The Echoing Green

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Pre industrialisation
Songs of innocence 1789
Children are harmonious with nature
Village greens are common land

Question 2

Structure

Answer 2

Anapestic metre breaks down in final stanza
3x 10 line stanzas
Jaunty rythm- joy
AA BB CC ryhme scheme

Question 3

Lexis and semantics

Answer 3

Final line of each stanza anaphora “the ecchoing green”
Imagery of freedom symbolism of birds “The birds of the bush
Sing louder” - nature used as a metaphor for living close to god in proper balance
Symbolic implication of the “welcome spring” season of rebirth
“Old man john” symbolises old people at the end of the cycle-everyman name

Question 4

Grammar and syntax

Answer 4

End of stanza 3 two short lines to abruptly show the arrival pf adult hood
Lots of enjambent running through the ever lasting cycle of life
Poem is a metaphor for the cycle of life