Here's an analysis of the poem:
First Stanza:
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!"
- This opening stanza introduces the child narrator, who is filled with curiosity and wonder at the sight of a twinkling star. The phrase "twinkle, twinkle" creates a rhythmic pattern that mimics the twinkling of the star, adding a playful and musical quality to the poem.
Second Stanza:
"Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky."
- The second stanza emphasizes the star's position in the night sky. The star is described as being "up above the world so high," creating a sense of distance and height. The comparison of the star to a "diamond in the sky" adds to the image of its brilliance and value.
Third Stanza:
"When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night."
- In this stanza, the child notices the contrast between the day, when the blazing sun outshines everything else, and the night, when the little star shines its modest light. This shows that even in times of darkness, the star provides comfort and guidance.
Fourth Stanza:
"Then the traveller in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could never see his way,
If you did not lend your ray."
- In the fourth stanza, the poem introduces a new character—a traveler who is walking through the darkness and relies on the star's light to find his way. The star's small but consistent light brings hope and guidance to the traveler, enabling him to continue on his journey.
Fifth Stanza:
"Don't you think you look so wise,
Up there in the shining skies?
So perhaps you are a world,
Like our own, and just as good."
- The child narrator speculates about the nature of the star, wondering if it could be a world like Earth, just as good and wise. This question reflects the child's curiosity and imaginative thinking.
Sixth Stanza:
"If this be the case, then I,
In the very sky will lie;
And then I shall look down and say,
'Oh! what a beautiful star!'"
- The final stanza presents the child's dream to one day reach the sky and gaze upon the star from a new perspective. This conveys a sense of longing, hope, and a desire for a deeper understanding of the universe.
Overall, 'Star' by Jane Taylor is a simple but effective poem that uses the image of a star to teach children about the importance of faith, hope, and finding comfort in the midst of darkness. It emphasizes the role of small acts of kindness in guiding others and encourages children to dream and explore the mysteries of the world around them.