My Last Duchess by Robert Browning.... Summary & Analysis

 Summary and Analysis

 Summary

My Last Duchess by Robert Browning

The popular poem "My Last Duchess" was composed by Robert Browning. It was first published in 1842 in his Dramatic Lyrics. The poem is a dramatic monologue written in 28 rhyming couplets. It is written in iambic pentameter. A dramatic monologue is a kind of soliloquy in which only one person speaks throughout the poem. The poem is a conversation between the Duke of Ferrara and the ambassador. The only speaker in the poem is Duke of Ferrara. In this poem, Duke is talking to the ambassador who has brought a proposal of marriage to the Duke of Ferrara. Duke tells him about his last duchess who was very kind, virtuous and generous. The narrator of the poem is the Duke of Ferrara. 

Analysis

Stanza--1

In this stanza, the duke is talking to the ambassador who has brought a proposal of marriage for him. The Duke shows him the portrait of his last Duchess. This portrait is painted by Fra Pandolf. He has completed this portrait in a day. In this portrait, Duchess seems to be alive. Fra Pandolf is a very talented painter. The Duke appreciates the painting of his last duchess. When the ambassador sees the portrait, a question comes in his mind but the Duke understands his question before his asking. Because the same question had been asked to the duke by many other visitors.

The Duchess had liveliness on her face and had a shine in her eyes. The duke says that most of the visitors ask him the same question as the ambassador wants to ask after seeing the portrait. He is not the first person to ask this question. The Duke tells him that his last duchess was very kind and innocent. He felt lucky of having such a nice wife but she had also a weakness in his character. She was so generous that she could smile at the least favour done to her. So the duke did not like her such type of behaviour. He was very dictatorial. 

Stanza--2

The duke is talking to the ambassador. He appreciates his last duchess by saying that she was very beautiful. She was so gorgeous that no painter could paint her charming beauty by his art and brush easily. He felt very lucky to have such a beautiful wife but she was so kind that she could be impressed very easily by an ordinary person. Therefore the duke did not like her. She could not keep the difference between the duke and another admirer. She behaved in same manners to both whether it was the duke or another foolish admirer. She responded in the same way after getting gifts from other ordinary persons as she responded to him when he offered him some costly gifts of ornament. She forgot the dignity of a duchess and gave equal smile to all these admirers. Therefore the duke did not like her cheap behaviour. She should have the dignity of a duchess. 

Stanza--3

The Duke further says that he did not like her excessive kindness for ordinary people. It was not good for the honour of a royal family. She could destroy the nine hundred years old honour of his royal family. She was unable to differentiate between the duke and his servants. The duke could not bear such a silly behaviour of his wife. She behaved the same with other ordinary people as she behaved with the duke. He asked her to improve her manners but she was unable to do it. So he decided to put her to death. Because she was intolerant for him. 

Stanza--4

In this stanza, the duke points out that the duchess in the portrait seems to be alive. There is a smile on her face in the portrait but in reality, all her smiles stopped after killing her. The duke further tells the ambassador about his nine hundred years old reputation. He demands dowry in a very cunning manner by saying that a big amount of dowry will suit his reputation. When the duke reaches on the ground floor, he shows him the statue of Neptune(Sea-God) riding a sea horse.

The duke tells him that it is prepared by Claus of Innsbruck. The duke shows him this statue as a symbol of his strict nature. The duke tells him that he is very strict in his nature and will not tolerate the cheap manners of his future wife. He indirectly advises him that his future wife would also meet the same end if she behaves like his last duchess. Thus the poem is rich in the element of human psychology. The language of the poem is coarse and rude. But the style is charming and musical. Overall the poem is one of the best poems of Browning.

                                                                                                                  

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On The Late Massacre in Piedmont by John Milton..summary|analysis

On The Late Massacre in Piedmont by John Milton..summary|analysis

On The Late Massacre in Piedmont by John Milton.

Summary

The sonnet"On The Late Massacre in Piedmont" was composed by John Milton. He was a great English poet. It was written after the massacre of the Vaudois by their ruler, Duke of Savoy.(Savoy is in the south-east of France on the Italian border). Milton wrote this poem to express his anger and sorrow on the killing of innocent people. This incident occurred in April 1655 during the reign of Charles Emmanuel 2, Duke of Savoy. Duke of Savoy forced the Vaudois to accept Roman Catholic religion.

