The Ring of Time

E. B. White's The Ring of Time is an attempt to capture the essence of creation against the backdrop of ever-changing time. Though by his own admission the narrator circus patron and writer admits he has failed in this effort, "I have failed, as I knew I would", he admits that the writer like an acrobat "must occasionally try a stunt that is too much for him," (White 1). The Ring of Time uses the metaphor of the show ring of a circus to represent time and the acts that occur by performers within it to represent creativity and human existence. In so doing, the work becomes a futile exercise in trying to capture the essence of creation against the unforgiving and mutable march of time.

The narrator of the poem is a writer who attends the circus practice on an afternoon when mainly acrobatic horse riders are on display. He admits to use that he is trying to record the events of the afternoon for us in a manner that excludes his own interpretation and perfectly captures the enchantment of the moment in a way that leaves no detail unrevealed. He feels a solemn commitment to be able to capture the moment in such a manner, otherwise he will be failing others who will read what he hopes is mere "recording" and not interpretation, (White 1). His obligation to create something that will perfectly capture time and the moment weighs heavily upon the narrator, "I have always felt charged with the safekeeping of all unexpected items of worldly or

Related Essays

The Ring of Time EB White's The Ring of Time is an attempt to capture the essence of creation against the backdrop of ever-changing time. Though .... (1118 4 )

EB White's Essay, The Ring of Time The purpose of this research is to examine EB White's essay "The Ring of Time." The plan of the research will be to set forth in general terms the theme of the .... (1485 6 )

The Computer Age .... continue their research. In time, he helps track down the culprit and also break a spy ring affiliated with the KGB. Stoll shows how .... (1654 7 )

RING-LASER GYROSCOPE .... GPSs represent a major application area for ring-laser gyroscope technology. .... within VI-IF range, by an advanced data link, based on GPS-time synchronized, self .... (1807 7 )

Plot of The Shield Ring .... In a broad historical context, the novel The Shield Ring deals with the last .... appearance, not to mention their battle cries and bravery at the time of fighting. .... (1602 6 )

Category: Literature -