Zoë McCully
Ms. Peifer
Hour 5
May 28, 2012


Tu Fu Poems: Night Thoughts Afloat

The dominant of this poem is that people can be insignificant and seem out of place when compared to nature and the entire world. This theme is shown with setting, point of view, and symbolism.
The setting is described in two out of four paragraphs of this poem. Half the poem is describes Tu Fu’s location, showing that it is important. The location of the poem gives the reader a feeling of peace and serenity. “By bent grasses in a gentle wind under a straight mast...the stars hang above the broad plain but moon’s afloat in this Great River” (Night Thoughts Afloat, 1-7). This imagery also induces a feeling of loneliness, and clearly Tu Fu also feels this way in this place because he says “I alone tonight” (4), and proceeds to question his purpose in life. The setting gives the reader an image of openness, words like “the broad plain” (5) and “this Great River” show that Tu Fu is viewing a large expanse of nature, that makes him feel insignificant.
Tu Fu’s direct point of view is interesting, because he questions his audience, instead of simply narrating the events of the poem. “Oh, where’s my name among the poets? Official rank?” (8-10) Tu Fu’s questions he voices in his poem show his desire for understanding and his longing for a place in the world. The description “Retired for ill-health” (11) emphasises his state of aloneness, and gives a slight feeling of irony, as if this was not a title Tu Fu bestowed upon himself.
The symbol of the gull also emphasises Tu Fu’s aloneness and insignificance. Gulls are average birds that are seen commonly throughout the world. They are replaceable and not regarded as special. The repetition “Drifting, drifting” brings attention to the question he poses in the last paragraph. “What am I more than a single gull between sky and earth?” (13-15). The setting of “between sky and earth” (15) again emphasises the vastness and overwhelmingness of nature. The word “single” is a third example proving that Tu Fu is a very isolated poet, and that he identifies himself that way. The drifting single gull is a symbol of his uncertainty regarding his place in nature and in society.

This poem gives no answers about Tu Fu’s position among the poets, or his place in nature, and the frequent questions he asks regarding this show that he is trying to understand that himself.