He forced them to leave the country within three days. After three days he ordered to kill them and capture their property. The situation was very bad at that time. Innocent people were murdered and hurled down the hills. Women were killed with their children. After knowing the news of the massacre, Milton planned a very strong protest against it and gave his angry expressions in the sonnet " On The Late Massacre in Piedmont". 

In this poem, the poet prays God to punish the cruel people and their ruler who murdered three hundred innocent people mercilessly. The poet says that those people were true martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their religion. In the end, the poet prays God that thousands of people may grow out of the ashes of these brave martyrs to spread true religion. 

On The Late Massacre in Piedmont---Analysis

Stanza--1

Avenge,---------------forget not.

In this stanza, the poet expresses his anger on the cruel killing of innocent people on the name of religion. According to the poet, the people who were murdered were true saints because they preferred to die in place of giving up their religion. Their bones are spread here and there on a snow-covered Alps mountain. They believed in their religion even when their forefathers were worshipers of idols. The poet again prays God that he should give attention to these people because they were tortured and murdered mercilessly. He should punish those people who took part in killing them. 

Stanza--2

In Thy book----------------------they to heaven.

In this stanza, the poet prays God that he should listen to the cries of children who were killed with their mothers mercilessly. Just because they did not give up their religion. Here Milton appeals to God that he should note down the cries of those people in his book of judgement. The poet further says that the heart touching cries of those murdered people re-echoed in the valleys. The sound also reached to the sky. The poet says that God should hear the sad sound of those people who were thrown from the hills with their children mercilessly. He should never forgive them for their cruel act. 

Stanza--3 

Their martyr'd----------------Babylonian woe.

In this stanza, the poet says that the sacrifices of those people who were killed for their religion would not go in vain. The poet says that the blood of these martyrs sow the seeds of Protestantism. and out of which the Protestant faith will grow and spread everywhere in Italy. The triple tyrant symbolizes her three sides crown wore by the Pope. According to Milton thousands of Protestants will born and spread their religion. Milton also believed in Protestant religion. According to Milton, they will save Babylon from sorrow and sufferings.Thus it is a Italian sonnet. The rhyme scheme is abba, abba, cdc, cdc. The poem expresses the anger of Milton against the killer of innocent people. 

                                                                                                                  

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On His Blindness by John Milton..Summary & Analysis

On His Blindness by Milton..Summary & Analysis

Summary

 On His Blindness by John Milton

The famous poem "On His Blindness" is one of the best poems composed by John Milton. It is in the form of a sonnet written over the loss of his eyesight at the early age of 44. It is also considered his personal sonnet. It was first published in his "1673 Poems". Milton was a thoughtful and hardworking person. He played an important role in the civil war. He was a big supporter of Cromwell. As a poet and supporter of Cromwell, he wrote many pamphlets to educate people. But unfortunately, he lost his eyesight at the early age of 44. Therefore his literary career was almost destroyed. 

The poet was very sad after the loss of his eyesight at an important age. He did not know how to use his poetic talent without his eyesight. Thus the poem "On His Blindness" is a sort of lamentation over the loss of his eyesight at the early age of 44. The poet was shocked when he saw the world in the dark. He was very depressed at the loss of his eyesight. Thus the poem was composed by the poet after the loss of his eyesight. He expresses his feelings at the loss of his eyesight in this poem. The poet wants to use his poetic talent in the service of God but he does not know how to use it.

The poet asks himself if the god need service from human beings but very soon he replies himself that God need not any type of service from human beings. As there are thousands of angels present in his service. The subject matter of the poem is sublime and diction is of high quality. In the first six lines, the poet complains for the injustice of God but in the next five lines he changes his thought and surrenders himself in the service of God. There is no pause at the end of either the first stanza or the eighth line. The rhyme scheme of the poem is abba, abba, cdc, cdc. It has 14 lines. The poem has the seriousness of thought. 

