Literary Forms: Their Origin and Development
What is Poetry?
Poetry is a literary form that expresses ideas, emotions, or tells a story in a specific form,
usually using verse and meter. It often features:
● Poems/Verse: Structured writing divided into lines and stanzas.
● Stanza: A grouped set of lines in a poem.
● Metre: The rhythmic structure of a verse, based on stressed and unstressed syllables.
● Rhyme: The repetition of similar sounds in poetry, often at the end of lines.
● Rhythm: The beat or flow of a poem, created by syllables and punctuation.
Key Poets and Their Works
1. William Shakespeare
● "All the world’s a stage" (from As You Like It):
A metaphorical monologue comparing life to a theatrical play, divided into seven stages
of human life.
2. John Milton
● "On His Blindness":
A deeply spiritual sonnet reflecting Milton's internal struggle with losing his eyesight and
his purpose in serving God.
3. William Wordsworth
● "The World Is Too Much With Us":
Critiques materialism and the loss of connection with nature.
● "The Daffodils":
Celebrates the beauty of nature and its lasting impression on the human soul.
● "To Milton":
A tribute to John Milton, mourning the absence of great poets and moral leaders.
● "The Solitary Reaper":
Describes a highland girl singing while reaping, highlighting nature, solitude, and
mysterious beauty.
4. P.B. Shelley
● "Ode to the West Wind":
A passionate plea for inspiration and change, using the wind as a symbol of power and
transformation.
● "Stanza Written in Dejection":
A melancholic reflection on personal sorrow and hopelessness, written while Shelley
was in Naples.
5. John Keats
● "On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer":
Celebrates the awe of literary discovery and the emotional impact of classical works.
● "La Belle Dame sans Merci":
A narrative ballad portraying a knight seduced and abandoned by a mysterious fairy-like
woman.
● "Ode to Autumn":
A lyrical celebration of the season's richness, tranquility, and impending decline.
6. Alfred Lord Tennyson
● "Break, Break, Break":
A lament for lost friendship, expressing grief against the indifferent backdrop of nature.
● "Ulysses":
A dramatic monologue about restlessness and the desire for continued exploration,
even in old age.
7. Oliver Goldsmith
● "The Deserted Village":
Critiques rural depopulation and the impact of industrial progress on traditional village
life.
8. Robert Browning
● "The Patriot":
A dramatic monologue showing the fall from glory to disgrace, reflecting political and
social injustice.
● "My Last Duchess":
A chilling monologue by a Duke who reveals his controlling nature and implied guilt in
his wife's death.
9. T.S. Eliot
● "The Hollow Men":
A modernist poem about spiritual emptiness, disillusionment, and the paralysis of
modern man.
● "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock":
A stream-of-consciousness monologue revealing Prufrock’s insecurities, indecisiveness,
and fear of social rejection.
Short Question
1. Why Shakespeare called the world "A Stage"?
Shakespeare uses the metaphor "All the world's a stage" to compare life to a play. He describes
seven stages of a man's life—from infancy to old age—suggesting that humans are merely
actors who play roles and eventually exit, symbolizing death. This shows the transience of life
and the predictability of human experience.
2. Explain sensuousness in John Keats’ poetry.
Keats’s poetry is rich in sensuous imagery, appealing to the five senses (sight, sound, smell,
taste, touch). He paints vivid pictures through language. In poems like "Ode to a Nightingale"
and "Ode to Autumn", he describes nature, sounds, and emotions with depth, making readers
"feel" the scene.
3. Define Subjective Poetry?
Subjective poetry expresses the poet’s personal feelings, emotions, and inner experiences. It is
often lyrical and focuses on the individual's mood, thoughts, or reaction to external events.
Poets like Wordsworth and Shelley are known for writing subjective poetry.
4. What was the message of Ulysses to his mariners?
Ulysses tells his mariners that although they are old, they still have the spirit to explore. He
urges them to continue seeking knowledge and adventure:
> "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
He promotes heroism, determination, and purposeful living, even in old age.
5. Why the Patriot looks pale in Keats’ poem?
In "The Patriot", the pale look symbolizes disillusionment and betrayal. A once-celebrated hero
now faces execution. The poem reflects how public opinion can shift drastically, turning a hero
into a criminal.
