AP Literature Poetry UnitAP Literature Poetry Unit

Medieval PeriodMedieval Period

1066- 14851066- 1485

10661066

• Battle of Hastings: Harold the Saxon, Battle of Hastings: Harold the Saxon, the King of England was defeated by the King of England was defeated by William the Conqueror, the Duke of William the Conqueror, the Duke of NormandyNormandy

Changes brought by William Changes brought by William the Conquerorthe Conqueror

• Due to a more European business Due to a more European business exposure, England became stable exposure, England became stable and very powerfuland very powerful

• People trained to be soldiers, People trained to be soldiers, lawyers, doctors etc.lawyers, doctors etc.

• In addition to English (Middle English) In addition to English (Middle English) the people spoke Norman and Frenchthe people spoke Norman and French

ReligionReligion

• Played a great role in the lives of the Played a great role in the lives of the Medieval people- All people wanted Medieval people- All people wanted to attain Heavento attain Heaven

• Latin was the official language of the Latin was the official language of the churchchurch

• Abbeys and Monasteries were builtAbbeys and Monasteries were built

““Christendom”Christendom”

• Commonwealth- a spiritual and cultural Commonwealth- a spiritual and cultural empire uniting men of different empire uniting men of different nationalities, different languages and nationalities, different languages and different regional ways of lifedifferent regional ways of life

• This basically refers to countries in This basically refers to countries in which Christians make up the majority which Christians make up the majority of the population, or the world wide of the population, or the world wide community of Christianscommunity of Christians

Feudal SystemFeudal System

• Based on land holdingsBased on land holdings

• Vassals or overlords owed allegiance Vassals or overlords owed allegiance to a noble or kingto a noble or king

Feudal SystemFeudal System

• Everyone knew his placeEveryone knew his place

• The only way the common man could The only way the common man could advance was through the churchadvance was through the church

• Priest, Bishop, Cardinal, PopePriest, Bishop, Cardinal, Pope

Life of Medieval PeriodLife of Medieval Period

• Austere- No modern comfortsAustere- No modern comforts

• Travel was very difficultTravel was very difficult

• Difficulty and harsh life was made up Difficulty and harsh life was made up for in church splendorfor in church splendor

• Priests preached that life on earth Priests preached that life on earth was less important than life after was less important than life after deathdeath

Life of Medieval PeriodLife of Medieval Period

• The Crusades: A series of religious The Crusades: A series of religious wars to “save” Jerusalem from Turks wars to “save” Jerusalem from Turks (Muslims)(Muslims)

ChivalryChivalry

• The definition of chivalry today The definition of chivalry today means the conduct of a mannered means the conduct of a mannered and sensitive man toward womenand sensitive man toward women

• In the Medieval period it was part of In the Medieval period it was part of the code that knights were sworn to the code that knights were sworn to live by along with courage, justice, live by along with courage, justice, mercy, generosity, faith, nobility and mercy, generosity, faith, nobility and hopehope

ChivalryChivalry

ChivalryChivalry

• This idea joined with romance in This idea joined with romance in literatureliterature

• Feature: fairy enchantments, giants, Feature: fairy enchantments, giants, dragons, wizards, sorceressesdragons, wizards, sorceresses

• Seen in stories like: King Arthur and Seen in stories like: King Arthur and his Knights, King Charlemagne and his Knights, King Charlemagne and The Conquest of TroyThe Conquest of Troy

Black DeathBlack Death

• 1348- Plague hit – 1/3 of England 1348- Plague hit – 1/3 of England dieddied

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

ChaucerChaucer

• Born into the rising middle class in Born into the rising middle class in the 15the 15thth cent. cent.

• Was trained for a career in the court Was trained for a career in the court of King Edward IIIof King Edward III

• Served in the army, held several Served in the army, held several governmental positions, and governmental positions, and evenrtually married a lady of the evenrtually married a lady of the court.court.

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

• One of the 1One of the 1stst books ever printed. books ever printed.

