The Drunken Boat
Literary Analysis
As a Life Work
Major Themes
Freedom From Society/Rebellion
Reality vs. Fantasy
Literal Action
Study Questions
1. The main theme of the poem is rebellion. From what is the speaker rebelling, and what does he hope to gain by rebelling?
2. Is the boat a metaphor of the poet? Give examples from the text to support this.
3. The sea is an important symbol in literature, and Rimbaud used that representation in “The Drunken Boat.” What does the sea mean?
4. What journey is depicted in “The Drunken Boat”?
5. What does the boat represent?
6. What do we know from the text about Rimbaud’s life that might assist us in understanding the poem?