Christ is Risen!

Bands of music struck up their gayest strains; the roll of the drum through the town, and further on the pealing of the cannon announced far and near these ‘glad tidings of great joy;’ while from hill and plain, from the sea-shore and the far olive-grove, rocket after rocket ascending to the clear sky, answered back with their mute eloquence, that Christ is risen indeed, and told of other tongues that were repeating those blessed words, and other hearts that leap for joy; everywhere men clasped each other’s hands, and congratulated one another, and embraced with countenances beaming with delight, as though to each one separately some wonderful happiness had been proclaimed; and so in truth it was;— and all the while, rising above the mingling of many sounds, each one of which was a sound of gladness, the aged priests were distinctly heard chanting forth a glorious old hymn of victory in tones so loud and clear, that they seemed to have regained their youth and strength to tell the world how ‘Christ is risen from the dead, having trampled death beneath His feet, and henceforth they that are in the tombs have everlasting life.’

From ‘Wayfaring Sketches Among the Greeks and Turks’ (1849), by Felicia Skene (1821-1899).
Related Video

A video about Easter in the Greek island of Paros. Jump ahead to about 5 minutes in, to see the part of the celebrations described here by Dean Stanley, complete with the sound of fireworks.

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Précis
Suddenly the air was filled with music, cannon sounded in the distance, and fireworks went off with a startling report. The congregation turned to one another and shook hands as if they had shared some wonderful news — which they had, said Skene, so real to them was the news of Christ’s resurrection and his victory over death.
Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate her ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

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