Question

What is the impact of rilke’s specific word choices on the meaning and tone of his letter?

Answer 1

Rilke gives advice in the form of commands. He tells the young poet to “[g]o into [himself]” twice (pp. 6, 9). Rilke also “begs” (p. 5) the young poet to stop looking outside himself for acceptance and reward for his work. Rilke directly instructs the poet which types of poems to avoid when he says, “[d]on’t write love poems” (p.7), and out of what to make his poems, such as the “[t]hings” around him: his “dreams” and “the objects” the young poet remembers (p. 7). Rilke also commands the young poet to “turn [his] attention” (p. 8) to his childhood memories to create poems. Because of all these commands and advice, Rilke’s tone is like that of an instructor or teacher.

 Rilke’s word choices in his advice create meaning by focusing on the importance of the individual, as when he says, “[d]ig into yourself for a deep answer” (p. 6) and make one’s solitude “expand” (p. 8) in order to find answers. When he tells the young poet that “[n]o one can advise or help you—no one” (p. 6), Rilke further develops the idea that for the creator, the individual is all that matters. Rilke’s instructive tone and focus on the individual’s importance in creating art make “Letter One” a lesson in how to become a better poet through intensely looking within oneself.

 Rilke thanks the young poet “for the great confidence” (p. 3) the young poet places in him. Rilke writes that he has tried to make himself “a little worthier” (p. 12) than he really is as a stranger by answering the young poet as “honestly as [he] can” (p. 12). He also signs, “Yours very truly,” (p. 12). Rilke’s word choices create a friendly tone, because he not only thanks the younger poet, but also humbles himself to the younger poet by acting as if he is not worthy of giving the younger poet advice, even though it is the younger poet who wrote to Rilke asking for advice.