Month: September 2019

Why do you think Shelley chose to write an ode to the wind? Does the wind represent some larger concept?

In “Ode to the West Wind,” Shelley conveyed the message that he would like his poems and works of art to be able to spread and scatter to every corner of the world. He emphasized that desire by describing the powerful nature of the wind and the effect it has; the ability to drive away the dead leaves, carry new seeds and plant them in the earth, and the ability to bring thunderstorms and awaken the oceans. Throughout the poem, Shelley portrayed the West Wind to be an agent of change. Shelley wished that he could have a spirit as fierce and robust as the West Wind that can enable him to affect people on a wider scale. Also, there seemed to be a function for the seasons that he mentioned throughout his poem. In the beginning of the poem, it stated that, essentially, autumn brings upon winter that is filled with decaying, dead leaves, which I believed to be his comparison to society. This implied that society, during that time, may not be as functional as it seemed and desperately needed to be changed, which is why Shelley appealed to the west wind to make him powerful enough so that he can spread his ideas and thoughts across the globe.

 

The role of memory and nostalgia in Wordsworth’s poems signifies growth and transition from his past self to an enlightened present self. In Wordsworth’s poem, “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798”, Wordsworth revisits the Banks of Wye and reminisces about the time when he was there five years ago. Wordsworth utilizes nature as a metaphor to his feelings when he first visited there, “ Of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams, / Wherever nature led: more like a man / Flying from something that he dreads, than one who sought the thing he loved.” Wordsworth compares his past self to the isolated and untamed streams and rivers who have no clear distinct path. Similar to the uncontrollable nature, Wordsworth, in the past, seemed lost and out of control of his own life. He fled from his miserable situation, which caused him to seek isolation in nature, rather than going with the flow with what he loves. In the present moment, Wordsworth states that he is no longer lost and pessimistic; he finally feels at peace, in harmony, and in tranquility with nature and his life.

In “Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood”, Wordsworth recalls the world through his eyes of his younger self. As a child, he sees nature as full of beauty, life, light, and almost dream-like. His view of nature represents the innocence and beauty of a worried-free and joyful childhood that can’t fathom the idea of morality. As he grew older, he realizes the frailty of human life and the grief that comes with it. He says, “What though the radiance which was once so bright / Be now for ever taken from my sight, / Though nothing can bring back the hour / of splendour in the grass… / Out of human suffering; / In the faith that looks through death, / In years that bring the philosophic mind.” Wordsworth grew to accept that death is inevitable just like the death of nature. This acceptance made him appreciate the beauty of life more in nature and to value every moment of his time.

William Blake in all three of his poems is criticizing the time he lived in during Eighteenth-Century England. In his poem, “the Gates of Paradise”, Blake criticizes the most important topic during the era, religion.  Calling the person who is accused of being God as his Satan. He wonders about how society can be so evil and how God allows this to happen. He is criticizing God himself and uses his surroundings as reasons for this criticism. In “London”, Blake points out these issues in society and reveals the life in the urban areas of England. Blake mentions crying of man and child which resembles terror no matter how old or how strong you are. In his last poem, ” The Chimney Sweeper”, Blake exposes the problems of child labor. Using imager of kids covered in black and wearing clothes of death. Then he relates these horrors done to these kids to how people use God to ignore the real sins and terror being done in society.

How is his work a commentary on the mores, religious temperament, and society in which he lived in late eighteenth century England? What aspects of this commentary are still relevant?

During eighteenth century, people lived in a society where they think that they could do anything with women, child and soldiers. His commentary helped people to change someone’s mind in that century where people do not think about others feeling. His work on all three poems shows that how people were struggling but still show that they are happy about it. It is still relevant because there are some places where there are child labor going on and also misbehavior with women going on. His commentary shows that he is into it and he wants to help people to get out of this situations.

How is his work a commentary on the mores, religious temperament, and society in which he lived in late eighteenth-century England? What aspects of this commentary are still relevant today?

Blake was not satisfied with all things that were going on around him, by writing these poems he was able to express how he felt. In his poem “the Gate of Paradise” he describes how even people see injustice and don’t say anything about it. Where, in his poem “London” he mentions that when he was walking near the Thames, he saw people with sadness and fear. Even, soldiers are been treated tough by their kings. In his poem “ The Chimney Sweeper” he was more specific in describing how children are been punished by child labor. For example, children were not able to cry, instead, they were saying the word “weep weep” to describe how they were feeling while sweeping in the Chimney. Blake was mad because no one from the society wanted to fix this, everyone was fine seeing children work. What made it more difficult is that children were smiling and happy even though they were living a different life from which they should have lived, they never complained about it. Blake opinions still relevant today because there are still children around the world works. People with powers or society are okay with a child working instead of attending school.

What is the relationship between the speaker or poet and nature in Shelley’s work? Does the poet work in harmony with nature or rebel against it somehow? Or some combination of the two?

This poem highlights a “wind” that roars through nature in the Autumn. The author of this poem establishes their fascination with nature and its mystical characteristics. Shelley highlights this with alluding to the seasons, oceans, bays, and more. Despite the poem going into themes of higher powers and the paranormal, it’s obvious the poet/speaker is in harmony with nature. The poet seems to appreciate the power nature has and the role it plays in the living and the dead.

 

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