• Chaucer planned 120 tales, 2 told by Chaucer planned 120 tales, 2 told by each pilgrim on the way to the shrine each pilgrim on the way to the shrine and 2 on the return trip.and 2 on the return trip.

• Before his death, he completed 22 Before his death, he completed 22 tales and 2 fragments.tales and 2 fragments.

• CT comments on the people and CT comments on the people and problems of this time period.problems of this time period.

Before the Selection Before the Selection Begins…Begins…• Archbishop Becket was murdered in Archbishop Becket was murdered in

1170 by 4 knights of Henry II. 1170 by 4 knights of Henry II. • King Henry and Becket had a King Henry and Becket had a

longstanding feud. longstanding feud. • Thinking the King wished Becket dead, Thinking the King wished Becket dead,

4 knights went to Canterbury to commit 4 knights went to Canterbury to commit murder. murder.

• The King was too late to stop them – The King was too late to stop them – Becket was later canonized as a Saint.Becket was later canonized as a Saint.

The GenreThe Genre

• Canterbury Tales is an anthology of Canterbury Tales is an anthology of popular taste in the Middle Ages.popular taste in the Middle Ages.

• These varied groups viewed the These varied groups viewed the purpose of literature to be both purpose of literature to be both entertaining and morally instructive.entertaining and morally instructive.

• During Chaucer’s time, the more During Chaucer’s time, the more literature stressed the moral and literature stressed the moral and instructive aspects, the more it was instructive aspects, the more it was regarded as high literature.regarded as high literature.

Wife of Bath’s TaleWife of Bath’s Tale

• ““Trial by Ordeal”Trial by Ordeal”

• Set in the time of King ArthurSet in the time of King Arthur

• Another example of the flawed romantic Another example of the flawed romantic hero – our knight commits rape, but hero – our knight commits rape, but ultimately proves himself to be worthy.ultimately proves himself to be worthy.

• The story centers around the male-The story centers around the male-female relationship. The Wife of Bath female relationship. The Wife of Bath claims to be an expert in this area. claims to be an expert in this area.

Pardoner’s TalePardoner’s Tale

• Exemplum – Teaches “by Exemplum – Teaches “by example”example”

• Rioters fail to see the Rioters fail to see the prophesy that “death prophesy that “death awaits them” under the awaits them” under the treetree

• Allegory – “Death” is a Allegory – “Death” is a character, possibly the character, possibly the mysterious old manmysterious old man

• Irony of the story – It is a Irony of the story – It is a sermon told by a greedy, sermon told by a greedy, corrupt church official.corrupt church official.

The Nun’s Priest TaleThe Nun’s Priest Tale

• Beast FableBeast Fable

• Mock Epic PoemMock Epic Poem

• Satirizes epic poetry of the past while Satirizes epic poetry of the past while teaching a valuable lesson about teaching a valuable lesson about pridepride

The Miller’s TaleThe Miller’s Tale

• Farce – A story involving “low Farce – A story involving “low humor,” including bodily functions, humor,” including bodily functions, improbable situations, nudity, etc. improbable situations, nudity, etc.

• Still teaches a lesson – dangers of Still teaches a lesson – dangers of pride and immoralitypride and immorality

• Stands in opposition to the Knight’s Stands in opposition to the Knight’s Tale, which exemplifies the code of Tale, which exemplifies the code of chivalrychivalry

1717thth-18-18thth Century and the Century and the RestorationRestoration

General Mood of the TimeGeneral Mood of the Time

• The early 17th century was a time The early 17th century was a time of political insecurity and religious of political insecurity and religious controversy.controversy.

• The optimism of the Elizabethan era The optimism of the Elizabethan era changes to a mood of uncertainty, changes to a mood of uncertainty, skepticism, and even pessimism. skepticism, and even pessimism.

