Chloe Adams
What candles may be held to speed them all? is a line from the poem 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owen. In the poem, Owen uses the rhetorical question to highlight the insignificance of the deaths of young soldiers in World War I, who are compared to cattle being slaughtered. The candle is a metaphor for the lives of the soldiers, and the lack of candles to honour their deaths symbolises the lack of respect, emotion, and humanity shown towards them. The use of candles has evolved over the centuries, from early forms made of plant materials dipped in animal fat to modern variations made from soy, coconut, beeswax, and vegetable wax. Today, candles are often used to create ambiance and set a mood, providing light, fragrance, and warmth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Wax, tallow, paraffin wax, coconut, soy, vegetable, beeswax, whale fat, plant materials, animal fat, oakum, plant fibre |
| Use | Lighting, fragrance, heat, timekeeping, religious/symbolic purposes, ambiance, air purification |
| Type | Electric flameless, sparkler, trick |
| Wick Type | Cotton, wood |
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What You'll Learn
Candles in poetry
Candles have been a source of light and warmth for millennia, and their use in poetry is just as significant. From ancient times to the present day, candles have been a symbol of hope, life, and ceremony, with poets using them to explore themes of mortality, beauty, and the human condition.
One of the most famous references to candles in poetry is in William Shakespeare's "Macbeth". In this tragic play, the protagonist, Macbeth, utters the now-famous line: "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is heard no more". Here, the candle represents the fleeting nature of life, a metaphor for the brevity of Macbeth's reign and life itself.
In Wilfred Owen's "Anthem for Doomed Youth", candles are again used to symbolize mortality and mourning. Owen writes, "What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes / Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes". The "holy glimmers" in the boys' eyes represent the sorrowful farewells to their fallen comrades, a poignant image of the tragedy of war.
C. P. Cavafy's poem, "Candles", also explores the theme of life's fragility. The poem reflects on how a lit candle immediately begins to shrink, and how easily it can be extinguished. This imagery is a powerful metaphor for the passing of time and the transient nature of existence.
Edna St. Vincent Millay's work, also titled "Candles", takes a different approach. Her poem speaks of the choice to “burn the candle at both ends”, suggesting a life lived with intensity and passion, despite the knowledge that it may be shorter as a result.
In Portia's speech from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", the candle takes on a different symbolism, representing a good deed: "How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world". This quote has been compared to William Blake's saying, emphasizing the importance of small, specific acts of kindness.
Poems by Wallace Stevens and Sylvia Plath also include references to candles, with Stevens' work speaking of the "highest candle", a metaphor for God, and Plath's poem, also titled "Candles", offering a unique perspective on the theme.
Beyond these examples, candles appear in poetry in various forms, from the passionate student in a Hello Poetry piece to the candle maker's creation coming to life in another. Candles continue to inspire poets, their flickering flames a reminder of life's beauty, fragility, and the power of our choices.
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Candles for religious purposes
Candles are one of the oldest human inventions still in use today and are integral to many major world religions. They are used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes and have been for over two millennia.
Christianity
Early Christians used candles for decorative, symbolic, and ceremonial purposes in churches. In the 2nd Century, a Christian academic wrote that the religion uses candles “not just to dispel night’s gloom but also to represent Christ, the Uncreated and Eternal Light”.
Today, candles are used in a vast range of contexts in Christianity: they can commemorate individual saints or biblical events, be used as signs of religious fervour or joy, or be lit for prayers. Miniature ‘votive’ candles are often used as part of prayer rituals, or to honour God. They are also used for Mass, liturgical processions, evening prayer ceremonies, funeral processions, and to show reverence to the Blessed Sacrament.
In the Catholic Church, Advent candles are used to create an Advent wreath in the week leading up to Christmas. They are also used in Candlemas, or the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Purification of Mary.
In the Anglican Church, votive candles are used for praying for the dead and asking for saintly intercession. Lutheran churches may use votive candles which may be lit at home, as part of personal or family devotions, or at the church.
Judaism
In Judaism, a perpetual light was kept burning in the Temple and synagogues to show the presence of God.
Paganism
Candles were used in Roman pagan culture for religious and military processions, showing the divine favour and presence of the gods.
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Candles for light
Candles have been used for lighting for over two millennia, although they are no longer as essential since the invention of electric light. However, they are still commonly used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes.
