Analysis of Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats
Ode on a Grecian Urn – Keats
Voice
The third stanza is in second voice, because the poet talks to somebody: the trees, the melodist/musician, and the lover (“Ah, happy, happy boughs!”, “Ah, happy, happy melodist”, “More, happy love!”). He is addressing the various elements on the urn and praising them and its beauty. The fourth stanza is also in second voice, as he refers to the priest (“O, mysterious priest”) and the town (“And, little town, thy streets for evermore…”).
Mood
The mood is one of admiration
Read MoreRomantic Poets: Blake, Wordsworth, and Byron
Romantic Poets
William Blake
Early Life and Education: William Blake was born in Soho, London, where he spent most of his life. He received his early education at home from his mother. From a young age, Blake experienced visions of angels and ghostly monks, claiming to have seen and conversed with the angel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary, and various historical figures. At the age of 14, he began a seven-year apprenticeship with the engraver James Basire. Following studies at the Royal Academy School, Blake
Read More17th and 18th Century English Writers
Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
Born in London on May 21, 1688, to Catholic parents, Alexander Pope’s early life was shaped by anti-Catholic sentiment. His family relocated outside London due to a statute restricting Catholic residency. Pope’s education began in clandestine Catholic schools and continued under Thomas Deane. After moving to Binfield, he became self-taught. Around age twelve, he developed a bone disease, possibly tuberculosis. Introduced to London’s literary circles by William Wycherley,
Read MoreAnalysis of London and A Poison Tree by William Blake
London by William Blake
Summary
The speaker wanders through London’s streets, observing despair in the faces and fear and repression in the voices of the people he encounters. The chimney-sweeper’s cry criticizes the Church, and a soldier’s blood stains the monarch’s residence. Even nighttime offers no solace, as the curses of prostitutes corrupt newborns and taint marriage.
Metrics
“London” follows an ABAB rhyme scheme in its four stanzas, mainly adhering to iambic tetrameter.
Themes
The poem suggests
Read MoreAnalysis of William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper”
“The Chimney Sweeper” by William Blake: A Critical Analysis
Summary
“The Chimney Sweeper” tells the story of a young boy sold into the chimney-sweeping trade after his mother’s death. He describes the experience of Tom Dacre, another sweep who cries when his hair is shaved to prevent infestation. The speaker consoles Tom, who then dreams of chimney sweepers trapped in black coffins. An angel arrives, unlocks the coffins, and sets the children free. They run through a green field, wash in a river,
Read MoreStandard Language, Dialects, and Language Planning
Chapter 18: Standard Language
What is Standard Language?
We focused on the features of one language variety, typically called the standard language. This is an idealized variety, but most people consider it the official language of their community or country.
Dialect Surveys and Norms
One disadvantage of using norms (e.g., “non-mobile, older, rural, male speakers”) in dialect surveys is that the description might reflect a period well before the investigation, not contemporary usage.
Dialect Boundaries
When
Discourse Analysis: Cohesion, Coherence, and Conversation
Discourse Analysis
The word discourse is usually defined as language beyond the sentence, and the analysis of discourse is typically concerned with the study of language in text and conversation.
Interpreting Discourse
When we concentrate on the description of a particular language, we are normally concerned with the accurate representation of the forms and structures of that language. However, when we look at language in use, we are necessarily dealing with what is called cohesion.
Cohesion
Texts must
Read MoreThe Picture of Dorian Gray: A Summary
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Chapter 1-2
Lord Henry visits Basil Hallward’s house, where Basil is painting a portrait. Lord Henry admires the portrait’s beauty, suggesting it be displayed in an art gallery. Basil demurs, stating the painting holds a part of his soul. He reveals the subject is Dorian Gray, a young man with whom Basil is infatuated but uncertain of his feelings. Lord Henry desires an introduction to Dorian, but Basil hesitates. The servant announces Dorian’s arrival.
Chapter 3
Lord Henry,
Read MoreOliver Twist: Chapters 1-7 Summary and Analysis
Oliver Twist: Chapter 1 Summary
Oliver Twist is born a sickly infant in a workhouse. The parish surgeon and a drunken nurse attend his birth. His mother kisses his forehead and dies, and the nurse announces that Oliver’s mother was found lying in the streets the night before. The surgeon notices that she is not wearing a wedding ring.
Oliver Twist: Chapter 2 Summary
Authorities at the workhouse send Oliver to a branch-workhouse for “juvenile offenders against the poor-laws.” The overseer, Mrs.
Read MoreFinancial Statement Analysis and Valuation Methods
Analyzing Financial Statements
Income Statement and Balance Sheet
The income statement reports values over a timeframe, while the balance sheet reflects a specific date.
Leverage
Unlevered: All equity, no debt.
Levered: Part equity and part debt. Leverage increases risk to stockholders, so managers should deliver higher returns.
Key Financial Metrics
EPS: Net Income / Number of Shares Outstanding
ROE: EPS / Book Value of Equity per share
ROE Decomposition: (Net Income / Sales) x (Sales / Assets) x (Assets