Class-XII
Poetry
Chapter- 4
The Poetry of Earth
John Keats
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Broad Questions and Answers (Long Questions and Answers)
1. Write the substance of the poem The Poetry of Earth.
Ans:-The Poetry of Earth is a very beautiful poem in which the poet has shown the never ending music of earth. The first part of the poem, the octave, celebrates the earth in all its forms. It says that the poetry of earth is never dead. The earth provided poetry in the form of the songs of the birds or the calls of the beasts. However, when the summer sun is too hot and strong, the birds find it difficult to keep up their routine. They find shelter from the scorching heat in trees that provide ample shade and hence, are ‘cooling’. But the grasshopper does not cease its song. Its voice runs throughout the freshly mown meadows untiringly. Even in the sultry summer days, he never stops his chants. The grasshopper does not feel ‘faint’ under the sun. For him, even the summer is a time for joy. Hence, when he has had his fill of fun, he finds comfort under some weeds or long grass stalks.
The sestet begins with the earlier declaration that the poetry of earth is forever, it is never ending. During the cold, harsh winters, when one is numbed by the cold, only one voice is heard that calls out to one in drowsy evenings by the fire (stove) and that is of the cricket. The poet tells us that during the winters, instead of growing quiet of the cold, the cricket finds a corner in some kitchen near a stove and belts out its song. The warmth coming from the stove mingles with the warm tones of the cricket who tries to keep one entertained. This song perhaps reminds one who’s half asleep that the grasshopper is probably out on some grassy hill, singing its heart out. Thus the music of earth never ceases.
2. Critically analyse the poem The Poetry of Earth.
Ans:-First and foremost, this poem is about the poetry of the earth. This ‘poetry’ that Keats talks about can be read variously. Literally speaking, the poetry of earth indicates the various sounds found in the natural world, be it the calls of birds or beasts, or insects. These natural sounds are the voices of nature; this is how nature communicates with us. The poetry of earth is then the language of the earth. At the same time it is also about the beauty of that language. The poem is descriptive of the physical world and its natural beauty.The poetry of earth is at once an emblem of beauty and endurance. The poet wishes to impart that like the poetry of the earth, hope never dies. That no matter how harsh the trials and tribulations of life are, they can be overcome. There is beauty in even the harshest temperatures. Similarly, there is hope in the bleakest of times.This poem is above all, a repository of the calls of nature, the voice of the grasshopper, of the cricket, and of the songs of the birds. The poem also encompasses two extreme climates, the extreme hot and the extreme cold. Summer and winter are expressed as two unbearable entities, each an imposing, strong figure that has to be fought with. The poetry of earth perhaps is akin to the poetic impulse of Keats himself. Keats mirrors his own innermost thoughts when he expresses the immortality of poetry. The imposing figures of summer and winter can be read as the critics who taunted Keats for his youthful abandon and less than aristocratic blood. In the poem he says that the poetry of earth will endure all harshest circumstances. He believed his poetry should be reminded long after his death just like he believed poetry could never die.
3.“He takes the lead/In summer luxury. “- Who is ‘he’? When does he take the lead? What is ‘Summer luxury’?
Ans:- Here ‘he’ is the Grasshopper.
In the scorching heat of summer when all birds are tired and take shelter in the cooling trees, the Grasshopper takes the lead. It starts singing.
Summer is beautiful. But sometimes it becomes intolerable due to scorching heat. Birds take rest in the cooling sun. But surprisingly, Grasshopper fit it pleasant and delightful. It flies around and sings. He drinks the golden sunlight out of extreme delight. He sings song ceaselessly. So, summer is luxurious to Grasshopper.
4.“He has never done/With his delights.” – Who is ‘he’ referred to here? What are the ‘delights’ referred to here? Why has he never done with his delights?
Ans:- Here ‘he’ refers the Grasshopper.
Here the delights are the delights of the Grasshopper. Out of joy the Grasshopper runs about singing in the scorching heat of the sun. It runs from hedge to hedge. It moves about the newly – mown mead. Thus he enjoys delights. Playing, flying, singing, resting are the delights.
When all the birds take rest in the cooling trees because of the hot sun, the Grasshopper takes the lead. He finds summer pleasant. He likes sunshine. He moves about the bushes and sings. His spirit is roused by the sheer joy. That is why he has never delights.
5.“Poetry of earth is never dead.” – From where is the quoted line taken? What is the meaning of “the poetry of earth”?Why is the ‘poetry of earth’ never dead?
Ans:- The above quoted line has been taken from the sonnet “The Poetry of Earth”, a beautiful poem.
Here ‘poetry of earth’ is the everlasting music or poetry of Nature. This music of Nature is carried on by the insects like grasshopper, cricket etc. Nature’s music knows no break. It goes on continually.
It is never dead because the Grasshopper and the Cricket take the responsibility. They carry on the music of nature. The Grasshopper carries on the music in summer and the Cricket in winter. Thus they celebrate the music through the cycle of seasons.
6.Identify the voices of poetry in the poem. How does Keats establish continuity through these voices?
Ans: The Grasshopper’s chirp, the Cricket’s shrill song are the voices of poetry in the poem “Poetry of Earth”.
Here a great continuity is maintained by connecting up the song of the Grasshopper in summer with the song of the Cricket in winter. So, the music of Nature is never silent. In scorching heat when all the birds become exhausted and take rest in shadowy trees, Grasshopper runs singing from hedge to hedge. He takes lead in summer enjoyment. When he is tired, he takes rest beneath some pleasant weed . On a quiet winter evening, from behind the stove, there is the chirping of the Cricket. To one who who is sitting over the fire, half asleep, It seems to be the continuation of the Grasshopper’s song.
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