6. Define Pantheism in William Wordsworth’s work.
Pantheism is the belief that God exists in all aspects of nature. Wordsworth often presents
nature as a divine force. In poems like "Tintern Abbey", he shows a spiritual connection with
nature, treating it as a moral and spiritual guide.
7. Briefly explain “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind” by Shelley.
This is the final line of "Ode to the West Wind" by Shelley. It expresses hope and renewal,
implying that after hard times (winter), better times (spring) will surely follow. It reflects optimism
and belief in change and rebirth.
1. What is the theme of “All the World’s a Stage” by Shakespeare?
It presents life as a play with seven stages of human development, from birth to death. Each
stage shows a person playing a role, emphasizing the temporary nature of life.
2. What is the central idea of Milton’s “On His Blindness”?
Milton accepts his blindness and understands that serving God doesn’t always require active
work; patience and faith are also ways to serve.
3. How does Wordsworth describe nature in “The Daffodils”?
Wordsworth shows nature as a source of joy and inspiration. The daffodils dancing in the breeze
give him peace and become a happy memory.
4. What message does “The Solitary Reaper” convey?
It highlights the beauty of simple rural life and the emotional power of music. The girl’s song
touches the poet deeply, even though he doesn’t understand the language.
5. What does Shelley express in “Ode to the West Wind”?
He sees the wind as a force of destruction and renewal. Shelley asks it to spread his ideas and
inspire change in the world.
6. What mood is reflected in “Stanza Written in Dejection” by Shelley?
The poem reflects melancholy, isolation, and despair. Shelley feels emotionally distant from the
beauty of nature and questions his place in the world
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7. Why is “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” by Keats considered a tragic ballad?
It tells the story of a knight enchanted and abandoned by a mysterious woman, showing themes
of love, loss, and supernatural mystery.
8. What does Tennyson’s “Ulysses” reveal about the human spirit?
It shows a desire for adventure and purpose, even in old age. Ulysses wants to keep exploring
rather than settling into a boring life.
9. What is the message of Goldsmith’s “The Deserted Village”?
The poem criticizes materialism and urban greed, showing how villages are destroyed and
people suffer due to economic corruption.
10. How does Browning present character in “My Last Duchess”?
Through the Duke’s speech, Browning reveals his pride, jealousy, and controlling nature,
suggesting he may have caused the Duchess’s death.
Long Question
Q3.1: Write a note on William Wordsworth as a poet of Nature. (10 marks)
Answer:
William Wordsworth is regarded as the greatest nature poet in English literature. He believed
that nature is a living, spiritual force that teaches us wisdom, morality, and emotional healing.
Unlike other poets who used nature only as a background, Wordsworth made it the central
subject of his poetry.
In poems like “The Daffodils” and “The Solitary Reaper”, he shows how natural scenes can
bring inner peace and joy. Nature is not just beautiful for him—it’s a teacher, guide, and
moral force. He also connects nature to memory and childhood, especially in “Tintern
Abbey”, where he reflects on past experiences with nature.
Wordsworth’s nature poetry emphasizes:
● Simplicity of language
● Emotional depth
● Spiritual connection with nature
Thus, he is rightly called the “high priest of nature” and a pioneer of the Romantic Movement.
Q3.2: Explain with reference to his poems that John Keats was a pure poet.
(10 marks)
Answer:
John Keats is often called a “pure poet” because he focused on beauty, imagination, and
emotions, avoiding political or social issues. His poetry is filled with sensuous imagery,
musical language, and timeless beauty.
In “Ode to a Nightingale”, he wants to escape the harshness of reality by flying with the bird into
an eternal, beautiful world. In “Ode on a Grecian Urn”, he admires the frozen images of beauty
and believes that “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” Even in “La Belle Dame Sans Merci”, beauty
is mixed with sorrow and mystery.
Keats believed that a poet should have “negative capability”—the ability to remain in
uncertainty and mystery without trying to resolve it. This shows his dedication to aesthetic and
emotional experience, not intellectual arguments.
His style includes:
● Rich imagery
● Romantic ideals
● Focus on beauty and art
Keats remains the perfect example of a poet who wrote for art’s sake, not for message or
politics.
Q3.3: Write a detailed note that Alfred Lord Tennyson represents his age
with special reference to his poem “Ulysses”. (10 marks)
Answer:
Alfred Lord Tennyson is called the representative poet of the Victorian Age. His poem
“Ulysses” reflects the spirit, conflicts, and values of that era: struggle, progress, and faith in
human will.
