On the Sea

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

No complex ideas just Keats paying his respects to the sea.

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

Petrarchan sonnet with ABBA quatrains and a cde dec sestet. The repeated rhyme scheme of the octave helps it capture the power, sounds and moods of the sea.

Question 3

Liquid Vowel Sounds

Answer 3

‘It keeps eternal whispering around’ – liquid vowel sounds (a poem rooted in sound)

Question 4

Contrasts

Answer 4

Desolate shores’ contrasts to the land not being as beautiful.

Question 5

Enjambment

Answer 5

Long sentence (enjambment) the length of the waves the first four lines run without any punctuation marks to break up the flow.

Question 6

Sound/ Onomatopoeic

Answer 6

The sea noises are pleasing to the soul ‘Gluts’, ‘whispering’ and ‘cloying melody’ - its music is satisfying. Richly onomatopoeic, the gentle mood of the sea being conveyed through soft sibilance and liquid vowel sounds ‘eternal whisperings’ and ‘shadowy sound’.

Question 7

Immortality

Answer 7

The sea is described as ‘eternal’ lasting forever and infinite something Keats was interested in. The sounds of the sea have been reoccurring seemingly forever and will continue to do so.

Question 8

Without Body

Answer 8

Keats idea of being without body as the sea flows without body.