The two poems I have chosen to look at are the extract of Summer: The second pastoral, or Alexis by Alexander Pope and the extract from Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
2. (a) Choose any two poems from the WJEC Poetry Anthology that you would recommend to a friend. Using literary and linguistic concepts and approaches, look closely at the content, style and structure of each poem in order to justify your selection. The two poems I have chosen to look at are the extract of Summer: The second pastoral, or Alexis by Alexander Pope and the extract from Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I enjoy Pope's sense of humour in this piece. It is a piece of satire, and the mockery of conventional love poetry and pastoral lyrics, to me, make a humourous and entertaining piece. Pope opens with an imperative sentence, a command for the reader and the subject of the poem, the lover, to see the scene he is about to set. He uses an exclamation mark, which is the first of five. This abundance of imperatives and exclamations emphasises the poem's exaggerated and mocking tone. In this first line, Pope uses sibilance. The s sound within 'See what delights in sylvan scenes appear' creates a gentle tone, and adds to the idea of being tempted into the scene by the writer. Within this line, there is a sense of being slowly, eased into the scene, created both by the sibilance, and by the assonance created upon the strong, elongated e sound 'See what delights in sylvan scenes appear!'. He continues both these techniques into the next line with 'Descending' and
Compare how nature is presented in two Romantic Poems
COMPARE HOW NATURE IS PRESENTED IN TWO ROMANTIC POEMS 'To a Skylark' and 'To Autumn' are two poems written by different Romantic poets. Although both are typical of the Romantic period, they differ in many ways. They both have different styles. Both poets elaborate on two different aspects of nature. 'To a Skylark', is written by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It compares the Skylark to many different things and it describes how the Skylark manages to exceed all of these things. The poem highlights all of the bird's qualities. 'To Autumn' presents the season as a much warmer autumn than we would usually imagine it. The poem is written by John Keats. It shows how autumn is full of fruitfulness and ripeness and how autumn gradually ends, with winter approaching. It perceives it in a different way to the way we would normally look at it. Although the two poems are similar in style, they have divergent characteristics and each looks at a different area of nature. 'To a Skylark' is a tribute to the skylark. It highlights all of the bird's qualities. It is comparing the bird to many different things and shows how the skylark is much better than them all. It shows us how the bird's imagination is greater, broader and deeper, than that of a human's. It says how we humans always seem to see the bad side of things and how we are always sad, "Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest
analysis of "when we two parted" by John Keats
When We Two Parted By Lord Byron Lord Byron was a romantic poet who introduced the "Byronic hero" to literature through his poems. The poem "When We Two Parted", a personal account of grief and sorrow was written on parting with a loved one and later being burdened with the sorrow of betrayal. The first line of the poem, "When we two parted" is also the title of the poem. Perhaps this is because the grief felt by the poet at parting was so intense that he chose to leave the words as they were and didn't bother with thinking of a title. The pronoun "we" is used by the poet to make the reader enter into the shoes of the character and share the same feelings of intense grief and sorrow experienced by the poet/character, as if it were his own. The fact that they part in "silence and tears " tells us that the grief they felt was so heavy that they themselves found words unworthy of expressing it and the phrase "silence and tears" is used to express the depth of their grief as well. They part with only half broken hearts as in the next line which is "with half hearts broken to sever for years". From this we see that they still have hope of meeting and reuniting even if it means after a long time. The grief can be seen on their faces which have grown pale and cold as in the line "pale grew thy cheek cold". This is because of their grief and sorrow. People also become cold when
Romantic Poetry - I am trying to ascertain whether 2 certain poems fall in line with the romantic ideal and to this end the lines of romanticism which were drawn largely by the poets themselves
Romantic Poetry! In this essay, in which I am trying to ascertain whether 2 certain poems fall in line with the romantic ideal and to this end the lines of romanticism which were drawn largely by the poets themselves. Therefore to this end I feel I must define the Romantic Movement and more importantly the motivation behind these Romantic poets and their views on life. The first and perhaps one of the most fundamental questions the Romantic Movement tried to answer was the role of man in relation to other things. What is man? How does he differ from the gods on the one hand and from nature on the other? What is the divine element in man? Of course the answers concerning these questions was not the sole and original concern of the Romantics, however a shift of emphasis in the old answers, changes the style and the subject matter of poetry and the poet's conception of his function. So for instance the Romantic conception of the divine element in man shifts greatly from earlier views of such power. In the middle Ages, the quality which man shares with god and which the creatures do not have is a will that can make free choices. What separates man from God however is sin: that he can and does choose wrongly, love himself, act selfishly. The function of the poet is to exhibit the human soul tempted by competing loves, and to celebrate the ways in which she may be redeemed.