Analysis ----

When I consider--------------------returning chide

Stanza--1

In this stanza, the poet expresses his sorrow over the loss of his eyesight at early age of 44. The poet has deprived of his eyesight before spending half of his life. He blames God for the injustice of God towards him. The poet says that now he can not use his poetic talent properly without his eyesight. He wants to use his poetic talent in the service of God. But God has deprived him of the opportunity of using his poetic gifts properly.

Therefore he is sad. The poet is also sad when he thinks about the dark world. According to the poet if his poetic talent remains unused it would be like spiritual death for him. He can not hide his poetic talent. Thus to save himself from poetic death he is very excited to use his poetic talent in the service of God. He says that he wants to present before God his truthful account of his works but he is not able to perform his duties well without his eyesight.

Stanza--2

Doth God --------------serve Him best.

In this stanza, the poet changes his thought for God. He asks himself if God requires him to work without his eyesight. But at the very moment, his inner voice answers him that God does not want the use of gifts given by him. He only wants faithfulness and obedience from his people. The poet further says that God loves those who carry out his orders and suffer the burden of life without any complaint. They are his best servants.

Stanza--3

Is kingly;----------------only stand and wait

In this stanza, the poet justifies the ways of God. He says that God does not require work from anyone. He is present everywhere. He is the master of this world. Thousands of angels are present at his service every moment. They wait for his command peacefully. His faithful angels listen to his command patiently and move about in heaven and on earth to complete his orders. They always are ready for his command. Therefore God doesn't need any service from human beings.

He is too powerful to do his works. The poet further says that the people who suffer the problems of life peacefully also serve him better and those who stand at his gate for his command patiently and wait for their turn also serve him. They are rewarded by God. Thus the poem has a personal note. The poem has a universal appeal. It has grand style and serious thought. The biblical allusions are used in the poem artistically. The poet expresses his feelings in the poem remarkably.

                                                                                                                  

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Ode on a Grecian Urn...by Keats..Summary&analysis

Ode on a Grecian Urn...by Keats....Summary&analysis

The popular poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" was composed by John Keats in 1819. The poet was very much impressed after seeing the beautiful urn that was belonged to Lord Holland. The beautiful artistic pictures were engraved on it. Thus the poet was very much inspired to compose this poem after seeing the beauty of urn. 

Keats is known as a great lover of Greek art and culture. As a result, the poet composed this beautiful ode on Grecian Urn. He calls the Grecian urn bride who is pure still. It is a symbol of quietness. There are many pictures of Greek culture and art engraved on it. There are young lovers who are following their beloved in the pictures. There is a picture of a boy who is playing the flute under the tree. A singer is also singing his sweet song under the tree.

The poet believes that the leaves of the tree where the singer is singing will never shed their leaves. Because they will always enjoy his songs. The is also a picture of a large number of people engraved on it. Those people are going to attend a religious ceremony. Therefore their village will be empty forever because they will never return to their village. Thus the poet is very much impressed to see the beautiful pictures of men, women, leaves trees and musician engraved on the Grecian Urn. 

Ode on a Grecian Urn...analysis 

Stanza--1

In the first stanza, the poet says that the Grecian Urn is as quiet as-pure bride. It is kept in one place for a number of years. It seems to the poet like a foster child of silence and time. It is standing very quietly at one place for many places. And time has passed so slowly that it can not destroy the beauty of Grecian Urn. 

It seems o the poet like a historian who tells the story of the past through his pictures engraved on it. In fact, it tells the stories of Greek life. The poet is very excited to know about the art of Grecian Urn whether it is related to the valley of Arcady or Tempe. He also wants to know about the pictures carved on it whether it is of ordinary people or Gods. He also wants to know about the lovers who are pursuing their beloved. 

Stanza--2

In the second stanza, the poet expresses his feelings about music. He says that the music we hear by our ears is very sweet but the music which we hear through our imagination is sweeter and stable. Our soul is also connected with it strongly. The poet further asks the magician carved on the Grecian Urn that they should continue their music.

Thus the poet feels silent joy by their silent sweet music. The poet says that the boy who plays the flute under a tree will never stop to play his flute and the tree will never shed its leaves. The lover who tries to kiss his beloved will try always to kiss her. Thus he will always love her. 

