English midterm

Explicate "A Thing of Beauty." What key Romanticism ideas are presented?

"A Thing of Beauty" is a romanic poem that describes how the beauty of nature can take away our pain and despair. It will always give us joy and happiness and its beauty will never fade. The romanticism idea that is presented is 4. Explicate "A Thing of Beauty." What key Romanticism ideas are presented?just simply nature itself that brings delight to people.

Why does the speaker feel frustrated and impatient with materialism, commerce, and industry?

"The World is Too Much With Us" is a poem written by William Woodsworth. The speaker of the poem sees a world obsessed with material and industry, and it frustrates him. The speaker feels as though the people of the world are obsessed with all these material things. The speaker feels as though the world is obsessed with all these things that cost money, that the world is even obsessed with spending money. The speaker does not understand why the world is so obsessed with getting all these things when the most beautiful, valuable thing is just at the reach of a hand. That thing is Nature. Although nature cannot be spent like money, it is very valuable. The speaker is frustrated with a world that cannot see what is right in front of their eyes.

"The World Is Too Much With Us" What is "the world"? How is it different from "Nature"? What does he mean to say that it is "too much with us"?

"The World" in the poem is referring to mankind or society that has been distracted by the materialistic things that surround us. Humans have been so consumed by this other world, which consists of getting and spending, that we do not even allow ourselves to be a part of nature anymore or appreciate the small, yet beautiful and inspirational things this natural world has to offer. Humans are taking nature for-granted because society has grown too dependent on other "worldly" things, causing us to lose our connection to nature and also causing a degrade in our moral values within this world that we live in.

William Blake

(1757-1827) great poet

Explain the paradox of line 7. "The child is father of the man:"

A paradox is a contradictory statement, so how could a child father a man? He is saying his childhood is what makes him the adult he is now. Basically, he means that his child self gave birth to his adult self. I think this is another way of saying what he did as a child is what he still does and never really grew up other than in his appearance. Most of us still have the child self inside of us in certain situations. I believe that it is good when an adult has a child-like view of life and enjoys every opportunity to share his view with others.

WB major influences?

Bible (Imagery) , French Revolution - songs of innocence (1789) and songs of experience (1794)

Explain the meaning of the last line of the poem? "Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door"

Blake is comparing the angels to the children. He says, "cherish pity" because the people need to do it everyday, not just once a year.

What are the qualities of a Byronic hero?

Byronic heroes are very cunning and arrogant. They tend to be emotionally tortured on the inside. Also, byronic heroes are intelligent but can be seductive and sexually appealing.

What's the Songs of Experience poem about?

Darker side of life, brimming with deceit, violence and sorrow

Discuss the political background of England as represented in Shelley's "England in 1819" and " To the Men of England." What is Shelley's political point? What does want the people of England to do?

England in 1819 was ruled by King George lll, who become ill and the people hated him. His son became the ruler of England and did nothing to improve his country. The leaders were seen as ignorant and careless. Shelley thinks that if the poor who slave away to provide for the rich do not stand up and provide for themselves, they might as well start digging their own grave. Shelley wants the people to rise up and fight for themselves.

What happened during Romanticism (1770-1870)

French Revolution, revolutions in Europe, industrial revolution, and urbanization

What's the Songs of Innocence poem about?

Happy children, and gentle, innocent love. Looks at the dualities of the human soul. Discusses divine inspiration as a source for Blake's work

What's the Tyger poem about?

Has images of fire, hammer, furnaces, chain, anvil, and spears

What's the Lamb poem about?

Has images of life, stream, bright, and delight

What/when is Holy Thursday (research it)? How does Blake contrast the children and the adults in charge of them?

Holy Thursday is the Christian Holy day that falls on the Thursday before Easter Sunday. It Celebrates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples.The Children are innocent and loving compared to the adults being harsh and strict.

How does the poet's response to the rainbow unify the poem?

How the author's response to the rainbow unifies the entire poem it portrays his love for nature. When he sees the rainbow it brings a sense of joy and excitement similar to how he feels when he sees nature in general. Especially because it is not everyday you get to see a rainbow. Rainbows tend to represent happiness and peace so that by itself is self- explanatory. Also it shows his love for nature and every aspect of it. Because if he did not get to see nature's beauty he would rather die.

What does the "Sick Rose" poem mean?

I found out that in the Poem "The Sick Rose". The Rose can symbolize youth and innocence. The worm can represent Evil. So in this poem Evil is essentially destroying the virginal innocence of the youth.

