The Sun

The sun represents many things in the poem: light, religion, and the normal course of life. Its brightness is needed to make the crops grow, but also to create a normal pace of daily life. It can also stand in for the brightness of divine love. When it is taken away – as it is here – all those things are lost.

Palaces

Palaces, churches, and other important buildings appear in the poem as a symbol of human civilization. They are burned for firewood, creating a potent symbol of how useless human innovation is in the face of natural disaster.

Birds

Birds traditionally represent hope. With their wings, they are able to fly above the world's troubles. Here, though, even the birds cannot escape the misery of the apocalyptic world.

Dogs

Dogs are a traditional symbol of loyalty. That symbol is subverted twice here. First, we see...