Stanza--3

In this stanza, the poet expresses his thought on the stability and permanence of ancient art and culture. He says that the trees carved on the urn will enjoy always the spring because they will never shed their leaves. The singer will never stop his singing and his song will always be melodious and fresh. And the love of lover towards his beloved will never change with time. 

Stanza--4

In this stanza, the poet describes another picture carved on the Urn. It is a picture of a number of people who are going to make the sacrifice of a calf on some green alter. A priest is also going to lead them. The soft sides of the calf are decorated with flowers. The poet says that the town or village of those people will be empty forever. 

There will be no one to tell the reason of emptiness of the village because nobody will come back. The poet wants to know about the town out of which the people have come. The poet is very curious to know whether the town is situated by a river or on the sea-shore, or it is built on a hilltop with a fort in its midst. According to the poet, art has made the life of those people immortal. 

Stanza--5

In the last stanza, the poet says that there are pictures of forest trees, trodden weeds, men and women carved on it. It is a beautiful piece of Greek art. according to the poet, the silent shape of the urn confuses our minds deeply. We are unable to understand the feelings expressed in the pictures of urn completely. We can not understand the real nature of eternity. 

Now Keats calls the urn 'Cold Patoral'. It means that the poet wants to say that it is not a living thing. It is a piece of marble with rural scenes carved on it beautifully. According to the poet it will live in the midst of future generations and try to give them a message that beauty and truth are the same things. To understand this thought is enough for them to relief from their pain and suffering.  

                                                                                                                  

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Ode to Autumn|Summary|Keats

Ode to Autumn by John Keats...Summary

Ode to Autumn by keats

The poem"Ode to Autumn" was composed by the famous poet John Keats in 1819. The poet describes the beauty of the Autumn season in this ode. The main theme of this ode is fulfilment. The poet describes autumn as a harvester, as a tired reaper, as a gleaner and as a cider- presser. 

Ode to Autumn by John Keats...Summary

Stanza--1

According to the poet, Autumn is a season of fulfilment. It is a season of ripening the fruits. There are trees covered with ripe fruits. These trees are bent with the weight of fruits. Poet is looking apple trees in the garden near the cottage which is covered with moss. The trees have ripened fruits. It is a season for blooming colourful flowers. The bees are very happy this season. The bees taste sweet juice of the flowers. Their honeycombs are filled with enough honey.

It seems to the poet that the sun is helping autumn in ripening the fruits. Keats is a lover of nature. he expresses his keen observation of nature in the poem effectively. The vine creepers are also very happy with the loaded bunches of grapes. Thus the poet expresses the importance of the autumn season beautifully. There is everywhere the feelings of fulfilment and maturity in the autumn season. Green trees with ripe fruits are looking everywhere. 

Stanza--2

In the second stanza, the poet represents the autumn season in many forms on the fields. He personifies autumn as a harvester, a reaper. a gleaner and in the last a cider- presser. At first, the poet personifies Autumn as a harvester who is sitting near her crop. Her soft hair is flowing in the moving air. after it, he represents autumn as a crop reaper who is sleeping near his half reaped crop and after it, the poet represents autumn as a gleaner who is going to home fruits which she has gathered in a day. 

She is an expert in crossing the river without losing her balance. At last the poet describes autumn as a cider-press. Thus the poet describes autumn in various forms of persons. Thus Keats is successful to give autumn a great personality. The works of the autumn in every form are very important. 

Stanza--3

After describing the various occupations of the autumn season the poet describes the various sounds of autumn. The poet says that the autumn does not have sweet music like spring season. Therefore the poet is sad. He does not hear the sweet song in the autumn season. But after some time he becomes normal as every season has its own beauty and music. according to the poet, autumn has its own beauty and music. the poet hears the sounds of autumn in the evening at the time of sun setting. a beautiful shine looks on the field of reaped crop leaving the stumps behind. 

