To sleep

Question 1

summary

Answer 1

the speaker envokes sleep , praising it for its ability to bring forgetfullnes and to save the individual from the day
the speaker asks sleep to come to him even in the middle of the poem
the speaker also wishes to be saved from his personified conscience - which is stronest when the individual is in bed at night trying to sleep

Question 2

themes

Answer 2

sleep
anxiety
escape

Question 3

structure

Answer 3

To Sleep was thought to be written in April 1819. This is a Shakespearean sonnet, and as such can be divided into three quatrains and a couplet to separate the different ‘thoughts’/ideas of the poem, but what do you notice about the final couplet that differs from the convention of the Shakespearean form?

Question 4

o soft embalmer

Answer 4

apostrophe
direct address
personified sleep
like a celebration or a prayer to sleep

Question 5

gloom pleased eyes , embowered from the light

Answer 5

oxymoronic
light and dark

Question 6

divine

Answer 6

sleep is powerful and must be obeyed and appeased

Question 7

o soothest sleep

Answer 7

worshipping sleep

Question 8

please

Answer 8

polite
cant expect Gods to answer our prayers

Question 9

or wait the Amen , ere thy poppy throws

Answer 9

religious language

Question 10

then save me
save me

Answer 10

sleep having more power than the speaker
christian savior

Question 11

save me from curious conscience that still hoards

Answer 11

harsh sounds contrasting with soft sibilance

Question 12

avoiding couplet

Answer 12

sense of iressolution and oppennes