Bits of Life 2

F-18 Words-525

Consider the Poet's Purpose: What message or feeling is the poet trying to evoke or share?

Analyze Literary Devices: How do things like rhythm, structure, and word choice (diction) contribute to the message? to feel joy singing while she reaps the crop.

We needed to travel with the poet to understand his thoughts and feelings.

Second Generation Romantic Poets:

The most notable among the second generation Romantic poets are, Lord Byron (1788-1824). Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) and John Keats (1795-1821)


Lord Byron’s was a chaotic life during which he traveled to Europe and collected reference material for his poetic works, which were composed after arriving in England.

We had his much acclaimed poem named, “She walks in beauty,” for a non-detailed study.

“She walks in beauty” is attempted keeping in view, the equal importance of the physical and inner beauty of a woman. The poet highlights innocence and virtue as the key theme of the poem.

“And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!”

We felt that the poet’s sentiments are relevant to both men and women.

P. B. Shelley’s poems are truly immortal, for they have a depth and a passion, rarely visible in poetry. Take for example, his “Ode to the West Wind.” We had a fruitful time understanding his thoughts and the poetic style inherent to his poems.

The west wind symbolizes freedom and inspiration, reflecting Shelley's desire for change and reform in society.

He wrote this poem while living in Italy, far from his home in England. This poem shows how he connected nature to his feelings and hopes for a better world through his writing.

Many believe that Shelley’s message invites everyone to embrace their imagination and make a difference in the world. Because of its powerful words, "Ode to the West Wind" remains an important poem that continues to inspire new generations.

“O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being,
Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,”

We were absolutely smitten by the use of nature imagery and the poet’s connection with nature. We felt it a unique feature that the poet addresses the Wild West Wind and hails it as both a destroyer and a preserver.

“Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!”

And the concluding lines are even more impressive and immortal.
“Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth
Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!
Be through my lips to unawakened earth

The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”

Shelley wished his ideas to be scattered among human kind just as the sonnet ends on a note of optimism.

The poem that I am personally loved and did a detailed study was “Ozymandias”.

The informal beginning of the poem is notable, which runs like tale.

“Once I met a traveler from an antique land
in the desert.”

In Ozymandias, Shelley