In what ways is 'to Autumn' alike and unlike 'Ode to a nightingale' and 'Ode on Melancholy' which you have also studied?
In what ways is 'to Autumn' alike and unlike 'Ode to a nightingale' and 'Ode on Melancholy' which you have also studied? 'To Autumn' does hold a distinct difference to Webster's other poems, however similarities can be found. In first instance, all of the poems in question are odes, all of a serious subject. It is also obvious that 'to autumn' is the only title which does not contain 'ode' in its title. Webster appears to be almost in a different state of mind when creating 'To Autumn' however his style of writing and ways in expressing himself stay constant though out. 'To Autumn' and 'Ode to a Nightingale' hold similarities in the way Webster ends each poem. Webster lays out the structure of acceptance in a similar way, as both endings are about acceptance. 'To Autumn' is accepting death; we see this through the way Webster presents death as a positive. Webster uses positive adjectives before referring to death, such as 'bloom the soft-dying'. 'Bloom' creates the idea of growth and progress which shows that Webster sees death as a necessity to move on. The description of death as 'soft' is a juxtaposition of death, in order to reduce the harshness of death and creates it as being calm and relaxed. This is a clear acceptance of death which is a similar to the acceptance of life in 'Ode to a nightingale'. 'Ode to a Nightingale' finally accepts the human condition through
How far can you substantiate the claim that, regardless of its era or its intended purpose of the author, it is merely the use of language, which distinguishes a great poem?
How far can you substantiate the claim that, regardless of its era or its intended purpose of the author, it is merely the use of language, which distinguishes a great poem? 'To Autumn' by John Keats from the Romantics group uses a vast amount of language to establish a good poem. The poem is structures so that each of the stanzas has a different view to the others. The first stanza discusses the fullness of the fruit 'fruitfulness...fill all fruit...plump' it is dense with descriptions of the fruit, the heaviness. It also has a sensuous feeling of touch and taste, 'ripeness...sweet...clammy'. The second stanza is also full this time with visual words 'seen...watchest'. The activities and atmosphere in this stanza is a sleepy, time-suspended one 'sitting careless...sound asleep...oozings'. The first season the second stanza is set in is mid-season/harvest compared to the first, which was early autumn, pre-harvest season. The third stanza, and last, has had the last activities of the season 'stubble-plains' 'full-grown lambs'. Hearing and sound are the detailed senses in the last stanza 'songs...music...bleat...twitter'. The three stanza are also divided into the time of day. Stanza one is of the morning 'mist'; stanza two is of the afternoon 'thee sitting careless', stanza three- evening 'soft-dying day'. 'To Autumn' is a poem full of words which characterises Autumn
The Eve of St. Agnes has been criticised as building tension but not really fulfilling its potential. How far do you agree with this view point?
The Eve of St. Agnes has been criticised as building tension but not really fulfilling its potential. How far do you agree with this view point? The Eve of St. Agnes is an epic, romantic ballad which tells the story of conflict between the families of two lovers; Madeline and Porphyro. The Eve of St. Agnes was based upon a superstition whereby if a virgin girl fulfilled the rites on the eve, she would dream of her future husband that night. For me to look fully into this view point it is important to establish the meaning of the word 'tension'. I would describe it as a mental strain provoking feelings of anxiety, apprehension and suspense. As I study this poem in context of the view point I will keep making references to these emotions where relevant and discuss how these sections create tension. The poem begins with descriptions of a chilling, harsh environment. "The owl, for all his feathers, was a cold; the hare limped trembling through the frozen grass." In the second stanza it reinforces the idea of frailty with a description of the Beadsman as being "...meagre, barefoot, wan..." and how "...already had his deathbell rung." This is a stark contrast to stanza IV which has vibrant references to the sheer grandeur and wealth of Madeline's home: "...glowing to receive a thousand guests: the carved angels, ever eager-eyed, stared". It also creates a sense of
Boccaccio v Keats.
