"Journey of the Magi" - Summary and Analysis
📜 Historical Background of the Poem "Journey of the Magi" was written in 1927 , shortly after T.S. Eliot's conversion to Anglicanism in 1927. It was published as one of his Ariel Poems , which were short, easily accessible poems published annually for Christmas. The poem draws its central image and opening lines from a Christmas sermon by Lancelot Andrewes (1555–1626), a Jacobean bishop and scholar. The original lines in Andrewes's sermon are: 'A cold coming they had of it, at this time of year, just the worst time of the year to take a journey, and such a long journey, in the dead of winter.' The Magi and the Biblical Context The poem recounts the journey of one of the Magi (the "wise men" or "kings") mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:1–12) . Who were they? Traditionally, they are seen as astronomers or priests from the East (Persia/Babylon) who followed a star to Bethlehem to worship the newborn "King of the Jews,...