Poetry during the Elizabethan Poetry during the Elizabethan EraEra

• The typical Elizabethan poem used The typical Elizabethan poem used verbal patterns to delight; it had verbal patterns to delight; it had ideal sentiments and witty ideal sentiments and witty descriptions descriptions

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18

• Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer's lease hath all too short a date:And summer's lease hath all too short a date:Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;And every fair from fair sometime declines,And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;But thy eternal summer shall not fadeBut thy eternal summer shall not fadeNor lose possession of that fair thou owest;Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,When in eternal lines to time thou growest:When in eternal lines to time thou growest:So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long lives this and this gives life to thee.So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

New Types of PoetryNew Types of Poetry

• Metaphysical – appeals Metaphysical – appeals to the mind instead of to the mind instead of emotions. These emotions. These poems are usually poems are usually short and deep with short and deep with meaning. They also meaning. They also make use of the make use of the conceit: conceit: an extended an extended metaphor relating metaphor relating surprising things.surprising things.

• John Donne is the most John Donne is the most revolutionary within revolutionary within this group.this group.

New Types of PoetryNew Types of Poetry

• Cavalier – Often Cavalier – Often expressed an expressed an attitude of “carpe attitude of “carpe diem” or “seize the diem” or “seize the day.”day.”

• Ben Jonson is the Ben Jonson is the leader of this leader of this group.group.

Similarities between Cavaliers Similarities between Cavaliers and Metaphysicalsand Metaphysicals

• Poetry is lyrical, personal and Poetry is lyrical, personal and universal.universal.

• Deals with topics such as honor, Deals with topics such as honor, death, love, loyalty, etc.death, love, loyalty, etc.

Political TroublesPolitical Troubles

• King Charles I is beheaded in 1649. King Charles I is beheaded in 1649. this ends the civil war in England and this ends the civil war in England and begins the Puritan Commonwealth begins the Puritan Commonwealth under General Oliver Cromwell.under General Oliver Cromwell.

• Under Puritan control, England Under Puritan control, England embraces a stern moral code.embraces a stern moral code.

Background on PuritansBackground on Puritans

• A Separatist movement to A Separatist movement to “purify” the Anglican “purify” the Anglican church began under church began under Elizabeth IElizabeth I

• By 1620 some frustrated By 1620 some frustrated Puritans immigrated to the Puritans immigrated to the American colony of American colony of Massachusetts. Massachusetts.

• Puritans eventually gained Puritans eventually gained the upper hand back in the upper hand back in England.England.

Background on PuritansBackground on Puritans

• Puritans gain power in Puritans gain power in Parliament by 1642.Parliament by 1642.

• Led by General Oliver Led by General Oliver Cromwell, Puritans fight Cromwell, Puritans fight a civil war against a civil war against Charles I and his forces. Charles I and his forces.

• Puritans capture Puritans capture Charles I and behead Charles I and behead him. him.

• Cromwell established Cromwell established the Puritan the Puritan Commonwealth.Commonwealth.

England under the PuritansEngland under the Puritans

• Class structure is transformed. Puritans Class structure is transformed. Puritans rise from the middle class and take control.rise from the middle class and take control.

• They considered the Anglican Church to be They considered the Anglican Church to be full of sin and excess. They also believed it full of sin and excess. They also believed it to be unconcerned with the needs of the to be unconcerned with the needs of the common man. common man.

• They emphasized the individual religious They emphasized the individual religious experience and relied on the Bible as the experience and relied on the Bible as the chief source of guidance. chief source of guidance.

• Puritans were unwilling to give religious Puritans were unwilling to give religious freedom to others. freedom to others.

Puritans Lose ControlPuritans Lose Control

• They had no powerful They had no powerful successor when successor when Cromwell dies in 1658.Cromwell dies in 1658.

• In 1660 they gave in In 1660 they gave in to popular demand for to popular demand for a monarch.a monarch.

• Charles II, son of Charles II, son of Charles I, becomes Charles I, becomes King.King.

• This is known as “the This is known as “the Restoration.”Restoration.”

John MiltonJohn Milton

• The greatest of the The greatest of the 1717thth century century writers.writers.