The clouds seem to the poet like the bars of a stove. And the sad sound of insects makes their own music. These insects are flying near the riverside among the shrub. the poet also hears the bleating sound of lambs near the hills. The chirping of the swallows also can be heard in the autumn season. Now Keats is happy after hearing the different sounds of different birds and insects in the autumn. Thus the poet is happy to see the beauty of the glorious music of the autumn season.

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Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats...Summary and analysis

Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats...Summary and analysis

Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats

Summary

The popular poem"Ode to a Nightingale" was composed by John Keats. It was written when Keats was at Wentworth palace, Hempstead with his friend Charles Brown. He got inspiration to compose this poem from a bird nightingale which had built its nest near the house of the poet. One day Keats went to the garden and sit there for some time. There he heard the melodious song of a nightingale. He felt an extreme joy to hear her sing. Then he composed the poem sitting under a plum tree hearing the song of the nightingale. Thus the poet expresses the feelings of joy while hearing the song of the nightingale. 

This poem was first published in "Annals of the Fine Arts". It is a poem of 80 lines. It has eight stanzas. The poem is rich in sensuous imagination. The diction of the poem is sublime and sweet. The poet is famous for his picturesqueness. He is an expert in composing poetical pictorial poetry. He is also famous for his use of Hellenism in his poetry. The poem is an excellent example of romantic poetry.

The poem"Ode to a Nightingale" describes the beauty of the song of the nightingale. Nightingale's song represents a world of perfect beauty and extreme joy. According to Keats, the world of the nightingale is an ideal and perfect world. He wants to reach there with the help of wine. After it, he wants to reach there through his poetic imagination as he is a poet. He wishes to drink the water of the river of forgetfulness to reach in the world of Nightingale after forgetting his actual or real world. He is very happy to see the happiness of the nightingale. 

Ode to a Nightingale...analysis stanza wise

Stanza--1

In the first stanza, the poet hears the song of the nightingale. After hearing the song, he feels the pain in his heart not because of any sorrow but it is by the excess of joy. The poet is not jealous of the happiness of the nightingale. He also wants to reach in the world of the nightingale with the help of wine or opium drug or the water of the river of forgetfulness where the bird is singing with full throat.  

Stanza--2

In the second stanza, the poet wants to drink wine that has been kept for a long time under the earth. The poet believes that wine will inspire the poet in the same way as the water of Hippocrene inspired the people who drank it. After it, the poet compares the wine cup with the blushes of the girl.

Stanza--3

In the third stanza, the poet again wants to go away from his real world of pain and misery. He wants to forget the real world and its pain and wants to live in a world of imagination.

Stanza--4

Here, the poet wants to reach in the world of the nightingale. But now he leaves the thought of drinking wine. Instead of it, he wants to fly with wings of poetry. The world of nightingale seems to the poet very beautiful. The moon is looking beautiful surrounded by the shining stars.

Stanza--5

Here, the poet says that he can not see flowers properly due to darkness but he can smell the sweet fragrance of the flowers of the May. He can also recognize flowers by its smell. The poet also recognizes musk rose by its smell. Musk rose is the favorite flower for the honey bees. 

Stanza--6

Here, the poet thinks about death while hearing the song of the nightingale in the darkness. He says that he hates the world of pain. He wants to die but his death will not be painful for him because the nightingale sings a melodious song for him. It will be a mourning song on his death. The poet wants to die hearing the sweet song of the nightingale. 

Stanza--7

According to the poet, the nightingale is an immortal bird. She was not born to die. The selfish and greedy people can not destroy her generation. The poet further says that the kings and farmers also heard the sweet song of the nightingale. He thinks that Ruth also must have heard this song when he felt alone in the cornfield of a foreign country. He believes that the song also must have its effect upon the windows of a castle in the isolate seashore.

Stanza--8

In the last stanza, the poet comes back to the real world from his world of imagination. He feels himself alone in the world again. Keats bids farewell to the nightingale's song and comes back to face the realities of life. The nightingale flies away from the sight of the poet. Thus the voice of the bird becomes inaudible for the poet. The last stanza of the poem is full of sadness because the poet's illusion has broken and he has to come back to his real consciousness and the real world. Thus we can not live forever in the world of imagination. We have to come back to our real world.

                                                                                                                  

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