Excelsior

BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

Scaling the mountain involves his own destruction. Longfellow’s use of various foreshadowing characters, including what we might call “typical” omen-deliverers like peasants and the elderly, furthers the notion that the youth is particularly attached to his goal.

Longfellow indicates early on that the youth may not have a family and suggests that though he longs for such a thing, as is indicated from his mention of homes and the maiden’s offer of companionship, he is still drawn to the mountain. There is clearly inherent danger involved in scaling this particular mountain, as he is warned multiple times of possible risks (and even specifically of the possibility of an avalanche). He responds to each of the concerns with “Excelsior,” which is Latin for “upward” or “higher.” It’s the only thing he says, and the fact that it’s emblazoned on the banner he carries with him indicates that it’s his personal motto and life philosophy.

The youth makes decent headway up the mountain as the poem draws to a close but is never satisfied with his progress and is eventually killed. When his body is discovered buried in the snow by a dog, he is still holding his banner, effectively proving his devotion to his goal. The poem concludes by suggesting that his idealism and determination have gone with him to the afterlife. (Of course, some have also interpreted this as meaning that he strove for something higher than the great beyond.)

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
      Excelsior!

His brow was sad; his eye beneath,

Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,

And like a silver clarion rung

The accents of that unknown tongue,

      Excelsior!

In happy homes he saw the light

Of household fires gleam warm and bright;

Above, the spectral glaciers shone,

And from his lips escaped a groan,

      Excelsior!

"Try not the Pass!" the old man said;

"Dark lowers the tempest overhead,

The roaring torrent is deep and wide!"

And loud that clarion voice replied,

      Excelsior!

"Oh stay," the maiden said, "and rest

Thy weary head upon this breast! "

A tear stood in his bright blue eye,

But still he answered, with a sigh,

      Excelsior!

"Beware the pine-tree's withered branch!

Beware the awful avalanche!"

This was the peasant's last Good-night,

A voice replied, far up the height,

      Excelsior!

At break of day, as heavenward

The pious monks of Saint Bernard

Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,

A voice cried through the startled air,

      Excelsior!

A traveller, by the faithful hound,

Half-buried in the snow was found,

Still grasping in his hand of ice

That banner with the strange device,

      Excelsior!

There in the twilight cold and gray,

Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,

And from the sky, serene and far,

A voice fell like a falling star,

      Excelsior!