When poets refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References:
- Echo (29): In ancient mythology, Echo was a mountain nymph. In one famous version of the story, told by the Roman poet Ovid, she was punished by the goddess Hera, who took away her power of speech. She was left with only the ability to repeat the words of others. This fits in well in the context of the poem, where the "troop of Echoes" that flows out of the castle represents the speech of the palace's king, Thought. It's not their own thoughts and ideas that matter, but the thoughts and words of the king.