Specific poems

Christabel – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Gothic narrative poem about Christabel encountering mysterious Geraldine. Themes: innocence versus corruption, ambiguous sexuality, supernatural evil. Famous imagery: serpent mark on Geraldine’s side.

Written at the Close of Spring – Charlotte Smith

Reflects on the passing of spring and the transience of beauty and joy. Themes: nature’s cycles, melancholy, nostalgia. Imagery: fading flowers, 'the garlands fade.'

To a Mouse – Robert Burns

Speaker apologizes to a mouse whose nest he destroyed. Themes: man’s domination over nature, fate’s unpredictability. Key line: 'The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men / Gang aft agley.' Uses Scots dialect.

Ode on a Grecian Urn – John Keats

Speaker reflects on frozen scenes on an urn. Themes: permanence of art versus transience of life, idealized beauty. Key lines: 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty'; 'Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.' Uses apostrophe.