LIGHTS OUT BY EDWARD THOMAS (EXPLANATION) PROFESSOR SALEEM RAZA CONTEXT In this poem, Edward Thomas has described the sweet experience of falling asleep. He compares sleep to a deep forest where all must lose their way. Sleep is the most powerful passion of man. All other human interests and activities lose their charm in the trance of sleep. Every type of human being has to taste the pleasure of sleep without any choice or resistance. Thus sleep brings all men to the same level. It becomes a blessing as it provides a relief against the painful struggle and worries of life. EXPLANATION STANZA 1 In these lines, the poet compares sleep to a thick and dark forest to convey the idea of mysteriousness of sleep. When a man is about to drift into the dark valley of sleep, he loses all consciousness. His room lights as well as mental lights go out. He finds himself submerged into the oblivion of sleep. The world of sleep is like a thick dark forest where everybody loses his way. Nobody has the choice to choose his own way. It has an equal alluring effect on everybody. All the good and bad paths of life lead to this deep forest of sleep. When we come on to the borders of sleep, we lose control on ourselves. When we enter into this thick dark forest, we lose our way. We are not sure of the end of our journey through the mysterious forest of sleep. It is a great equalizer and it brings all human beings to the same level. STANZA 2 In these lines, the poet says that human beings r ...
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