In "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls," by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poem explores the theme of the cycle of life and death. By the end of the poem, what has changed is the disappearance of the traveler, who does not return from his journey as the tide rises and falls. However, what remains the same is the relentless and eternal cycle of the tide rising and falling.
Evidence from the text that supports the change is the final stanza of the poem: "And the tide rises, the tide falls / The twilight darkens, the curlew calls". These lines indicate the continuous cycle of the tide rising and falling and the coming of twilight, suggesting the end of the traveler's journey. It suggests that the traveler has permanently left the scene, signifying his death or departure.
On the other hand, evidence from the text that supports what remains the same is the repetition of the line "The tide rises, the tide falls" throughout the poem. This repetition emphasizes the unchanging nature of the tide and its regularity. The poem starts with the tide rising and falling, and it ends with the same observation about the tide. The traveler, as a mortal being, comes and goes, but the tide persists.
In conclusion, the change that occurs in "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls" is the disappearance of the traveler, while what remains the same is the eternal cycle of the tide rising and falling.
What has changed by the end of the poem The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls? What remains the same? Refer to specific evidence in the text to support your answers to both questions.
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