The Poetry of Earth / John Keats /WBCHSE

 

The Poetry of Earth

by John Keats

(1795- 1820)

The poetry of earth is never dead;

When all the birds are faint with the hot sun

And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run

From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead.

That is the grasshopper’s, – he takes the lead

In summer luxury, – he has never done

With his delights; for, when tired out with fun,17

He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed.

The poetry of earth is ceasing never.

On a lone winter evening, when the frost

Has wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills

The cricket’s song, in warmth increasing ever,

And seems, to one in drowsiness half lost,

The grasshopper’s among some grassy hills.

 

Summary of the poem

(The poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" by John Keats celebrates the beauty and vitality of nature. The speaker argues that even in the midst of winter, when the earth seems dead, there is still poetry to be found. The grasshopper's song in summer and the cricket's song in winter are both examples of this poetry. They are both simple, yet beautiful, and they remind us of the power of nature to bring joy and comfort.

The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a stately and rhythmic quality. This helps to create a sense of peace and tranquillity, which is in keeping with the poem's message about the beauty of nature.

The poem is also full of vivid imagery. The speaker describes the grasshopper's song as "a voice will run / From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead." This image brings to mind the image of a grasshopper hopping through a field of freshly cut grass, its song filling the air. The speaker also describes the cricket's song as "in warmth increasing ever." This image suggests that the cricket's song is like a warm blanket, wrapping the listener in comfort.

The poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" is a beautiful and evocative celebration of the beauty and vitality of nature. It is a reminder that even in the midst of winter, there is still poetry to be found.)

Contextual Meaning of the poem

*Poetry of earth - the beauty and vitality of nature, as expressed in its sounds, sights, and smells.

*Faint - weak or exhausted.

*Hot sun - the sun's rays, which can be very hot in summer.

*New-mown mead - a field of grass that has recently been mowed.

*Grasshopper - an insect that makes a chirping sound.

*Luxury - the state of being comfortable and well-satisfied.

*Fun - enjoyment or pleasure.

*Drowsiness - a state of sleepiness or fatigue.

*Grassy hills - hills covered in grass.

*Lone winter evening - an evening in winter when there is no one else around.

*Frost - a thin layer of ice that forms on surfaces when the temperature drops below freezing.

*Stove - a device that heats a room.

*Shrills - makes a high-pitched, piercing sound.

*Warming - becoming warmer.

*Drowsiness half lost - a state of being half asleep and half awake.

 

 

The substance of the poem

The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a stately and rhythmic quality. This helps to create a sense of peace and tranquility, which is in keeping with the poem's message about the beauty of nature.

The poem is also full of vivid imagery. The speaker describes the grasshopper's song as "a voice will run / From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead." This image brings to mind the image of a grasshopper hopping through a field of freshly cut grass, its song filling the air. The speaker also describes the cricket's song as "in warmth increasing ever." This image suggests that the cricket's song is like a warm blanket, wrapping the listener in comfort.

The poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" is a beautiful and evocative celebration of the beauty and vitality of nature. It is a reminder that even in the midst of winter, there is still poetry to be found.

 

 

Central idea

"The Poetry of Earth" by John Keats represents the beauty and vitality of nature is never-ending. The poem begins by describing the grasshopper's song in summer, which is "a voice will run / From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead." The speaker then goes on to say that even in winter, when the earth seems dead, there is still poetry to be found in the cricket's song. The cricket's song is described as "in warmth increasing ever," which suggests that it is a source of comfort and warmth in the cold winter months.

The poem ends with the speaker asserting that the "poetry of earth is ceasing never." This means that the beauty and vitality of nature is always present, even when it is not immediately obvious. The poem is a reminder that we should always appreciate the natural world, even in the midst of winter.

 

Title of the poem

The title of the poem, "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead," is a reference to the beauty and vitality of nature. The speaker of the poem argues that even in the midst of winter, when the earth seems dead, there is still poetry to be found. The grasshopper's song in summer and the cricket's song in winter are both examples of this poetry. They are both simple, yet beautiful, and they remind us of the power of nature to bring joy and comfort.

The word "poetry" in the title can be interpreted in a few different ways. It can refer to the literal poetry that is written about nature, such as the poems of John Keats himself. It can also refer to the more general sense of beauty and vitality that is found in nature. And finally, it can refer to the way that nature itself is a kind of poetry, with its own unique rhythms and patterns.

The title of the poem is a reminder that nature is always a source of beauty and inspiration. Even when it seems dead, there is still poetry to be found.

 

1.   Consider the poem as a sonnet. Or, why does Keats use the sonnet form for his poem “The poetry of Earth”

A sonnet is a poem of 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter means that each line of the poem has 10 syllables, with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. The poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" is written in iambic pentameter, so it meets the formal requirements of a sonnet.

The poem also has the typical structure of a sonnet. The first eight lines of the poem, called the octave, introduce the speaker's argument. The last six lines of the poem, called the sestet, develop the speaker's argument and offer a conclusion.

The rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet is ABBA ABBA CDC DCD. The poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" follows this rhyme scheme, so it is a Petrarchan sonnet.

 

2.   What is the message of the poem the poet wants to convey through the poem?

The message of the poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" by John Keats is that the beauty and vitality of nature is never-ending. The speaker says that even in winter, when the earth seems dead, there is still poetry to be found in the cricket's song. The cricket's song is described as "in warmth increasing ever," which suggests that it is a source of comfort and warmth in the cold winter months.