What is Blake's message? (Songs of experience)

I think Blake's message is for everyone to be more charitable towards the poor instead of parading them around once a year to pretend everything is okay.

What are some examples of ties-that-bind in the text? How do they relate to themes of ownership/possession?

I think the best example of ties-that-bind is the relationship between the mariner and the Albatross. The Albatross is constantly in his possession and it seems as if he can not run away from it.

Why does the Mariner shoot the Albatross? Is any reason given inthe poem?

I think the sailors assign the label of "good luck omen" or "bad luck omen" to the albatross, depending on their circumstances. And as we all know "luck" changes with the winds. There's no real rationale for why the Mariner shoots the albatross.

What are the 5 "I's"

Imagination, intuition, idealism, inspiration, and individuality

Explicate the poem "They say that Hope is Happiness"

In the first line, Byron is mocking the "hope is happiness" because he says "they say" instead of "I say". This stanza focuses on the experiences of other people. The speaker simple believes that there is no hope for happiness at all. Byron says, "nor can we be what we recall" because we can not relive our memories. Throughout this poem hope just becomes a memory and true happiness only comes from the knowledge of the past.

Why is it unusual to use a word like "host" in connection with daffodils? What is the word's biblical connotation?

It is unusual to use the word host in connection to a plant/flower like the daffodil unless you are referring to a parasite. The biblical connotation can mean either to entertain someone in your home, an army, or a great multitude. The way it is used in the poem is more along the lines of the biblical connotation of being a great multitude.

In "When I have fears...." what does Keats fear? What conclusion does he come to that helps him resolve his fear?

Keats fears that he will not be able to live to accomplish his desires in life. He wants to write romantic poetry and find true love with a woman he once knew. Keats decides that the fame and love that he desires the most are not worth anything anymore.

WB romantic characteristics?

Supernatural (religion) , imagination, and freedom

What do you make of the "breeze"that blows through the poem -- i.e. that at certain points the Mariner's ship is becalmed or takes sail?

The "breeze" that blows throughout the poem made the Mariner's ship take sail. The sailors thought that the Albatross made the breezes blow but then after the bird died, the fog cleared. The sailors then quickly thought the bird brought forth the fog instead of the breeze. After the Mariner's experience at the silent sea (where he was the only living survivor), another breeze pushed the ship back to his home land. The "breeze" that blew the Mariner's ship took him on a journey that made him realize that every one of God's creatures is beautiful and deserves redemption (he also thinks that he can be forgiven of his sin). The "breeze" brought the Mariner back so that he could travel and tell his tale to his appointed audience (wedding-guest).

(The Chimney Sweeper Poems) Who is speaking? Is it the same person? What is similar/different in the two poems?

The Chimney Sweeper is speaking in the songs of innocence poem. There is another Chimney Sweeper that is older and a person that is asking him the questions in the songs of experience poem. Both boys are Chimney Sweepers and alone without parents. One of them is still innocent and tries to help others because he is hopeful but the other Chimney Sweeper is more experienced and very dispirited.

Why must the Mariner continue with his penance -- why must he repeat his tale to everyone he can fix with his gaze?

The Mariner must continue with his penance he received after committing a crime because he had no valid reason for committing the crime in the first place. The Mariner must continue to tell his story to people whom he feels need to hear it because each time he shares the story with someone, he is released from his guilt but only for a little while. He holds the guilt from when he was at sea with his fellow men stuck in the ocean with no movement, and shot the Albatross. He shot the Albatross for no reason. Therefore, after shooting the bird and after other events, the men on his ship died. This made him responsible for the death of the men on his ship as well as the Albatross. Eventually he was rescued by another ship and met a hermit. He confided his story to the hermit and was released from his guilt for a little while. However, he soon realized he must continue to tell his story to people whom he feels need to hear it in order to be released from his guilt for a little while longer.

What event or process leads the Mariner to bless the sea-snakes unawares? Why does the Albatross then fall from his neck?

The Mariner sees the sea snakes dancing in the water. He is awestruck by their beauty. He is even seems amazed that they are unable to brag about their beauty, but he is still able to notice it. He sees the sea snakes "dancing" in the water and he is transfixed. Completely awed and amazed, he unintentionally blesses the sea snakes. Blessing the sea snakes could not have blessed him more though, because after he did so he was able to pray. Once he was able to pray the Albatross fell from his neck. It shows that him blessing someone else can really be a blessing to him. Unintentionally blessing someone can be an even greater blessing for you.

What is significant about the colors mentioned in stanza 1? To what are the children compared?