• Work reflects his Work reflects his Puritan beliefs.Puritan beliefs.

• Paradise Lost Paradise Lost is an is an epic poem that epic poem that tells the story of tells the story of Genesis. Genesis.

Alexander PopeAlexander Pope

• The subject of his The subject of his poetry is human poetry is human nature and everyday nature and everyday lifelife

• Poetry discusses Poetry discusses politics, economics, politics, economics, education, public education, public taste, and the arts.taste, and the arts.

• Criticizes the values of Criticizes the values of the upper class the upper class through use of satire.through use of satire.

Neoclassical PoetryNeoclassical Poetry

• Preference for heroic couplets – Preference for heroic couplets – recalls the great poetry of previous recalls the great poetry of previous agesages

• Intellectual experiences rather than Intellectual experiences rather than emotional onesemotional ones

• Power of imagination Power of imagination

The Rape of the LockThe Rape of the Lock

• Pope was asked by a Pope was asked by a friend to write a poem friend to write a poem to reconcile two to reconcile two feuding families.feuding families.

• The argument started The argument started when Robert Lord when Robert Lord Petre cut off a lock of Petre cut off a lock of hair from the head of hair from the head of Arabella Fermor Arabella Fermor without her without her permission.permission.

The Rape of the LockThe Rape of the Lock

• A mock epic poemA mock epic poem

• All conventions of All conventions of the epic poem are the epic poem are used for comic used for comic effecteffect

Characteristics of an Epic Characteristics of an Epic PoemPoem

• Great battlesGreat battles

• Heroic charactersHeroic characters

• Intervening godsIntervening gods

• Long journeysLong journeys

• Dire consequencesDire consequences

• Elevated languageElevated language

Thomas GrayThomas Gray• Considered a poet Considered a poet

who predates who predates RomanticismRomanticism

• ““Elegy” moves away Elegy” moves away from Neoclassical formfrom Neoclassical form

• Poem still follows a Poem still follows a pattern, but differs pattern, but differs from the rhyming from the rhyming couplets seen in works couplets seen in works by Neoclassical writersby Neoclassical writers

• Depicts nature and Depicts nature and the common lifethe common life

• High degree of High degree of emotion in the poememotion in the poem

Thomas GrayThomas Gray

• Represents a transition Represents a transition from the Neoclassical from the Neoclassical couplet of Pope (couplet of Pope (Rape of Rape of the Lock) the Lock) to the more to the more expansive Romantic form.expansive Romantic form.

• The diction of the poem is The diction of the poem is precise and polished, much precise and polished, much like other Neoclassical like other Neoclassical works. However, the focus works. However, the focus on nature and the common on nature and the common man resembles the man resembles the Romantic poetry that Romantic poetry that would come later. would come later.

The Romantic MovementThe Romantic Movement

• Mostly a rebellion against the social Mostly a rebellion against the social and artistic values of the 18and artistic values of the 18thth Century Century

• Embodies a desire for freedom and Embodies a desire for freedom and individualityindividuality

• Romantics were influenced by the Romantics were influenced by the revolutions in America and France – revolutions in America and France – middle classes develop a sense of middle classes develop a sense of independence and become more independence and become more powerfulpowerful

Neoclassical Era Vs. Romantic Neoclassical Era Vs. Romantic EraEra• NeoclassicalNeoclassical

– Expresses “general truths” Expresses “general truths” of Nature by appealing to of Nature by appealing to man’s reasonman’s reason

– The purpose of art is to The purpose of art is to teach and delight by teach and delight by reflecting eternal truths reflecting eternal truths known to all right-thinking known to all right-thinking menmen

– Art should strive to hold a Art should strive to hold a mirror up to Nature, to be mirror up to Nature, to be objective and impersonal objective and impersonal

– ““Wit” is the poet’s gift to Wit” is the poet’s gift to accomplish these tasks accomplish these tasks through the stylistic rules through the stylistic rules of the Classical poets and of the Classical poets and philosophers of Greece and philosophers of Greece and RomeRome

