WBCHSE HS English Suggestion 2022- 'The Poetry of Earth'(John Keats) | Chapter wise suggestion

1. “The poetry of earth is never dead”. Where does the line occur? What does the poet mean by this?

Or, Why does Keats feel that the poetry of earth is never dead?

Ans.- The line occurs in Keats’ poem, ‘The Poetry of Earth’.

           By ‘the poetry of earth’ Keats means the music of nature. The poet mentions the song of the birds and the voice of the Grasshopper and the Cricket.

           Keats celebrates the poetry of earth.

           By this the poet means that songs and music of nature will never stop. They will go on without any break. Any change in season or weather will not affect this. In summer, the song-birds, being tired in the hot sun, take shelter in cooling shade and stop singing. Even then the song of Nature is heard as the tiny Grasshopper sings merrily while moving about from hedge to hedge in the meadow. Similarly, in the midst of frosty, silent, bleak winter evening, the poetry of earth continues. The shrill cry of the Cricket breaking the silence of the winter evening reminds the drowsy man of the Grasshopper’s delightful song among the grassy hills.

2. ” he has never done/With his delights”-Who is ‘he’? What does he do? What does the extract mean?

Ans.- Here ‘he’ is the Grasshopper.

            In summer, the scorching heat of the sun makes all the song-birds exhausted. They become too tired to sing then. At this hour, the Grasshopper comes forward and sings in joy. He keeps the flow of the song of Nature alive. He expresses immense joy, luxuriating in the gaiety of the season. He becomes the poet of the season. When he becomes tired of singing, he takes rest beneath some pleasant weed only to resume his song with renewed energy.

            The extract shows the tireless effort of the Grasshopper in making Nature vibrant with his songs. His delights never come to an end. As a result, the poetry of earth goes on forever.

3. Write a note on the title of the poem, ‘The Poetry of Earth’.

Or, Justify the title of the poem ‘The Poetry of Earth’.

Or, What is the significance of the title ‘The Poetry of Earth’?

Or, Critically analysis the title ‘The Poetry of Earth’.

Ans.- In the sonnet, ‘The Poetry of Earth, Keats develops the theme that poetry i.e. music in Nature never stops. In summer, when the song-birds are tired with the hot sun, the Grasshopper chirps merrily from hedge to hedge. Undisturbed by the scorching sun, he expresses immense joy and enlivens Nature. Thus, the Grasshopper becomes the poet of summer. Similarly, the Cricket is the poet of winter. Summer and winter represent the wonderful cycle of seasons and insects’ songs show the continuity of the poetry of the earth. Thus, in the poem, Keats reiterates his firm belief that music in Nature never comes to an end even amidst changes of seasons. Hence the title is apt and justified.