'Join in a war-dance.'

Grayscale illustration of warriors traveling down a wooded path. They proudly carry a man in a horned helmet; a group of women watch from afar.

The character Hamlet in the poem is using the "war-dance" as a metaphor for the raw, primitive origins of human culture. He argues that our modern sense of art and morality is not fixed, but rather evolved from these ancient, social rituals that once defined “art” or "poesy" for early humanity.

Unknown [Gleeson?]

George Eliot Archive , edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org

1893

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

"A College Breakfast-Party" (Poetry)

Unknown [Gleeson?], 'Join in a war-dance.', George Eliot Illustrations Gallery, George Eliot Archive , edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/83336