The colors red, blue, and green describe the children as being bright and beautiful like the flowers of London that they are being compared to.

In what sense is this poem an epiphany for the speaker? How permanent is the feeling he describes - to what extent can it be sustained or revived? What role does memory play in this poem?

The epiphany seems to come when he feels that he does not have things around that should bring joy because of his inward diligence to himself and, maybe, his lone plight. The feeling that comes about when Wordsworth recounts the beauty in simple nature is one that can be brought around as needed through his recollection. He uses his memories of his time in nature to sustain him when he is unhappy.

Explicate the poem "So, we'll go no more a roving."

The first stanza, "we'll go no more a roving" means that his time is coming to an end and that his "childishness" of roaming around in the night needs to stop. The speaker is tempted by the moon of the night though and does not want to go home. But at the end of the poem he still decides to go "no more a roving".

How do the images in this poem compare to the images of the children marching to church in the previous "Holy Thursday" poem?

The images of the children marching to the church are radiant of bright colors and have angels, flowers, and lambs in it. The other "Holy Thursday" poem is much more darker and is described as being in an "external winter".

Ultimately, what does the boy really want?

The little black boy wants to be loved by the English boy. He wants him to understand that they are the same on the inside and that one day they will be the same on the outside as well because it says, "[i]'ll shade him from the heat till he can bear" (when they leave their earthly bodies).

What is the significance of being at a wedding for the relation of this tale in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?(Consider the accidental pun on 'relation' as well as ideas of family and captain/crew relationships.)

The mariner's tale is one meant to highlight the fact that sin and suffering are inevitable. The use of a wedding as a backdrop---a bunch of happy wedding guests = a bunch of happy sailors until someone makes a bad decision. So, is this really a story about man's constant state of sin and the possibilities of redemption? Maybe

Explain the meaning of the phrase "natural piety" (line 9).

The meaning of the phrase "natural piety" is a person who was born with a natural devotion to God and the natural world. They were not taught anything or were forced to believe in anything, they just natural have good morals and a stong believe in God. (Devotion to nature)

How does his poem "Ozymandias" speak to the political climate of the other two poems? What is this poem literally saying about monuments, and what is he suggesting about literature?

The poem "Ozymandias" does not give hope for the people in England, instead it is saying that the country is like shattered "stones" that once was an enormous, powerful, and beautiful statue. Monuments will always deteriorate and eventually fall like any king or empire will do. Shelley thinks that literature will be forgotten and the words of a poem will just be words with no meaning that eventually will just pass away too.

What's The Little Black Boy poem about?

The poem focuses on the understanding and misconceptions that are created in a child's mind through social influences. The poem also focuses on duality of black and white/ body and soul. Keep in mind connotations for white: purity, innocence, and enlightenment. The boy's mother is trying to explain their place in the world, but his innocence keeps him from really understanding the racism he faces.

How is the albatross more than a plain old albatross -- what is its spiritual significance, if any?

The reason it is not a "plain old albatross" is because if it were not for the albatross showing up the sailors probably would have died. They were stuck in an ocean full of ice. It was all around them. Then the bird came through the fog "As if it has been a christian soul" the sailors "hailed it in God's name"and then it steered them out of the ice. The sailors viewed the albatross as a gift sent from God to steer them away from the ice.

"I wandered lonely as a cloud" How does the sensation of something "natural" lead the speaker to imaginative vision? How does Wordsworth's "poetry of nature" in this poem transform itself into the "poetry of self-consciousness"?

The sensation of something natural leads the speaker to imaginative vision because he is imagining the daffodils as his host or company, not just a flower. Wordsworth's poetry of nature transforms into the poetry of self-consciousness by giving the daffodils human characteristics. All of the things that the daffodils do in the poem is things that Wordsworth is imagining them doing. Lines 13-14 refer to the grass; however, Wordsworth says the daffodils still out do the grass.

Why does the speaker connect daffodils with the stars?

The speaker is saying that both the daffodils and the stars are joys of nature. He says that the daffodils are "fluttering and dancing" and the stars "shine and twinkle". They are both being personified as if they had human qualities and actions.

The ancient mariner suffers; that much we know. What does this poem say about the nature of suffering and our attempts to transcend it?

There is no way for the mariner to escape the retelling of his story, and there is no way for the albatross to escape death so the poem is suggesting that suffering is inevitable. Humans will never be able to completely transcend suffering. Sometimes we can avoid it, and sometimes we can put it off. We as humans will eventually suffer in one way or another though. A lot of times, humans suffer due to the mistakes we make. The ancient mariner suffered because he made the mistake of killing the albatross.