In “Ulysses”, the old hero refuses to retire quietly. Instead, he desires new adventures, saying:
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
This line captures the Victorian ideals of courage, ambition, and perseverance.
The poem also shows:
● Tension between action and duty
● Longing for knowledge and greatness
● Loneliness of leadership
Ulysses symbolizes the Victorian individual who wants to go beyond limits and make life
meaningful. Like the people of that time, he wants to conquer time, old age, and fate.
Thus, through “Ulysses”, Tennyson becomes the voice of his age, combining classical heroism
with modern hope and doubt.
Q3.4: Critically evaluate P.B. Shelley’s poem “Ode to the West Wind”. (10
marks)
Answer:
“Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s finest poems, showing his revolutionary spirit and
poetic genius. The West Wind is presented as a mighty force of nature—both destroyer and
preserver.
The poem is divided into five parts, each showing the power of the wind over sky, earth, and
sea. Shelley uses vivid imagery like “leaves dead... ghosts from an enchanter fleeing” to
show decay. Yet, the wind also scatters seeds, symbolizing hope and rebirth.
In the final section, Shelley identifies himself with the wind:
“Make me thy lyre... Be through my lips to unawakened Earth.”
He wishes his poetry to awaken society like the wind awakens nature.
Themes in the poem:
● Political and personal change
● Nature as a revolutionary force
● Hope for renewal
Shelley’s language is passionate, filled with rhythm, metaphors, and apostrophe. The famous
ending line:
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”
gives a universal message of hope after hardship.
✅ Q1. Discuss the poetic philosophy of William
Wordsworth with reference to any two of his poems.
(E.g., “The Daffodils” and “The Solitary Reaper”)
Answer:
William Wordsworth is known as the “poet of nature” and a pioneer of Romantic poetry. His
poetic philosophy is based on simplicity, emotional truth, and a deep connection with
nature. He believed that nature is a spiritual teacher and a source of moral and emotional
strength.
In “The Daffodils”, he sees a field of daffodils dancing in the breeze. This simple natural sight
brings him joy and peace, and remains in his memory. He writes:
“They flash upon that inward eye / Which is the bliss of solitude.”
In “The Solitary Reaper”, he is deeply moved by a village girl singing alone in the fields. He does
not understand the words, but the emotional impact of the song is strong. The poem shows
that beauty and emotion can be found in everyday rural life.
Wordsworth believed poetry should be written in “the real language of men” and that strong
feelings come from deep reflection. His work focuses on:
● Human emotions
● Rural simplicity
● Spirituality of nature
Thus, Wordsworth’s poetry encourages readers to find beauty, truth, and peace in nature and
ordinary life.
✅ Q2. Critically examine John Milton’s religious and
personal conflict in the poem “On His Blindness”.
Answer:
John Milton’s “On His Blindness” is a deeply personal sonnet written after he became blind. The
poem reflects his inner conflict between his religious duty and personal suffering.
At first, Milton questions God:
“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
He feels frustrated and useless because he can no longer write poetry to serve God.
However, as the poem progresses, he realizes that God does not demand physical work, but
values faith, obedience, and patience. The turning point comes with the lines:
“They also serve who only stand and wait.”
The poem reflects two key ideas:
1. Spiritual submission – accepting God's will.
2. Mature faith – understanding service beyond physical action.
Milton’s poem uses religious imagery, rhetorical questions, and a classical sonnet structure
to show his growth from doubt to spiritual wisdom. It is both a personal and universal poem
about suffering, purpose, and faith.
✅ Q3. Compare and contrast the treatment of nature in
the poetry of Shelley and Wordsworth.
Answer:
Both Wordsworth and Shelley are Romantic poets, but their views on nature are very different.
Wordsworth sees nature as a gentle teacher and moral guide. In poems like “The Daffodils”
and “The Solitary Reaper”, nature brings joy, peace, and deep emotional connection. He writes
in a calm, reflective tone.
Shelley, on the other hand, sees nature as a wild, powerful, and revolutionary force. In “Ode
to the West Wind”, the wind is both a destroyer and preserver. Shelley sees nature as
something that can inspire social and personal transformation.
Comparison:
● Wordsworth: calm, spiritual, healing
● Shelley: energetic, revolutionary, emotional
Wordsworth is meditative; Shelley is passionate. Yet both believed nature connects deeply with
the human soul and imagination.
