stanzas written in dejection near naples - shelley - COMPLETE

Context - personal

• written in 1818.

• published after his death (published in 1824, Shelley died in 1822)

‘breath of the moist earth is light’

personification. the Earth is alive and carefree, contrasts his depression. ‘earth’ is a broad description, Shelley isolated and empowered by nature.

‘unexpanded buds’

spring, which is associated with new life and happiness. not yet expanded into flowers, hope. could be symbolic of children? daughter’s death, lost custody of his two with Harriet

‘dancing’ ‘delight ‘light’ ‘bright’ ‘warm’

semantic field of joy. Relief + isolation from nature. Establishing joyful tone before the volta

‘the sun is warm’ ‘snowy mountains’

showing the versatility of nature. grouping ‘snowy’ in with ‘warm’ sun, suggests all nature is beneficial.

‘untrampled floor’

the ocean has not suffered physically. Nature contrasts humanity = better than humanity

‘green and purple’

vibrant colours.

‘star-showers’

stars linked to Heaven. Pantheism.

‘i sit upon the sands alone’

volta. isolation.

‘Alas! I habe no hope or health’

volta. reflects Shelley’s own outlook on life after a string of tragedies = losing custody of children with harriet, friends turning against him, mary’s depression and failing marriage, death of daughter Clara, in love with friend Edward William’s wife, financial woes. Poems not being received well. ‘no hope’ = wanted recognition for poems??

‘yet now despair itself is mild’

despite isolation, curative power of nature.

‘blue’ ‘purple’

vibrant colours in nature, although symbolise depression and sadness. personal life intruding on nature??

‘City’s voice itself is soft’

interesting because this challenges other poets’ view on the city, most likely way to exacerbate his loneliness.

‘nor fame, nor power, nor love, nor leisure’

• nature as only comfort due to his personal life

• felt powerless, poems weren’t doing well. frustrated him as he had important things to say

‘tired child’

nature reverting him back to hiss youth

rhyme scheme

ABAB. dullness of his life/monotony.

‘hear the sea breathe o’er my dying brain’

• nature guiding him to death

• ‘dying brain’ = not body. not heart. brain as only valuable part?

‘i am one/ whom men love not’

• gained fame after death.

• poem was posthumous.

‘unlike this day.. will linger’

• nature is forever.