On the grasshopper and cricket – John Keats
1
, On the grasshopper and cricket – John Keats
R line Analysis
The grasshopper: - octave ( 8 lines )
Active in the summer
Active in the daytime
Pleasant and active mood
Lovely environment
Contrast with cricket - the crickets son is linker to that of the grasshopper. Both songs are parts of nature’s
persistent and loving force.
Metaphor – the sound of the grasshopper represents summer
The octave focuses on the grasshopper as an agent of summer.
❖ Opens with poetry of earth is never dead.
❖ Poetry of earth can be found in most common of things – like a grasshopper
❖ Even when the birds are tired of the heat, he still sings –
❖ When he is tired, he rests in a shady patch of weeds.
1 The poetry of earth is never dead: Poet refers to the sound made by nature – even in the
most terrible weather they do not die the sounds are
Poetry of the earth always alive= metaphoric
Personification: "The poetry of earth is never dead":
never dies !! Here, "the poetry of earth" is personified, suggesting that
nature itself has a poetic quality that is always alive and
vibrant. The voice of earth never dies.
The poetic voice of the earth never dies
Repetition- is a declaration that the poetry of earth is
forever and never ending
Metaphor: "The poetry of earth is never dead": Here,
"the poetry of earth" is metaphorically compared to
poetry, suggesting that the natural world has a poetic
quality.
2 When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, ‘faint’: feeling weak and/or dizzy.
In hot weather birds find it difficult to keep their routine –
will find shelter elsewhere.
3 And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run Birds vind shelter under the trees due to the hot weather.
Run- The grasshopper flies from one place to another
Enjambment: The sonnet has run-on lines that show
interconnectedness between animals and nature. These
lines also symbolise continuity in nature. The enjambment
in these lines gives the impression of flowing thoughts
and emotions, mirroring the lively nature being described.
All the birds are hiding from the sun in the cool shade
of the trees
Personification: "a voice will run / From hedge to
hedge": The voice of nature is personified as if it can
physically move from one hedge to another.
Imagery: "hide in cooling trees": This phrase paints a
picture of birds seeking refuge in the shade of trees to
escape the heat of the sun
2
1
, On the grasshopper and cricket – John Keats
R line Analysis
The grasshopper: - octave ( 8 lines )
Active in the summer
Active in the daytime
Pleasant and active mood
Lovely environment
Contrast with cricket - the crickets son is linker to that of the grasshopper. Both songs are parts of nature’s
persistent and loving force.
Metaphor – the sound of the grasshopper represents summer
The octave focuses on the grasshopper as an agent of summer.
❖ Opens with poetry of earth is never dead.
❖ Poetry of earth can be found in most common of things – like a grasshopper
❖ Even when the birds are tired of the heat, he still sings –
❖ When he is tired, he rests in a shady patch of weeds.
1 The poetry of earth is never dead: Poet refers to the sound made by nature – even in the
most terrible weather they do not die the sounds are
Poetry of the earth always alive= metaphoric
Personification: "The poetry of earth is never dead":
never dies !! Here, "the poetry of earth" is personified, suggesting that
nature itself has a poetic quality that is always alive and
vibrant. The voice of earth never dies.
The poetic voice of the earth never dies
Repetition- is a declaration that the poetry of earth is
forever and never ending
Metaphor: "The poetry of earth is never dead": Here,
"the poetry of earth" is metaphorically compared to
poetry, suggesting that the natural world has a poetic
quality.
2 When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, ‘faint’: feeling weak and/or dizzy.
In hot weather birds find it difficult to keep their routine –
will find shelter elsewhere.
3 And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run Birds vind shelter under the trees due to the hot weather.
Run- The grasshopper flies from one place to another
Enjambment: The sonnet has run-on lines that show
interconnectedness between animals and nature. These
lines also symbolise continuity in nature. The enjambment
in these lines gives the impression of flowing thoughts
and emotions, mirroring the lively nature being described.
All the birds are hiding from the sun in the cool shade
of the trees
Personification: "a voice will run / From hedge to
hedge": The voice of nature is personified as if it can
physically move from one hedge to another.
Imagery: "hide in cooling trees": This phrase paints a
picture of birds seeking refuge in the shade of trees to
escape the heat of the sun
2