✅ Q4. Evaluate the romantic elements in John Keats’
poetry with reference to “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” and
“Ode to Autumn”.
Answer:
John Keats is a pure Romantic poet who focused on beauty, imagination, and emotion.
In “La Belle Dame Sans Merci”, romantic elements include:
● Love and mystery
● Supernatural themes
● Sorrow and imagination
The knight is enchanted by a beautiful woman who leaves him heartbroken. The poem
is filled with dreamy, magical imagery and explores love, illusion, and suffering.
In “Ode to Autumn”, Keats celebrates the beauty of the natural world. He uses rich, sensory
images to show the ripeness, color, and warmth of autumn. Romantic elements include:
● Glorification of nature
● Emotional richness
● Celebration of the moment
Keats avoids politics or logic. His focus is on the artistic and emotional power of poetry.
✅ Q5. How does T.S. Eliot portray spiritual emptiness
and modern despair in “The Hollow Men”?
Answer:
In “The Hollow Men”, T.S. Eliot presents a world of spiritual emptiness, confusion, and
despair. The “hollow men” are lifeless, purposeless people who have lost their faith, identity,
and courage.
Key themes:
● Loss of faith and values
● Fear of action and change
● Spiritual paralysis
The poem uses broken language, repetition, and haunting imagery to show a world that is
disconnected from truth and meaning. Lines like:
“This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper.”
reflect the hopelessness of modern man.
Eliot blends modernist style with biblical references and fragmented structure to reflect the
chaotic inner world of modern society. The poem is a powerful expression of post-WWI
disillusionment.
Excellent! Below are the remaining long answers (Q6–Q10), written in the same toper-level,
exam-ready style. These are fully aligned with your uploaded BS English 4th Semester
Poetry course content from Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan.
✅ Q6. Explain how Robert Browning uses the dramatic
monologue in “My Last Duchess” to reveal character.
Answer:
Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” is a classic example of a dramatic monologue where
the speaker unknowingly reveals his personality through his speech. The Duke is talking to a
messenger about a painting of his late wife, but in doing so, he exposes his pride, jealousy,
and controlling nature.
The Duke criticizes the Duchess for being too friendly and easily pleased, saying:
“She had / A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad.”
Through his calm but possessive tone, we realize he could not tolerate her independent spirit.
The most chilling line is:
“I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together.”
This suggests he may have ordered her death. Browning uses this monologue to show how
speech can betray true character. The Duke thinks he is presenting himself well, but the
audience sees his cold and tyrannical mind.
Key features:
● Single speaker
● No interruption
● Psychological insight
This poem is a masterpiece of indirect characterization using dramatic monologue.
✅ Q7. Analyze the theme of nostalgia and moral decay in
Goldsmith’s “The Deserted Village”.
Answer:
In “The Deserted Village”, Oliver Goldsmith expresses nostalgia for rural life and criticizes the
moral decay caused by greed and industrialization. The poem mourns the loss of a
once-thriving village named Auburn.
Goldsmith describes Auburn as:
“The loveliest village of the plain.”
But now it lies deserted. The rich have displaced the poor, and simple village life has been
destroyed by selfish landlords and materialism.
Themes:
● Loss of innocence
● Corruption of wealth
● Suffering of the poor
Goldsmith praises the values of honesty, community, and hard work, and warns that society
is declining morally as people chase luxury. His tone is emotional and filled with poetic sorrow.
The poem is both a personal memory and a public warning, combining nostalgia with social
critique.
✅ Q8. Describe the journey of human life as depicted in
Shakespeare’s poem “All the World’s a Stage”.
Answer:
In “All the World’s a Stage”, William Shakespeare compares life to a stage, and people to
actors who play different roles. The poem outlines seven stages of a man’s life, from birth to
death.
The stages are:
1. Infant
2. Schoolboy
3. Lover
4. Soldier
5. Judge
6. Old man
7. Second childishness (death)
Each stage reflects human weakness and change. For example, the soldier is brave but full of
ambition, while the judge is wise but proud. Finally, in old age, man returns to a helpless state:
“Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”
The poem explores the temporary and cyclical nature of life. Shakespeare’s tone is
philosophical, suggesting that all our roles are pre-written, and that death is the final
curtain.
This poem is a reminder of life’s impermanence, delivered with artistic elegance.
