Leisure - William Henry Davies Flashcards
What type of poet is he? What type of poem is it?
What is its meter?
Georgian poetry movement
lyric poem
primarily iambic tetrameter
what does he typically write about?
nature
Structure
1st line of poem is questioning, penultimate line is an answer
rhyming couplets create rhythmical, lyrical quality
2nd line and last stanza are identical, rounds off poem, emphasising final point where poem encourages readers to slow down and appreciate the natural wonders each stanza builds on idea that without nature, life loses its richness and joy
‘What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.’
rhetorical question, sets tone for the rest of the poem
demonstrative pronoun ‘this’ puts you in the moment, makes readers focus on their only life and the world around them now.
‘care’ ‘stare’ assonance
‘No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.’
negative noun phrase ‘no time’
‘beneath the boughs’ - prepositional phrase suggests shade/protection, could imply he wants to be sheltered from his responsibilities
‘as long as’ - comparatives suggest we as humans are unable to relax unlike cows and sheep
‘No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.’
‘when woods we’ alliteration of ‘w’ sounds creates euphony, pleasant, harmonious sounds are emphasised
‘hide their nuts in grass’ verb phrase which includes prepositional phrase ‘in grass’, small details aren’t appreciated
‘No time to see, in broad day light,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.’
‘day’ ‘night’ - juxtaposition, compares the quiet freedom of the night to the day where his roles/duties are endless
‘full of’ prepositional phrase suggests abundance, imagery of beauty at night could suggest hope/happiness
‘No time to turn at beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.’
‘beauty’s glance’ personifying beauty, glancing at him suggests nature is calling for our appreciation in all its glory ‘dance’ verb, positive outlook on life, contentment
‘No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.’
couplet highlights theme of missed opportunities in appreciating beauty and connection, phrase suggests there is a fleeting moment when a person’s eyes express warmth but w/out taking time to pause and engage, that moment is lost ‘enrich’ verb, idea that mouth needs to ‘enrich’ smile indicates that true communication and expression require time and intention
‘that’ demonstrative pronoun, suggests it’s a smile he knows, has an undeniable quality to it, recognisable and admirable
‘A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.’
sibilance, mirrors second line of poem