• RomanticRomantic– Poetry is a form of individual Poetry is a form of individual

expression; it reveals the expression; it reveals the unique thoughts and unique thoughts and feelings of the poetfeelings of the poet

– The content of the poem is The content of the poem is momentary and subjectivemomentary and subjective

– The poet writes, not to The poet writes, not to teach, but to reveal the teach, but to reveal the poet’s mindpoet’s mind

– Poetry is a momentary Poetry is a momentary window into the soul of the window into the soul of the poetpoet

– Poetry is never Poetry is never IMPERSONAL, but can be IMPERSONAL, but can be TRANSPERSONAL: poet TRANSPERSONAL: poet becomes a visionary who becomes a visionary who sees spiritual truth sees spiritual truth

Neoclassical Era Vs. Romantic Neoclassical Era Vs. Romantic EraEra

• NeoclassicalNeoclassical– Emphasis on reasonEmphasis on reason– Love treated as a game Love treated as a game

of socio-sexual of socio-sexual aggressionaggression

• RomanticRomantic– Emphasis on strong Emphasis on strong

emotionemotion– Love regarded as the Love regarded as the

most intense and most intense and important of human important of human faculties; it ranges from faculties; it ranges from spiritually sublime to spiritually sublime to erotic desire to self erotic desire to self destructive and destructive and perverse perverse

Neoclassical Vs. RomanticNeoclassical Vs. Romantic

• NeoclassicalNeoclassical– Fancy: a poetic gift that Fancy: a poetic gift that

emphasizes clever emphasizes clever imagination, but never imagination, but never distorts the poet’s clear, distorts the poet’s clear, rational view of the rational view of the world. world.

– Fancy allows poets to Fancy allows poets to make-believe (sylphs in make-believe (sylphs in Rape of the Lock)Rape of the Lock)

• RomanticRomantic– Imagination: a poetic Imagination: a poetic

gift, not only over gift, not only over language, but the language, but the individual’s mind so that individual’s mind so that the poet can perceive the poet can perceive the world differently and the world differently and more intensely than more intensely than others. others.

– Imagination allows the Imagination allows the poet to become a poet to become a visionary, seeing spiritual visionary, seeing spiritual truths and patterns in the truths and patterns in the universe that lie beyond universe that lie beyond the bounds of reasonthe bounds of reason

Neoclassical Vs. RomanticNeoclassical Vs. Romantic

• NeoclassicalNeoclassical– Nature is eternal Nature is eternal

and universal and universal through laws through laws created by God.created by God.

• RomanticRomantic– Nature stands in Nature stands in

opposition to urban opposition to urban life; it stimulates life; it stimulates the imagination and the imagination and leads to the leads to the discovery of discovery of transcendent truthstranscendent truths

Robert BurnsRobert Burns

• Poetry embodies the Poetry embodies the philosophy of philosophy of “primitivism” or the “primitivism” or the idea that the people of idea that the people of the countryside are the countryside are more noble than the more noble than the “civilized” people of “civilized” people of urban areas.urban areas.

• Country people are Country people are closer to nature and are closer to nature and are uncorrupted by citiesuncorrupted by cities

Robert BurnsRobert Burns

• Known as “Robbie” to Known as “Robbie” to the people of Scotlandthe people of Scotland

• Poems covered a vast Poems covered a vast range of topics – range of topics – philosophy, politics, philosophy, politics, nature, and lovenature, and love

• He is the national hero He is the national hero of Scotlandof Scotland

• Writes in the dialect of Writes in the dialect of the Scottish people. the Scottish people. Many believe his Many believe his poetry embodies the poetry embodies the Scottish spirit. Scottish spirit.

