The poem “Eldorado” talks about a knight on a quest (journey) to find the mythical land of El Dorado (The City of Gold).
Here are some unfamiliar words:
gaily (adv): in a bright and colorful way
bedight (adj):equipped/arrayed
gallant (adj): brave
pilgrim (adj): wandering
shade/shadow (n): ghost
Draw an image to show the definition of each of the words above.
What could the shadow mean by his directions in the final lines of the poem? What do you make of the final statement of the shadow? What could he mean?
Reflect on the poem. Do you believe the knight should give up his quest for El Dorado?
Eldorado (1849)
GAILY bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
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 !"
Here are some unfamiliar words:
gaily (adv): in a bright and colorful way
bedight (adj):equipped/arrayed
gallant (adj): brave
pilgrim (adj): wandering
shade/shadow (n): ghost
Draw an image to show the definition of each of the words above.
What could the shadow mean by his directions in the final lines of the poem? What do you make of the final statement of the shadow? What could he mean?
Reflect on the poem. Do you believe the knight should give up his quest for El Dorado?
Eldorado (1849)
GAILY bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
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 !"