Do you think ‘The Poetry of Earth’ is a romantic poem?
A romantic poem always has a subjective view. It aims at the expression of individual feelings and emotions. ‘The Poetry of Earth’ is a romantic poem. The poet makes us witness a world of romance and beauty in the mundane world of reality. He makes us hear the eternal music of nature in the chirp of the cricket and grasshopper. Love for nature is one of the aspects of romantic poetry. Keats declares, ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’. In this poem, Keats has personified nature and celebrated its beauty and vivacity. The eternal beauty of nature during different seasons is glorified through the sound of the grasshopper and the cricket. Like all other romantic poets, the poet here finds solace and comfort in the abundance of nature. It is the source of inspiration for his creation. Hence, the poem is an appropriate example of a romantic poem.
Name the poet who composed The Poetry of Earth’. What is meant by ‘The Poetry of Earth’? How does the poet read The Poetry of Earth’?
‘The Poetry of Earth’ is composed by John Keats.
‘The Poetry of Earth’ refers to the singing of the grasshopper and the cricket. The grasshopper’s happiness in singing never decreases while the cricket’s warmth in singing steadily increases until the line between summer and winter blues and one is aware of nothing except the beautiful melodies of both the creatures blending into one unceasing song.
John Keats asserts emphatically that no matter what the season is, whether it is the peak of scorching summer or the bitterly cold winter, the music and ‘poetry’ of Mother Nature will be omnipresent and add vitality to the environment. In the poem, Keats asks his readers to concentrate on the music of the tiny insects which can bring some relief to the earth during extreme conditions. One must learn to discern the melody, the uniqueness of each season to appreciate natures’ unending continuity. Keats escapes into the world of imagination from the world of reality, pain and suffering.
He reads the poetry of earth by listening to the various natural elements and this remarkable picture of nature expresses Keats’ delight in the purely sensuous appeal of Nature.
What do the grasshopper and the cricket metaphorically stand for in this poem? How they contribute to the earth’s poetry?
Keats has used sensuous imagery to describe the natural world with care and precision. -How far do you agree with this statement?
Discuss Chekhov’s The Proposal’ as a supreme example of a one-act play.
Describe the character of Chubukov as a sensible father.
Give a brief sketch of the character of Lomov in the play The Proposal’.
Sketch the character of Natalya.
“Now, you know, you shouldn’t forget all about your neighbours, my darling.”—Who said this and to whom? Why was the speaker surprised? Comment on the approach of the speaker.
“Then why are you in evening dress, my precious ?”-Who said this? Why was the person spoken to, in his evening dress? What did the speaker assume about the person?
“He’s come to borrow money! Shan’t give him any…”-Who is the speaker? What makes him say this? What features of this character are revealed here?
“Oh, don’t go round and round it, darling! – Who is addressed as ‘darling’? What is it? Who is the speaker? Why does he make this comment?
“I’ve come to ask the hand of your daughter, Natalya Stepanovna, in marriage.”-Who is the speaker? To whom does the speaker say this? What was the reaction of the person spoken to?
“…do you think I may count on her consent ?”-Why is the speaker so uncertain? How does the speaker ultimately get consent?
“She’s like a love-sick cat,”-Who said this and about whom? Analyse the character of the person, referred to here, under the light of the comment above.
“If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot for an ideal, or for real love, then I’ll never get married.”-Who thinks so? When does he think so? Why does the speaker think about it?
“Go; there’s a merchant come for his goods.”—Who said this and to whom? Who is the merchant’? What is referred to as ‘goods’? In what way does it bring out the attitude of the person and the society at that time?
“I’m trembling all over,’ -Who is ‘I’ here? How does the speaker express his nervousness?