Jordan Paul 22 May 2003 Boccaccio v Keats In reading Lisabetta (Boccaccios version) and Isabella (Keats version) it can help us understand Keats intentions, plans and achievements better. Keats deliberately begins his poem with the lovers, Keats sees the lovers as the main focus and he wants to reinstate their importance. Keats puts effort into portraying the lovers as young and innocent and due to the brothers their relationship is ruined. 'fair Isabelle, poor simple Isabelle Lorenzo, a young palmer in loves eye.' Keats seems to write in such a realistic way, it comes across as autobiographical. Keats characterises the lovers differently to Boccaccio. In Keats they are shy with each other. 'So spake they to their pillows.' 'I may not speak and yet I will, and tell my love all plain.' Keats portrays them as being in tune with nature 'voice pleasanter than the noise of trees of hidden rill' and 'Lorenzo is more watchful over her than the falcon.' The main attraction between the two lovers happens in May/June. These are the summer months when love occurs, and eventually it 'grew like a lusty flower in Junes caress' Keats keeps the lovers innocent. In Boccaccio, Lorenzo is experienced 'he gave up all other amours' and the lovers quickly slept together 'each that they most desired' Keats on the other hand 'purifies' the lovers. They keep close
Compare and contrast Wordsworth’s “The Lucy Poems” with Keats’ “To Autumn”. In what ways are these typical of Romantic poetry?
Compare and contrast Wordsworth's "The Lucy Poems" with Keats' "To Autumn". In what ways are these typical of Romantic poetry? There are many points of both poems that are typical of Romantic poetry. "The Lucy Poems" and "To Autumn" are both individual and are concerning different subjects yet they both contain features very important to Romantic poetry. The main feature in Romantic poetry is love and human emotions, which is reflected in their poetry. In "To Autumn," Keats' love of the countryside and emotions caused by the season are shown. "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness! Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless with fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run." His poem reflects the countryside and true pictures that he can see. The poem paints a picture of his view of life in autumn, personifying autumn as a friend of the sun. In "The Lucy Poems," Wordsworth shows his emotion and love towards an unknown girl called Lucy. His emotion is written in his poetic words describing her and the background countryside. "She dwelt among the untrodden ways Beside the springs of Dove, A maid whom there were none to praise And very few to love." He shows surprise that she dies and expresses sadness. "A slumber did my spirit seal; I had no human fears." In "To Autumn," Keats personifies autumn, and writes of how autumn must
Compare and contrast Keats' presentation of time, transience and mortality in "Ode to Autumn" with that in "Ode on a Grecian Urn and "Ode to Nightingale".
Compare and contrast Keats' presentation of time, transience and mortality in "Ode to Autumn" with that in "Ode on a Grecian Urn and "Ode to Nightingale" During the period of 1814- 1820 Keats was at his most successful throughout this time he wrote both of his major poems "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Ode to a Nightingale". Another flourishing poem of his was "Ode to Autumn" which he wrote shortly before his death. In this essay I will be addressing many areas, clarifying Keats' thoughts and feelings. To do this I will compare and contrast the way in which Keats presents time, transience and mortality I will then explain how this idea is a delusion and how Keats realises this. To conclude these ideas I will find evidence for resolution to this point in "Ode to Autumn". Keats is very conscious of mortality for the duration of both "Ode on Grecian Urn" and "Ode to a Nightingale" because Keats feels this apprehension he tries to escape by imagining immortality. Keats writes "struggle to escape" (line 9) in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and this reveals Keats is questioning himself, along with why he cannot escape the thought of eventually dying. Many emotions are expressed while he goes through this experience. Keats feels very envious of the nightingale and this is shown in "tis not through envy of thy happy lot" (line 5). Keats wants to escape from this depression and also the