Away Melancholy

Question 1

Summarise the poem

Answer 1

The speaker is demanding that the reader lets go of any sadness that they have by comparing humans to nature.

Question 2

What is the form and its effect?

Answer 2

The poem is written in free verse and is filled with all types of rhyme (end and slant). This gives a musicality to the poem and could reflect the speakers effort to see the beauty in an often ugly world.

Question 3

Why might have Smith written the poem?

Answer 3

To reveal the importance of looking for the good in the world.

Question 4

How does Smith make the poem memorable?

Answer 4

-By making a distinct comparison with nature and humanity and how they are affected by melancholy
-“Fire leap and the rivers flow?” uses lively verbs to personify nature and suggest that nature still works despite melancholy’s existence
-Also implies that humans are often blinded by melancholy and unable to see the beauty of nature.
-“With a hey-ho melancholy” gives a musical and light hearted tone to the poem.
-This subverts the usual stigma around a melancholy feeling.