MCorte - Methodological Module for Textual Analysis - When I heard the learn'd astronomer

Before I cannot upload this document due to some problems of my computer.

This poem is not organized in a standard form. It is an only stanza of eight lines and there is not a rhyme scheme.

Reading the poem it can be divided in two parts: the first one is on the first four lines. They can be distingued by the others, mainly because these lines begins with the word "When". In this part the poet refers to a scientific contest where an astronomer teaches his scientific knowledge through figgres, charts and diagrammas. His presentation is very successful because it seems he can organize and know everything about the universe. But In this part poet show his sarcasm to this person: the astronomer is called ironically "the learn'd astronomer" and there can be felt sarcasm in the description of his successful methods. Here is a cold language, with words referred to the world of the astronomer.
In the second part, from fifth line to the end, the situation changes because it is explained more clearly poet's opinion. People choose to applaud the astronomer while he is quickly tired and sick. When he goes out he can admire the purity of the universe in a more honest way. In fact he uses a new vocabulary to express his feeling: now he wants to express this new atmosphere, full of mystery("the mystical night - air")eternity("from time to time") and contemplation("look'd up in perfect silence at the stars"). This shows a soul more free from any schemes. So this time words express poet's feeling.
This poem is a confront between two ways to observate world: a romantic way and a scientific way. Last one can analyze, measure and resume facts. But this is a cold observation, without any feeling, aimed only at describe scientifically. When you look at the universe by yourself, without any scientific instruments, you can really understand the wonder of the universe. This also become a sarcasm to the modern idea that science is the key for knowledge of the whole world. Instead author show that there is not any true knowledge in a boring and schematic science, just full of mathematic elements that only can organize facts but not find the true meaning. When a human being look at the universe, he doesn't need any science to feel serenity and peace.
I really agree with the conception from this poem. In my opinion universe is really more mysterious and fascinating if you choose to look at the stars, without using any scientific instruments. Only when you look with a honest soul you can feel serenity. I am not against science but not going to apply science for everything. Sometimes the human soul can be better than science.