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.

BackgroundBackground

English romantic poet in the early 1800’sEnglish romantic poet in the early 1800’s Keats wanted the world to see the flaw of Keats wanted the world to see the flaw of

the scientific rationalisation of naturethe scientific rationalisation of nature Struck by tuberculosis like his mother and Struck by tuberculosis like his mother and

died at an early age of 25died at an early age of 25 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 grasshopperthe ant and the grasshopper

Stanza 1Stanza 1

Stanza 1 establishes the setting for the poem

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 hot sun,sun, And hide in And hide in cooling treescooling trees, a voice will run , a voice will run From From hedge to hedgehedge to hedge about the new-mown about the new-mown mead;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 lead-he takes the lead In In summer luxurysummer luxury,-he has never done ,-he has never done With his With his delightsdelights; for when ; for when tired out withtired out with 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 accountwhich one must take into account

Throughout the poem nature can be Throughout the poem nature can be seen to be compared to God and its seen to be compared to God and its actions should not be rationalisedactions should not be rationalised

ThemesThemes

The eternity of natureThe eternity of nature The poetry and beauty of natureThe poetry and beauty of nature Religion and belief into a higher Religion and belief into a higher

powerpower Reward and punishmentReward and punishment The flow of lifeThe flow of life

Essay QuestionsEssay Questions

Comment on the way the author Comment on the way the author empowers natureempowers nature

Explain how the author appeals to Explain how the author appeals to the senses to convey his beliefsthe senses to convey his beliefs

Explain how the author contrasts the Explain how the author contrasts the lives of the cricket and grasshopperlives of the cricket and grasshopper