Analysis of Crossing the Bar
Crossing the Bar" appears at first glance to be a very simple, self-explanatory poem. ... The situation presented in "Crossing the Bar" is symbolic of death, and when the author shall cross the bar from this realm to that of the supernatural and hereafter. ... This jagged appearance actually parallels the water and waves that wash across the bar. ... The author chooses to describe a clear picture of the sea and the bar. ... The author selects words such as "moaning of the bar", "boundless deep", "the dark", and "the flood" to create a sense of sadness within the poem, but the author balances the melancholy tone with language like, "no sadness of farewell", "I hope", and "home" to show that while the situation may be a sad one the author does not necessarily regard it so; in fact, the author seems to have accepted the circumstance, and actually be looking forward to crossing the bar by using a phrase like "I hope.