Candles are made from an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance, such as tallow. They have been made from various natural fats, tallow, and waxes, including beeswax, which dates back to Roman times and is one of the oldest forms of candle. Beeswax candles are known for their warm golden colour, hexagonal pattern, and subtle honey scent, and they are a great eco-friendly choice.
In modern times, candles are made from a variety of materials, including paraffin wax, which has made candles affordable for the masses. Safer candles include those made from coconut, soy, vegetable, and beeswax. Soy wax, in particular, is an increasingly popular option as it is made from natural, renewable sources and has a slow, clean burn.
Wood wick candles are another option, known for their signature crackling sound and long, even burn. They burn much more cleanly than cotton wicks and are a great choice for those seeking a cozy, hygge atmosphere.
Candles can also be used for celebrations, such as birthday parties, with sparkler and trick candles being a fun addition to any cake.
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Candles for heat
Candles have been used for heat for over two millennia. They were a significant form of indoor lighting until other light sources were invented, but they are still used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes.
The amount of heat a candle produces is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU). A single candle produces anywhere from 75 to 85 BTU, with an average of 80 BTU for calculations. To heat a 10-by-10 square room, or 100 square feet, you would need 45 BTUs per square foot, so a single candle could heat a space of one foot, nine inches, or less than two square feet. It would take 14 to 22 candles to heat a 12x12 room.
There are some houses that can be heated on a cool winter night with only about 10-20 candles. These are called passive houses, and they have very good insulation. However, if you open the door, all that heat escapes.
You can also use candles to heat water or cook by placing a terracotta pot over them. This does not make the candle hotter, but it concentrates the heat into a smaller area. This setup can get the exterior of a terracotta pot up to 270°F (132°C) with four tealight candles. However, this method comes with risks, as open-flame candles are a leading cause of house fires, and the unstable setup of stacking things on top of each other can be dangerous.
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Candles for timekeeping
Candles have been used for timekeeping for over two millennia, with the earliest reference to their use as a timekeeping device found in a Chinese poem by You Jiangu in 520 CE. In the poem, You Jiangu described six uniform candles of equal weight and thickness, each 12 inches tall, marked in sections of one inch. Each inch took 20 minutes to burn, and an entire candle lasted 4 hours. Enclosed in structures to protect the flame, these candles could be used to gauge the passage of time, especially when the sun was not visible.
Candle clocks, as they came to be known, consisted of thin candles with consistently spaced markings that, when burned, indicated the passage of time. While no longer used today, candle clocks provided an effective way to tell time indoors, at night, or on cloudy days. They were also used for purposes other than telling time, such as marking the end of a certain period of study or work. For example, a student might be given a six-hour candle and instructed to study until the candle burned down to a certain point.
The most common type of candle used for timekeeping was the candle clock, which came in various forms, including six-hour, eight-hour, and twelve-hour candles. These longer-burning candles allowed for more accurate timekeeping. The eight-hour candles, for instance, were marked at intervals of 20 minutes, while the twelve-hour candles were marked at intervals of 30 minutes.
The use of candles for timekeeping required skill and practice, as several factors could affect the rate at which the candle burned. The quality of the wax, the length of the wick, and even variations in room temperature and air currents could impact the accuracy of the timekeeping. Despite these challenges, candle clocks remained in use through at least the 18th century, even as mechanical clocks became more common.
Candles played a crucial role in timekeeping before the widespread use of mechanical clocks, and their importance in the history of timekeeping should not be overlooked.
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Frequently asked questions
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance, such as tallow, that provides light and, in some cases, a fragrance. Candles have been used for over two millennia and were a significant form of indoor lighting until the invention of other light sources.
Candles of antiquity were made from various forms of natural fat, tallow, and wax. The Romans made true dipped candles from tallow and beeswax. In the modern era, candles are made from paraffin wax, coconut wax, soy wax, vegetable wax, and beeswax.
In "Anthem for Doomed Youth", Owen uses the rhetorical question "What candles may be held to speed them all?" to symbolise the insignificance of the deaths of young soldiers in World War I. The burning light of the candles represents their lives, and the lack of candles held to speed them symbolises the lack of respect, emotion, and humanity shown towards their deaths.
