Poems & Authors Flashcards
Contains all Poems from Romanticism to Post-Modernism.
Which Poem is this and who wrote it:
“Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell That its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things”
‘Ozymandius’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1818)
This poem goes into detail about how power deteriorates and how it won’t last forever.
“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude.”
‘I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud’ by William Wordsworth (1807).
This poem goes in depth of the narrator using nature as a way to please HIMSELF as opposed to other parties (like society).
This poem demonstrates the Individualistic idea.
“Have ye leisure, comfort, calm
Shelter, food, love’s gentle balm?
Or what is it ye buy so dead
With your pain and with your fear?”
‘Song to the Men of England’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1839).
Goes in detail about how the common man spends all their life slaving for the elite class and gets nothing in return. Poet instead suggests that workers continue doing the same, but repurpose it so they’re doing it for themselves, not others.
Indivdualistic messaging is apparent as well as the Poet noticing things that society doesn’t and brings them to light.
“Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley’d and thunder’d;
Storm’d at with shot and shell
Boldly they rode and well.”
‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Lord Tennyson.
Poet essentially bringing to light that even though the soldiers in this battle died in vain, society should not forget them and instead honour them for their valiancy and their patriotism for dying for their country.
Poem demonstrates the message that: The poet holds a special place above society, bring to light the knicks and crannies.
“Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; Bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil
Is bare now, not can foot feel, being shod.”
‘God’s Grandeur by Gerard’ Manly Hopkins.
This poem exposes how even though society is turning it’s shoulder on God, he’s always there patiently waiting with his arms open around the world, hoping that we one day return to him, our first love.
Demonstrated the message: Poet has a higher pedestal above society, notices things society doesn’t.
“The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -
And Breathes were gathering firm
For that last Onset - when the King
Be witnessed - in the Room.”
‘I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died’ by Emily Dickinson.
Poem goes into detail about how death is unimportant and the annoying things (such as a fly) is more important than death.
You see hints of Individualism in this poem but mostly the message that Death is more important/Interesting than Life.
“Or rather - He passed us -
The Dews drew quivering and chill -
For only Gossamer, my Gown -
My Tippet - only Tulle.”
‘Because I Could Not Stop For Death’ by Emily Dickinson.
Poem likens the experience of Death to that of a replay of one’s life. It portrays it as a Journey, with sunset being the final moments of one’s life,
Message is Death is more interesting than life as well as a pinch of Poetry has few rules as does life.
“The Brain is deeper than the sea -
For - hold them - Blue to Blue -
The one the other will absorb -
As Sponges - Buckets - do -.”
‘The Brain is Wider Than the Sky’ by Emily Dickinson.
Poem basically talks about how our intellectual capacity and our emotions are immeasurable and priceless.
Individualistic, and implies that life has few rules like poetry.
“I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.”
‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ by William B. Yeats.
Poem entails how the narrator wishes to seek peace and solitude from the turbulent and tumultuous lifestyle he faces in the city.
Poet entails the Individualistic experience and Poetry has few rules.
“A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of indignant desert birds.
‘The Second Coming’ by W.B Yeats.
Poem has a rather negative view on the entire Christian faith. Refers to the Messiah as a monster and such.
Entails the message that Traditions are worn out and must be replaced, as well as Life is meaningless and all we can do is despair.
“My Country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kilkartam’s poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.”
‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’. by Yeats.
The Protagonist of the poem is portrayed as being a daredevil. He doesn’t care about his death, whatever happens happens. He doesn’t hate those he kills nor does he love those he protects.
Messages include Life is meaningless, Poetry has few rules as does life and Death is more interesting than life.
“And I have known the eyes already, known them all-
The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,
And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall
Then how should I begin
To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?
And how should I presume?”
‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’ by T.S Eliot.
Poem entails the internal conflict the Protagonist is facing. He is hindered due to his loneliness, Fear of Judgement and his indecisiveness (which is relatable).
Mostly entails the Individualistic experience as well as Poetry having few rules, which correlates with reality.
“All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we lead all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt.”
‘The Journey of the Magi’ By T.S Eliot (1930).
Poem goes in detail about how individuals can very easily be ousted by society if they choose to take on a different worldview.
Entails the Individualistic experience, poetry has few rules.
“What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow
Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man,
You cannot say, or guess, for you know only
A heap of broken images, where the sun beats,
And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief,
And the dry stone no sound of water.”
‘The Waste Land” By T.S Eliot (1922).
I feel like it’s referring to the desolate state of society both during and after the First World War (this was written like 4 years after the matter).
Message is ‘Life is meaningless’.
“With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane.”
‘And Death Shall Have No Dominion’ By Dylan Thomas
This poem goes into detail about how we shouldn’t be fearful of death or be afraid, because it all happens to us eventually.
Messages include Death is more interesting/important than life as well as Violence is a viable means of expression (no outlined in he text but more in the tone of the text).
