John keats

1. John keats

2. Background of John Keats Born in England in 1795 and died of tuberculosis when he was 25 but he had written lots of poetry at that age. During his time his poems were not appreciated by the critics The poem is a clear allusion to the tale of the ant and the grasshopper and is in the Petrarchan form with an octave and a sestet.

3. 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”.

4. 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.

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

6. Stanza 1 • The poetry of earth is never dead: When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead; Stanza 1 establishes the setting for the poem, it’s summer and everything is very much alive. The grasshopper is enjoying himself.

7. Stanza 2 • That is the Grasshopper's-he takes the lead In summer luxury,-he has never done With his delights; for when tired out withfunHe rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed. Part 2 introduces the grasshopper and establishes an easy going mood

8. Stanza 3 • The poetry of earth is ceasing never: On a lone winter evening, when thefrostHas wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills The Cricket's song, in warmth increasing ever, And seems to one in drowsiness half lost, The Grasshopper's among some grassy hills. Nature is shown in its full force

9. Morale • Through the grasshopper and the cricket John Keats shows the repercussions of ones actions • It also teaches that nature is a force which one must take into account and never take it lightly. • Throughout the poem nature can be seen to be compared to God.

10. Themes • The eternity of nature parallels that of the everlasting effect of poetry. • The poetry and beauty of nature • Reward and punishment

11. Essay Questions • Which parts of The Flower Fed Buffaloes and the Grasshopper and the Cricket are particularly vivid for you in their portrayal of Nature? • Essay plan: Point, Proof, pertinence