The message of the poem When I Set Out for Lyonnesse is that we should always have hope, curiosity, perseverance and optimism for our goal. All these things make a man face all the hurdles that come in the way. Those who are hopeless and do not have curiosity or perseverance fail miserably.

The poet is able to complete journey only because he had hope to guide him and accompany him as he was alone.

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Rime means small white fragments of snow which form because of chilly cold (known as frost). spray means a large number of leaves and branches. So “the rime on the spray” means frost spread on the leaves and branches of trees.

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Following literary/poetic devices have been used in the poem When I Set Out for Lyonnesse:

1. Anaphora: It is the repetition of a phrase in a poem. In this poem the beginning two lines of each stanza are repeated. e.g. “When I Set Out for Lyonnesse”, What would bechance at Lyonnesse”, “When I returned from Lyonnesse” etc.
2. Alliteration: It is the repetition of consonant sound in the line. e.g. “What would”, “durst declare”, “magic in my eyes” etc.
3. Symbolism: The poet uses various symbols in the poem e.g. starlight, which refers to twinkling stars, here symbolises hope. Similarly, magic and radiance in poet’s eyes symbolise love for Emma. Lyonnesse symbolises a place in which the poet goes from darkness and comes back enlightened.

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Thomas Hardy is the poet of the poem When I Set Out for Lyonnesse.

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