Literary Lantern

  Sonnet – As a literary form   1. Introduction The sonnet is a short lyric poem of 14 lines , written in iambic pentameter . It is one of the most important poetic forms in English and European literature. The word “sonnet” comes from the Italian word sonetto , meaning “a little song.” This form allows the poet to express deep emotion, especially about love, beauty, nature, and time. Though it began in Italy, the sonnet became extremely popular in England, especially during the Elizabethan Age .   2. Origin and History The sonnet form began in 13th-century Italy . Its earliest and most famous practitioner was Francesco Petrarch . He wrote a sequence of love sonnets to his muse, Laura . His form, now called the Petrarchan sonnet , influenced all of Europe. In the 16th century, Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey brought the form to England. They translated and adapted Petrarch’s sonnets into English. Later, William Shakespeare and Edmund Spen...

  Ode Written in 1746 by William Collins   Introduction William Collins was an important poet of the eighteenth century. He belonged to the group known as the “pre-Romantic” poets . His “Ode Written in 1746” is a tribute to those who died in battle. The poem is filled with emotion, patriotism, and sorrow. It reflects both the pain of war and the glory of those who sacrifice their lives. Collins uses rich language and classical style to honour the dead.   1. Historical Background The poem was written after the Battle of Culloden , fought in 1746 in Scotland. This battle ended the Jacobite rising. Many soldiers died in this violent war. Collins, though not directly involved, was moved by the loss of life. His ode expresses sadness and honour for the brave men who died fighting for their cause. It is both a personal and national response to a tragic moment in history.   2. Theme of Heroism and Honour Collins praises the courage of the fallen soldiers....

  Ode to the West Wind by P. B. Shelley Introduction P. B. Shelley was one of the major Romantic poets. “Ode to the West Wind” was written in 1819 and published in 1820. The poem is both a celebration of nature and a personal prayer. Shelley addresses the West Wind as a powerful force of change. He asks the wind to spread his ideas across the world. The poem is filled with energy, emotion, and symbolism. It shows Shelley’s belief in revolution, renewal, and the power of poetry.   1. The West Wind as a Natural Force The West Wind is the central symbol in the poem. Shelley describes it as wild, strong, and invisible. It can destroy and preserve at the same time. He calls it the “breath of Autumn’s being” . It sweeps away dead leaves, carries seeds, and moves clouds across the sky. This shows the West Wind as a symbol of both death and rebirth . Shelley admires its power and wants to become one with it.   2. Structure and Form The poem is written in five can...

  Ode to Autumn by John Keats Introduction John Keats was one of the greatest Romantic poets. His poem “Ode to Autumn” was written in 1819. It is considered one of the finest odes in English literature. The poem celebrates the beauty of the autumn season. Unlike his other odes, this one is calm, mature, and full of acceptance. It shows Keats’s love for nature and his ability to find beauty in simple things. 1. Celebration of the Season Keats presents autumn not as a season of sadness, but as a time of richness and fulfillment. He shows that autumn is full of life, color, and music. The season is not only about falling leaves. It is about ripeness, harvesting, and quiet joy. The poem begins with warm and rich images: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, / Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun.” Autumn is seen as a friend of the sun, helping fruits grow and fields ripen. 2. Richness of Imagery Keats uses powerful imagery to describe the sights and sounds of a...

  Shakespeare -       Matthew Arnold Others abide our question. Thou art free. We ask and ask—Thou smilest and art still, Out-topping knowledge. For the loftiest hill, Who to the stars uncrowns his majesty,   Planting his steadfast footsteps in the sea, Making the heaven of heavens his dwelling-place, Spares but the cloudy border of his base To the foil'd searching of mortality;   And thou, who didst the stars and sunbeams know, Self-school'd, self-scann'd, self-honour'd, self-secure, Didst tread on earth unguess'd at.—Better so!   All pains the immortal spirit must endure, All weakness which impairs, all griefs which bow, Find their sole speech in that victorious brow.   Introduction Matthew Arnold was a major Victorian poet, critic, and thinker. He deeply admired William Shakespeare. In his sonnet titled Shakespeare , Arnold praises the unmatched greatness of the Bard. The poem is a tribute to ...

  On His Blindness -       John Milton When I consider how my light is spent,    Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,    And that one Talent which is death to hide    Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present    My true account, lest he returning chide;    “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”    I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need    Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best    Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed    And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest:    They also serve who only stand and wait.”   Introduction John Milton’s On His Blindness is one of the most moving sonnets in English literat...