The Poetry of Arthur Symons

1. What types of emotions or reflections does Symons tend to project only his sunsets and open seas? According to his own definition of "decadent," what is "decadent" about his responses?
2. Is there a consistent male persona throughout most of Symons' shorter lyrics? When the male persona appears, what is his relationship to the dancing woman?
3. Why is the image of the dancer dancing so significant to Symons? Does it always evoke the same complex of meanings?
4. Do Symons' personae ever find happiness or satisfaction? If so, when and under what circumstances is this possible?
5. Early in his career Symons wrote a critical book on Browning's poetry. For those of you familiar with his poetry, which aspects of Browning's sensibility or manner do you find reflected in Symons' poems?
6. Throughout Symons' lyrics there are reiterated verbal echoes of Rossetti poems and reworkings of Rossettian themes. Are these merely fortuitous historical parallels or do they reflect a more specific psychological kinship? How does Symons alter his presentation of traits inherited from Rosssetti?
7. In Symons' bohemian underworld, what, if any, are the characteristics of erotic love? Of human relationships in general?
8. Why are Symons' personae repeatedly attracted to a range of non-verbal arts?
9. If city life is so repellent, why are Symons' personae unable to leave it for a healthier life elsewhere?
10. How is Symons' use of color different from that of Hopkins or Keats? Does it differ significantly from that of Rossetti?
11. What are earlier-century analogues to "The Opium Smoker" and "The Absinthe-Drinker"? What are some ways in which the experiencer's psychological and physical situation has altered?