William BlakeWilliam Blake

• Opposed tyranny Opposed tyranny and avidly and avidly supported the supported the goals of the French goals of the French and American and American RevolutionsRevolutions

• Exalted Exalted imagination and imagination and individualityindividuality

Songs of Innocence and of Songs of Innocence and of ExperienceExperience

• ““Experience” is Experience” is equated with the equated with the world of adults – world of adults – recognizes the recognizes the presence of evil and presence of evil and hypocrisy hypocrisy

• ““Innocence” refers to Innocence” refers to the world of children – the world of children – spontaneity, energy, spontaneity, energy, and vulnerabilityand vulnerability

The Sick RoseThe Sick Rose

• O Rose thou art sick.O Rose thou art sick.The invisible worm,The invisible worm,That flies in the nightThat flies in the nightIn the howling storm:In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bedHas found out thy bedOf crimson joy:Of crimson joy:And his dark secret And his dark secret loveloveDoes thy life destroy.Does thy life destroy.

Samuel ColeridgeSamuel Coleridge

• Poems are far removed Poems are far removed from everyday lifefrom everyday life

• He wanted to take the He wanted to take the supernatural and the supernatural and the exotic and make it exotic and make it believablebelievable

• Fell asleep after taking Fell asleep after taking opium and dreamed about opium and dreamed about the Chinese emperor Kubla the Chinese emperor Kubla KhanKhan

• Wrote down lines of poetry Wrote down lines of poetry when he woke up and when he woke up and produced the poem “Kubla produced the poem “Kubla Kahn” Kahn”

In Xanadu did Kubla KhanA stately pleasure-dome decree:Where Alph, the sacred river, ranThrough caverns measureless to manDown to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles of fertile groundWith walls and towers were girdled round:And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;And here were forests ancient as the hills,Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slantedDown the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!A savage place! as holy and enchantedAs e'er beneath a waning moon was hauntedBy woman wailing for her demon-lover!And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,A mighty fountain momently was forced:Amid whose swift half-intermitted burstHuge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail:And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and everIt flung up momently the sacred river.Five miles meandering with a mazy motionThrough wood and dale the sacred river ran,Then reached the caverns measureless to man,And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from farAncestral voices prophesying war!

The shadow of the dome of pleasureFloated midway on the waves;Where was heard the mingled measureFrom the fountain and the caves.It was a miracle of rare device,A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

A damsel with a dulcimerIn a vision once I saw:It was an Abyssinian maid,And on her dulcimer she played,Singing of Mount Abora.Could I revive within meHer symphony and song,To such a deep delight 'twould win meThat with music loud and longI would build that dome in air,That sunny dome! those caves of ice!And all who heard should see them there,And all should cry, Beware! Beware!His flashing eyes, his floating hair!Weave a circle round him thrice,And close your eyes with holy dread,For he on honey-dew hath fedAnd drunk the milk of Paradise.

QuestionsQuestions

• What is the mood of the poem?What is the mood of the poem?• What qualities does this poem share with What qualities does this poem share with

dreams? How does it differ from reality?dreams? How does it differ from reality?• What ideas about creativity and recreation What ideas about creativity and recreation

does the poet bring out in the second part does the poet bring out in the second part of the poem?of the poem?

• Many people feel a sinister and foreboding Many people feel a sinister and foreboding about “Kubla Khan.” Find 10 words that about “Kubla Khan.” Find 10 words that give the reader that impression.give the reader that impression.

Percy ShelleyPercy Shelley

• A free-thinking young man A free-thinking young man who often found himself at who often found himself at odds with conventionodds with convention

• After three years of After three years of marriage , he found that marriage , he found that he was not in love with his he was not in love with his wife, Harriet Westbrook. wife, Harriet Westbrook.

• He fell in love with Mary He fell in love with Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin. Wollstonecraft Godwin. Shelley proposed that the Shelley proposed that the three of them live three of them live together.together.

• Harriet did not agree to Harriet did not agree to this. After Shelley eloped this. After Shelley eloped with Mary, Harriet killed with Mary, Harriet killed herself. herself.

Shelley’s PoetryShelley’s Poetry

• Shelley writes of the ideal. Shelley writes of the ideal. • Through his poetry, he Through his poetry, he

envisions humanity as it envisions humanity as it should be.should be.

