Ben Carter
Pierre de Ronsard's poem When You Are Very Old by Candle's Flame (or Quand Vous Serez Bien Vieille in French) was written in 1578 to his 16-year-old niece Hélène, who had refused his romantic advances. The poem is a taunt, projecting Hélène's future regret at turning down his interest. It is a sonnet with 14 lines and a unique rhyme scheme of abba, abba, ccd, ddd. The poem paints a vivid picture of an old woman sitting by the fire, spinning wool by candlelight, reciting the poet's verses and reflecting on her past beauty and his admiration for her. The theme of Carpe Diem, or seize the day, is prominent, with the famous line Gather life's roses while still fresh they grow, urging the subject to live in the moment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Poem Title | Quand Vous Serez Bien Vieille |
| Author | Pierre de Ronsard |
| Year | 1578 |
| Theme | Carpe Diem |
| Subject | Hélène |
| Rhyme Scheme | abba, abba, ccd, ddd |
| Verse Structure | Iambic Hexameter |
| Tone | Arrogant but admiring |
| Main Theme | Immortality through fame |
| Other Themes | Aging, living in the moment |
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What You'll Learn
The poem's context
"When You Are Very Old by Candle's Flame" or "Quand Vous Serez Bien Vieille" is a sonnet written by Pierre de Ronsard in 1578. The poem was addressed to Ronsard's 16-year-old niece Hélène, who had refused his amorous advances. The poem serves as a taunt, projecting Hélène's future regret at having rejected his romantic interest. Ronsard equates himself with "Life", suggesting that by rejecting him, she has rejected Life itself.
The poem follows the popular "Carpe Diem" or "Seize the Day" theme of the Renaissance period. It is structured as a sonnet with fourteen lines and a unique rhyme scheme of abba, abba, ccd, ddd. The first verse sets the scene with visual imagery, depicting an old woman sitting by the fire, spinning wool by candlelight. Ronsard's arrogant yet admiring tone conveys his lingering affection for Hélène, even as he chides her for her rejection.
The poem's imagery and themes had a significant influence on other poets, including Andrew Marvell, who wrote the similar "To His Coy Mistress" 64 years later in England. W.B. Yeats also referenced Ronsard's work in his poem "When You Are Old and Grey and Full of Sleep".
Ronsard's "When You Are Very Old by Candle's Flame" remains a notable example of Renaissance poetry, showcasing the artistic exchange and influence among European nations during this period.
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The speaker's addressee
Pierre de Ronsard's poem "Quand Vous Serez Bien Vieille" ("When You Are Very Old") addresses his 16-year-old niece Hélène. Ronsard wrote the poem in 1578 after Hélène refused his romantic advances.
The poem's speaker addresses Hélène directly throughout, adopting a tone that is both arrogant and admiring. This tone allows readers to understand the speaker's affection for Hélène, despite her rejection.
The speaker imagines Hélène in the future, old and sitting by the fire, spinning wool by candlelight. In this moment, she recites the speaker's verse and expresses wonderment that Ronsard celebrated her beauty when she was young. The speaker predicts that even Hélène's servants, dozing by the fire, will be stirred from their sleep by the sound of Ronsard's name and will bless her with praise.
Through this imagery and the projection of Hélène's future regret, the speaker conveys the message that Hélène should "seize the day" and accept his romantic interest. The speaker equates himself with "Life" itself, suggesting that by rejecting him, Hélène has rejected life.
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The speaker's tone
The speaker in Pierre de Ronsard's poem "When You Are Very Old" assumes a tone that is at once arrogant, admiring, and affectionate. The poem was written to taunt his 16-year-old niece Hélène, who had refused his amorous advances. Through the poem, Ronsard equates himself with "Life" and implies that by rejecting him, Hélène has rejected Life itself.
Overall, the speaker's tone in "When You Are Very Old" is complex and multifaceted. It blends arrogance and admiration with a prophetic and instructional tone, reflecting Ronsard's affection for his niece and his frustration at her rejection. The poem effectively captures the speaker's emotions and conveys a sense of the passing of time and the value of seizing the moment.
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The poem's imagery
Pierre de Ronsard's poem "When You Are Very Old" employs vivid imagery to depict the passage of time and the contrasting states of youth and old age. The poem opens with a detailed visual description of an elderly woman engaged in a domestic task, spinning wool by the fire and illuminated by the soft light of a candle. This scene sets the tone for the poem, as the speaker imagines the woman in her old age, reflecting on her life and past beauty.
The image of the candle's flame serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, emphasizing the contrast between the vibrant, glowing candle and the dimmed light of old age. The speaker, addressing his niece Hélène, predicts that she will one day look back on her youth and recall his admiration for her beauty. The use of the candle's flame as a symbol of fading beauty reinforces the poem's underlying message of carpe diem, or "seize the day."
The poem continues with a description of the servant, dozing by the fire, who is startled out of her sleep by the mention of the speaker's name. This imagery emphasizes the power of the speaker's reputation, which persists even after his death. The speaker imagines himself buried underground, resting in a "scented myrtle-glade," while the addressee regrets her past rejection of his love.
The final stanza of the poem contains another powerful image: "Gather life’s roses while still fresh they grow." This metaphor, equating life's opportunities with fresh roses, reinforces the poem's theme of carpe diem. The speaker urges the addressee to seize the moment and embrace life fully, just as one should pluck roses while they are in bloom. This imagery leaves a lasting impression, encouraging the reader to reflect on the importance of living in the present and appreciating the beauty of youth before it fades away, like the extinguishing of a candle's flame.
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The poem's themes
"When You Are Old" by W.B. Yeats and "To Hélène" by Pierre de Ronsard are poems with similar themes. Both poems are about ageing and living in the moment. They also portray the image of a woman growing old and lonely.
In "When You Are Old", Yeats asks the addressee to imagine old age, a time of grey hair and general tiredness. He suggests that when she is falling asleep by the fire, she takes down a book and slowly reads it, feeling nostalgic about her youth. The poem also explores the theme of love and how it changes as one grows old. The speaker in the poem emphasizes his image of the addressee's future life and the regret he envisions for her when she is old and lonely without the love she once had.
In "To Hélène", Ronsard writes about a young girl, Hélène, and gives her advice as she grows older. He tells her to "gather life's roses while still fresh they grow", encouraging her to live in the moment. The poem also explores the concept of immortality through fame, as Hélène will be immortalized because of Ronsard's love for her. The poem uses visual imagery to portray an old woman sitting by the fire, knitting. It also uses alliteration and imagery in the second and third verses to contribute to the rhythm and flow of the poem.
Both poems are confident that the beautiful women they love will, when they are old, read what the poet has said about them. They also share a similar message of living in the moment and not waiting for tomorrow.
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Frequently asked questions
The poem is about Ronsard's niece Hélène, who refused his romantic advances when she was 16. Ronsard wrote the poem to taunt her and project her future regret at turning him down.
The poem has 14 lines and a rhyme scheme of abba, abba, ccd, ddd.
The main theme of the poem is "Carpe Diem" or "Seize the day", which was very popular during the Renaissance period.
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