John keats

Background of John KeatsBackground of John Keats

Born in England in 1795 and died of Born in England in 1795 and died of tuberculosis when he was 25 but he had tuberculosis when he was 25 but he had written lots of poetry at that age.written lots of poetry at that age.

During his time his poems were not During his time his poems were not appreciated by the criticsappreciated by the critics

The poem is a clear allusion to the tale of The poem is a clear allusion to the tale of the ant and the grasshopper and is in the the ant and the grasshopper and is in the Petrarchan form with an octave and a Petrarchan form with an octave and a sestet.sestet.

Background of keats

The poem was written in response to a sort of competition between himself and his great friend Leigh Hunt as to who could write the best verse in the shortest time.

It is a parallel to Aesop’s fable “The ant and the grasshopper”.

The ant and the grasshopper In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping

and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

On the Grasshopper and the CricketOn the Grasshopper and the CricketBy John KeatsBy John Keats

The poetry of earth is never dead:The poetry of earth is never dead: When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead;From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead;That is the Grasshopper's-he takes the leadThat is the Grasshopper's-he takes the lead In summer luxury,-he has never done In summer luxury,-he has never done With his delights; for when tired out with fun With his delights; for when tired out with fun He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed.He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed.The poetry of earth is ceasing never:The poetry of earth is ceasing never: On a lone winter evening, when the frost On a lone winter evening, when the frost Has wrought a silence, from the stove there Has wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills shrills The Cricket's song, in warmth increasing ever,The Cricket's song, in warmth increasing ever, And seems to one in drowsiness half lost, And seems to one in drowsiness half lost, The Grasshopper's among some grassy hills. The Grasshopper's among some grassy hills.

Stanza 1Stanza 1

Stanza 1 establishes the setting for the poem, it’s summer and everything is very much alive. The grasshopper is enjoying himself.

The The poetry of earthpoetry of earth is never dead: is never dead: When all the birds are faint with the When all the birds are faint with the hot sun,hot sun, And hide in And hide in cooling treescooling trees, a voice will , a voice will run run From From hedge to hedgehedge to hedge about the new- about the new-mown mead;mown mead;

Stanza 2Stanza 2

Part 2 introduces the grasshopper and establishes an easy going mood

That is the That is the Grasshopper'sGrasshopper's-he takes the -he takes the leadlead In In summer luxurysummer luxury,-he has never done ,-he has never done With his With his delightsdelights; for when ; for when tired out tired out withwith funfun He He rests at ease beneathrests at ease beneath some some pleasantpleasant weed.weed.

Stanza 3Stanza 3

Nature is shown in its full force

The The poetry of earth is ceasing never:poetry of earth is ceasing never: On a lone winter evening, when the On a lone winter evening, when the frostfrost Has wrought a silenceHas wrought a silence, from the , from the stove there shrills stove there shrills The Cricket's song, in The Cricket's song, in warmth increasing warmth increasing ever,ever, And seems to one in drowsiness half And seems to one in drowsiness half lost, lost, The Grasshopper's among some The Grasshopper's among some grassy hills.grassy hills.

MoraleMorale

Through the grasshopper and the Through the grasshopper and the cricket John Keats shows the cricket John Keats shows the repercussions of ones actionsrepercussions of ones actions

It also teaches that nature is a force It also teaches that nature is a force which one must take into account which one must take into account and never take it lightly.and never take it lightly.

Throughout the poem nature can be Throughout the poem nature can be seen to be compared to God.seen to be compared to God.

ThemesThemes

The eternity of nature parallels that The eternity of nature parallels that of the everlasting effect of poetry.of the everlasting effect of poetry.

The poetry and beauty of natureThe poetry and beauty of nature Reward and punishmentReward and punishment

Essay QuestionsEssay Questions

Which parts of Which parts of The Flower Fed Buffaloes The Flower Fed Buffaloes and the Grasshopper and the Cricket and the Grasshopper and the Cricket are are particularly vivid for you in their portrayal of particularly vivid for you in their portrayal of Nature?Nature?

Essay plan: Point, Proof, pertinenceEssay plan: Point, Proof, pertinence