Brief Poetry Analysis on poetry by Edmund Spenser,Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats
...tionality. I also greatly appreciate the sonnet structure as it is extremely difficult to master. Furthermore, the fact that the content is also of a high standard pleases me. Again I also felt that the sentiment of the poem was able to imbue this poem with a sense of delightful power. 5) Similarities or differences between the three poems. This poem is similar to both poems II and III in structure as all three are sonnets. It is also similar to poem II in that it is also about a man’s attempt to attain and sustain a legacy which appears to be impossible. However, this poems theme differs from the second poems’ as it incorporates an aspect of love. This, on the other hand, is a theme present in the third poem; which also incorporates commentary on both “love and fame”. However, the third poem speaks of a fear associated with these issues, which is not present in this poem. It is also interesting to note that Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats write in a similar time period whereas Edmund Spenser writes almost two centuries before them and yet their topics still contain such startling parallels. This just serves to show that the issues raised in these respective poems do have universal appeal as they remain topical issues for the expanse of many eras. Poem II: Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley 1) What is the poem about? The poem is about a rulers attempt to immortalize him in the form of a stone sculpture which is clearly inadequate as it is destroyed and only serves to highlight the inability of this king to attain the immortality he craved. 2) How the poem says what it is saying The poem is in the form of a sonnet although it does not strictly adhere to this Format as this would make it necessary to partially sacrifice meaning. This sonnet recollects a tale told by a traveller Who the speaker knew. This tale is a literal and metaphoric account of the break Down of a person’s fame and prestige after death despite efforts to preserve these attributes. The speaker tells of a desert in which there is a decrepit statue of an Historical King in the region, “Ozymandias”. The speaker shares how “…on the Pedestal these words appear: … look on my works and despair!” yet the speaker also reveals that “nothing beside remains…”, indicating the central theme of the poem , which is one of impermanence regardless of attempts to establish an alternative situation. 3) Your particular likes/dislikes about it. Again I like the structure and especially the meaning. However I enjoy it less than the previous poem as it is more depressing and heavy and does not provide any comfort for the reader. I also particularly enjoy the phrase “boundless and bare” for its quality that is produced by alliteration which allows for both the components to be emphasised. Similarly, I also like the phrase “the lone and level sands which stretch far away” which emphasises the massive ruin of what was understandably a once extensive empire. 4) Why do you feel the way you do about it. I feel passionate about this poem as it is one that I am able to deconstruct fairly easily in order to gain a clear understanding of the meaning. It is also a structurally sound poem which makes appropriate use of poetic devices which enhance the poem’s theme. 5) Similarities or differences between the three poems. This poem is similar to both Poems I and III in structure as all three are sonnets. The Themes present in these poems also have many similarities as discussed in Question Five under poem one’s heading. Poem III: When I have fears that I may cease to be by John Keats 1) What is the poem about? The poem is about the speaker’s aspirations of “fame and love” which he fears he may not be able to attain before he dies, “love and fame to nothingness do sink.” 2) How the poem says what it is saying The poem is conveyed in the form of a sonnet which confronts the central theme. This format again employs the Iambic pentameter which causes a regular and fairly fast paced reading of the poem which creates a sense of floating through the poem. The poem also creates this effect through a sort of delayed climax through the means of a repetitive sentence...