The poem ends with the speaker asserting that the "poetry of earth is ceasing never." This means that the beauty and vitality of nature is always present, even when it is not immediately obvious. The poem is a reminder that we should always appreciate the natural world, even in the midst of winter.

The poem can be seen as a way for Keats to come to terms with his own mortality. He is saying that even though he will die, the beauty of nature will live on.

The poem is a reminder that even in the midst of darkness, there is always hope. The beauty of nature is a constant source of comfort and inspiration, and it can help us to see the beauty in the world even when things are tough.

 

Bring out the contrast presented in the poem “The poetry of Earth”.

Summer vs. Winter: The poem begins by describing the grasshopper's song in summer, which is "a voice will run / From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead." The speaker then goes on to say that even in winter, when the earth seems dead, there is still poetry to be found in the cricket's song. This contrast between summer and winter highlights the fact that the beauty and vitality of nature is always present, even when it is not immediately obvious.

Heat vs. Cold: The grasshopper's song is described as being "in summer luxury," while the cricket's song is described as being "in warmth increasing ever." This contrast between heat and cold highlights the fact that the natural world is a source of comfort and warmth, even in the coldest of winters.

Life vs. Death: The grasshopper's song is described as being "never done / With his delights," while the cricket's song is described as being "in drowsiness half lost." This contrast between life and death highlights the fact that the beauty of nature is a constant source of hope, even in the face of death.

 

 

“When all the birds are faint”—Why are all birds faint? What do the birds do? Who plays the role of the birds and how?

In the poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" by John Keats, the speaker describes how the birds are "faint" in the hot summer sun. This is because the birds are not adapted to the heat, and they become exhausted and tired. They hide in cooling trees to escape the heat.

The birds represent the beauty and vitality of nature in the summer. They are active and playful, and their songs fill the air. However, in the heat of the summer, they become faint and tired. This shows that even the beauty of nature can be affected by the elements.

The role of the birds in the poem is to represent the beauty and vitality of nature in the summer. They are a reminder that even in the midst of heat and exhaustion, there is still beauty to be found.

The speaker of the poem compares the birds to himself. He is also tired and exhausted, but he finds solace in the beauty of nature. The birds remind him that even though he is tired, there is still beauty to be found in the world.

The poem is a reminder that even in the midst of difficulty, there is still beauty to be found. The birds represent the beauty of nature, and they remind the speaker that even though he is tired, there is still hope.

 

“A voice will run...” where does the line occur? What is the voice referred to here? When will the voice run?

The line "A voice will run" occurs in the first stanza of the poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" by John Keats. The voice referred to here is the grasshopper's song. The speaker of the poem says that the grasshopper's song will run "from hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead." This means that the grasshopper's song will fill the air, and it will be heard all over the meadow.

The voice will run when the birds are faint with the hot sun. This is because the grasshopper is not affected by the heat, and it can continue to sing even when the birds are too tired. The grasshopper's song is a reminder that even in the midst of heat and exhaustion, there is still beauty to be found.

The line "A voice will run" is a beautiful and evocative image. It captures the sense of the grasshopper's song filling the air, and it is a reminder of the beauty and vitality of nature.

 

 

“He takes the lead.” - Who takes the lead? When and how does he take the lead?

The speaker of the poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" by John Keats refers to the grasshopper as "he" in the line "That is the grasshopper's, - he takes the lead." This means that the grasshopper is the one who starts the song in the summer. The grasshopper is a very active insect, and it is always moving around. Its song is a way of announcing its presence and claiming its territory.

The grasshopper takes the lead in the summer because it is not affected by the heat. The birds are faint with the hot sun, but the grasshopper can continue to sing and play. The grasshopper's song is a reminder that even in the midst of heat and exhaustion, there is still beauty to be found.

The line "He takes the lead" is a beautiful and evocative image. It captures the sense of the grasshopper taking control and starting the song. The grasshopper is a symbol of the beauty and vitality of nature, and its song is a reminder that even in the midst of difficulty, there is still hope.

"He takes the lead" can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's own life. The speaker is tired and exhausted, but he finds solace in the beauty of nature. The grasshopper's song is a reminder that even though he is tired, there is still hope.

 

“…. he is never done /with his delight.” – Who is he? Explain the line.

The speaker in the poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" by John Keats refers to the grasshopper as "he" in the line "he is never done / with his delight." This means that the grasshopper is always happy and content. It is never tired of singing and playing, and it always finds joy in the simple things in life.

The grasshopper's delight is a reminder that even in the midst of difficulty, there is still beauty to be found. The grasshopper is a symbol of the beauty and vitality of nature, and its delight is a reminder that even when things are tough, there is still hope.

The line can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's own life. The speaker is tired and exhausted, but he finds solace in the beauty of nature. The grasshopper's delight is a reminder that even though he is tired, there is still hope.

 

“He rests at ease…” – Who is he? Where does he rest? How does he enliven Nature?

The speaker in the poem "The Poetry of Earth Is Never Dead" by John Keats refers to the grasshopper as "he" in the line "He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed." This means that the grasshopper rests in a comfortable place, such as a shady spot under a plant. The grasshopper's rest is a reminder that even in the midst of activity, there is still time to relax and enjoy the simple things in life.

The grasshopper enlivens nature by its song. The grasshopper's song is a reminder that even in the midst of silence, there is still beauty to be found. The grasshopper's song is a simple and yet beautiful sound, and it can bring joy to anyone who hears it.

The line "He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed" is a beautiful and evocative image. It captures the sense of the grasshopper's contentment and peace.

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