WB beliefs?

Understanding from both good and evil, compassionate about the poor, close to God

This poem is often read as a Christian allegory of sin and redemption. What meaning comes out of reading the character and events as Christian symbols?

We are much like the Mariner because we often do struggle with different situations daily. There are some people that have a quote "albatross" around their neck and it can be very evident at times, while others are always carrying their cross faithfully and tend to show more peace than trouble. The way we take on our challenges, like the Mariner does, is determined on how we look at it. It can be easy to complain, but it is often better to take charge and take control and make the best of it and hopefully we can be smart and give others advice to help them so that when they come to a struggle they may be better equipped to fight against it.

What does he mean by "both what they half-create, / And what perceive? (107)

William Wordsworth is speaking of his love for nature. When he states "both what they half-create / and what they perceive," Wordsworth is essentially saying that he loves everything - both what his senses fabricate and what they perceive. Wordsworth suggests that our eyes and ears "half-create" the things that we see and hear. We may do this from merely seeing and hearing what we expect or want to, or from not being able to process the complexity of nature. In either case Wordsworth loves both the things that his senses half-create in nature, and the things that he is able to to truly understand.

Who enters the picture in stanza 5? Why does Wordsworth bring her in? What's her function in the poem?

Wordsworth brings his sister Dorothy into the picture. Dorothy seems to be a bit younger than him based on how he describes her view of the beautiful nature. He says that when he came to the same place five years ago, he was very amazed and intrigued by the scenery. He wanted to run around and explore it all. However, now that he is a bit older, he sees it in a different way. It seems to be a more mature logical way as he acknowledges all the connections and purpose of nature although he still enjoys the view just as much. His sister, however, feels the way he felt five years ago. She seems to be very intrigued and excited about the location in a more childish manner just like he once was. He states that he wonders if she will feel the same way about it as he has once five years has passed. He also states that he wonders if she will remember coming to the same spot with him when he passes someday.

How does Wordsworth characterize the flaws in our approach to nature? In answering this, note a few key verbs in lines 2-7.

Wordsworth characterizes the flaws in our approach to nature as being completely out of touch with nature and everything meaningful in life. The sonnet is saying that society as a whole is too caught up with the materialistic things in life, constantly working for money to spend. Wordsworth says, "Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers." He also states even when the sea "bares her bosom to the moon" and the winds howl, humanity is still out of tune. The key verbs used in lines 2-7 that stood out and set the mood in my opinion are getting and spending. These two verbs used in this context perfectly describe society in the modernizing world of the early 19th century.

"Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey" Characterize the relationship between Wordsworth (speaker) and the natural environment in "Tintern Abbey." How does Nature act on him? How does he act on it?

Wordsworth had a very close bond with the natural environment in "Tintern Abbey," such as the sound of the spring and the beauty of the sycamore trees. The beauty of nature from this location has an extreme effect on him, such as the memories from this place is what kept him sane. He acts on this by revisiting "Tintern Abbey" which revives all of his old memories of the place.

"My Heart Leaps Up" Under what circumstances, says Wordsworth, would he wish for his own death?

Wordsworth is telling us that every time he sees a rainbow "his heart leaps" and he gets a magical and special feeling and he feels happy and joyful. He notes that he always has, and that he always will even when he grows old. He says that if he ever looks at a rainbow and does not get that special feeling, then he would wish to die. Basically, if he could not appreciate nature in general (not just rainbows) then he would want to die.

What happens at the beginning of stanza 4? How does his attitude change and what aspect of time does he consider?

Wordsworth tells the reader about how happy he is to have returned to this place after so many years. He also relishes in the thought that in the future, he can look back at this memory and it will give him joy. His attitude toward nature has changed. He compares himself now to who he was five years ago. He feels that now that he is older, he can connect with nature on a deeper level. He thinks about five years earlier and also about the future and how he will connect with nature more deeply from now on.

Why for Wordsworth is childhood the most important time of one's life?

Wordsworth was under the impression that there was a wonderful existence before birth and that when we are born we have vague memories of this happy existence. These memories are what trigger the wonder in children. So by holding on to his inner child he's able to use his wonder in order to write powerful poetry.

18. The poem considers a human life as being made up of three phases, namely a. b. c.

a. "So was it when my life began;" this is a representation of birth. b. "So is it now I am a man;" this is a representation of adulthood. c. "So be it when I shall grow old, or let me die!" This is a representation of growing old and/or death.