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Sehnsucht

The poem Sehnsucht by Joseph Freiherr Von Eichendoff is unquestionably a poem of the romantic period. This is particular evident in the rhyming structure of the poem itself. The poetic genre of this period eschewed classic literary language in favour of the language of nature and this is shown in the jambus rhyming structure used in this poem. This rhyming structure follows the natural rhythm of the German language and encapsulates romanticism’s emphasis on all that was intuitive to man. Its rural setting also provides much of the natural imagery, which is central to romantic poetry.

A number of key points in this poem are central to revealing the sense of the text. The image of the poet standing at the window is of particular significance. Von Eichendoff’s decision to begin in a domestic setting is juxtaposed against the natural setting he desperately wishes to be part of. The language of the poem is archaic in places and there are numerous references to antiquated images such as “Ein Posthorn”, “der Lauten”, “lauschen” and the traveling craftsmen, which give this poem a medieval sense.

The poem itself centers on the poet desire to travel and to be part of the natural world, which the travelers describe in their song. The poet expresses a deep longing for travel, which causes his heart to metaphorically break out of his body. This is presented as the central theme of the poem and the thematizing of emotion is a key feature of romanticism. The context of this poem could also lead one to speculate on the poet’s motivations. Von Eichendoff was born into Prussian nobility and spent his life occupied in various administrative jobs, each of which carried a great deal of responsibility. Perhaps the poet’s longing to travel, which is palpable in this poem, signals to his desire to a live a simpler life amidst nature.

There are various and contrasting sounds throughout the poem that draw the reader’s...