his well-aimed stone" suggests that the urchin is violent and destructive, and that he is capable of causing harm.

The lines go on to describe the urchin's understanding of the world, which is shaped by violence and abuse. The phrase "That girls are raped, that two boys knife a third" suggests that the urchin is familiar with acts of sexual violence and aggression, and the phrase "Were axioms to him" suggests that these acts are taken for granted and accepted as a normal part of life. The phrase "who'd never heard / Of any world where promises were kept" suggests that the urchin is unfamiliar with trust and loyalty, and the phrase "Or one could weep because another wept" suggests that he is unfamiliar with empathy and compassion.

The thin-lipped armorer,
       Hephaestos, hobbled away,
    Thetis of the shining breasts
       Cried out in dismay
    At what the god had wrought
       To please her son, the strong
    Iron-hearted man-slaying Achilles
       Who would not live long.

The lines describe the reaction of the god Hephaestos and the goddess Thetis to the shield, which is described as "what the god had wrought / To please her son, the strong / Iron-hearted man-slaying Achilles." The phrase "The thin-lipped armorer, / Hephaestos, hobbled away" suggests that Hephaestos is proud of his work and proud of the shield that he has created. The phrase "Thetis of the shining breasts / Cried out in dismay" suggests that Thetis is shocked and distressed by the shield and that she is concerned about the fate of her son.

The lines go on to describe Achilles as "Iron-hearted man-slaying Achilles / Who would not live long." The phrase "Iron-hearted" suggests that Achilles is ruthless and unyielding, and the phrase "man-slaying" suggests that he is capable of killing. The phrase "Who would not live long" suggests that Achilles is doomed to an early and tragic death, despite his strength and power.

Overall, these lines describe the creation of the shield of Achilles and the reactions of the god Hephaestos and the goddess Thetis. The lines could be interpreted as a commentary on the way in which human experience is complex and multifaceted, with both beauty and ugliness coexisting.