• Shelley believed that with Shelley believed that with liberation mankind would liberation mankind would achieve perfection.achieve perfection.

• ““Ozymandias” presents Ozymandias” presents the idea that, with the the idea that, with the passage of time, even the passage of time, even the most powerful rulers will most powerful rulers will be forgotten. The fear be forgotten. The fear they inspire will evaporate, they inspire will evaporate, leaving only aging ruins leaving only aging ruins behind.behind.

Definition!Definition!

• Ode – A complex, often lengthy poem Ode – A complex, often lengthy poem with a formal style and a serious with a formal style and a serious subject.subject.

John KeatsJohn Keats

• Lost both his mother and Lost both his mother and brother to tuberculosis, a brother to tuberculosis, a disease Romantics called disease Romantics called “consumption.”“consumption.”

• Worked as an apprentice to a Worked as an apprentice to a doctor and attended medical doctor and attended medical school. school.

• Did not finish his studies when Did not finish his studies when he decided that his true he decided that his true calling was to become a poet.calling was to become a poet.

• At 23, he met Fanny Brawne, At 23, he met Fanny Brawne, the love of his life.the love of his life.

• Shortly after becoming Shortly after becoming engaged, Keats began to engaged, Keats began to show signs of tuberculosis.show signs of tuberculosis.

• Died in Rome at the age of Died in Rome at the age of 26.26.

Keats’s PoetryKeats’s Poetry

• Perhaps because he Perhaps because he was most attuned to was most attuned to the transitory nature the transitory nature of life, Keats’s work of life, Keats’s work often emphasizes the often emphasizes the intensity of intensity of experiences in the experiences in the present.present.

• Poetry revels in Poetry revels in sensory imagery.sensory imagery.

• Epitaph reads “Here Epitaph reads “Here lies one whose name lies one whose name was writ in water.” was writ in water.”

Matthew ArnoldMatthew Arnold

• Poetry is characteristic of the Poetry is characteristic of the Victorian Age.Victorian Age.

• This period was fraught with This period was fraught with religious, social, and scientific religious, social, and scientific conflict.conflict.

• Many people believed they had to Many people believed they had to choose between science and faith choose between science and faith – a conflict still in debate today!– a conflict still in debate today!

• Darwinian theory forces people to Darwinian theory forces people to view the natural world as hostile.view the natural world as hostile.

• ““Dover Beach” expresses the Dover Beach” expresses the uncertainty of the time: one can uncertainty of the time: one can no longer find comfort in the no longer find comfort in the natural world. The “Sea of Faith” natural world. The “Sea of Faith” is now irrelevant.is now irrelevant.

• Arnold’s answer to this problem is Arnold’s answer to this problem is to seek solace in in personal to seek solace in in personal relationships. relationships.

Thomas HardyThomas Hardy

• Considered by many to be Considered by many to be the last great poet of the the last great poet of the 1919thth century. century.

• The sadness in his work The sadness in his work may stem from his may stem from his upbringing in southwest upbringing in southwest England – a bleak, remote England – a bleak, remote region. region.

• Hardy was also a member Hardy was also a member of the generation in of the generation in recovery from the optimism recovery from the optimism of the Industrial Revolution. of the Industrial Revolution.

• Hardy looked at nature not Hardy looked at nature not as a pessimist, but as one as a pessimist, but as one who saw endless energy who saw endless energy and constant change. and constant change.

G.M. HopkinsG.M. Hopkins

• Sprung Rhythm – All feet in a poetic Sprung Rhythm – All feet in a poetic line begin with a stressed syllable and line begin with a stressed syllable and contain a varying number of contain a varying number of unstressed syllables. unstressed syllables.

• Inscape – The patterns in nature that Inscape – The patterns in nature that reveal both individuality and reveal both individuality and commonality. This, he believed, was commonality. This, he believed, was evidence of God’s hand.evidence of God’s hand.