But
he grew old —
This knight so bold —
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell, as he found
No spot of
ground
That looked like Eldorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow —
'Shadow,' said he,
'Where can it
be —
This land of Eldorado?'
'Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly
ride,'
The shade replied, —
'If you seek for Eldorado!'
Setting (return): The setting in this poem speaks of the happy knight riding his horse in the sunshine. The shadow in this poem represents death.
Conflict (return): The conflict is that this knight is getting very old and there is no hope for the search of Eldorado. This knight cannot seem to find his destiny.
Rising Action (return): This phrase speaks of the shadow of death the knight came into contact with. This shadow wants him to go down the road of death and stop the expedition. The shadow seems to creep up on him very stealthily.
Climax (return) : The climax speaks of the shadow the knight finally was able too meet. He seems very excited because the shadow seems to want to help him get to Eldorado.
Falling Action (return): The knight in this phrase begins to loose hope of ever finding Eldorado. He seems to be loosing faith and wants to find this land quickly.
Resolution (return): The resolution is that the shadow of death will show the way to "Eldorado" if the knight will follow. Through the shadow of death is the only way to get to Eldorado.
Allusion (return): These allusions are of death and of sorrow. The moons symbolize plainness, and gloom.
Symbolization: This poem symbolizes heaven and how a simple man is in search of reaching it. The shadow of death represents Satan and the temptations he gives each and every one of us. Although, he will search and search, he can never find "Eldorado" unless he dies.
Rhyme Scheme (return): There is rhyme in every stanza. This is called couplets. The word right after rhymed. The tone, or diction, is hope, faith, and trials.