Методическая разработка на английском языке THE ROMANTIC PERIOD: SELECTED POEMS

THE ROMANTIC PERIOD: SELECTED POEMSLITERARY FOCUS: TERMS
The related terms “Romantic,” “Romance,” and “Romanticism” are often used very loosely, and need some definition. First, the terms are used with a capital letter, to distinguish them from “romance” and “romantic,” terms that are usually applied to love stories or erotically heightened situations. Although Romances often contain a love interest that is not what defines them. Likewise, Romantic poets deal with the whole gamut of human experience, not just love affairs or the experience of being in love ( https://www.enotes.com/topics/romantic-poets).
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
TRANSLATION (from “Preface to Lyrical Ballads")
“The objects of the Poet’s thoughts are everywhere; though the eyes and senses of man are, it is true, his favorite guides, yet he will follow wheresoever he can find an atmosphere of sensation in which to move his wings. Poetry is the first and last of all knowledge—it is as immortal as the heart of man.”
DISCUSSION
Read “The Daffodils” by W. Wordsworth. Have a short discussion.
What is the author trying to tell his audience?
Hidden message?
Can you find in the poem feelings and themes of loneliness, the beauty of nature, man’s response to nature, the power of imagination?
Is there anything that is difficult to understand?
The Daffodils
I wandered lonely as a cloudThat floats on high o'er vales and hills,When all at once I saw a crowd,A host, of golden daffodils,Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.Continuous as the stars that shineAnd twinkle on the milky way,They stretched in never-ending lineAlong the margin of a bay:Ten thousand saw I at a glanceTossing their heads in sprightly dance.The waves beside them danced, but theyOut-did the sparkling waves in glee:A Poet could not be but gayIn such a jocund company!I gazed - and gazed - but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lieIn vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils.
CREATIVE WRITING
On the day that William Wordsworth saw the daffodils, his sister, Dorothy, was with him and later on wrote about the experience in her diary. Read it. Then write about the main differences between the poem and the diary. What, in particular, has Wordsworth changed and added? Which text do you prefer? Why?
Thursday April 15th, 1802When we were in the woods beyond Gowbarrow Park we saw a few daffodils close to the waterside. We fancied that the lake had floated the seeds ashore, and that the little colony had so sprung up. But as we went along there were more and more; and at last, under the boughs of the trees, we saw that there was a long belt of them along the shore, about the breadth of a country turnpike road. I never saw daffodils so beautiful. They grew among the mossy stones as on a pillow for weariness; and the rest tossed and reeled and danced, and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind that blew upon them over the lake; they looked so gay, ever glancing, ever changing.
GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON
Byron wrote this poem in Venice. It is based on the refrain of a Scottish song. Carnival season had just passed and the twenty-nine-year old poet found himself in a period of reflection.
I. Read the poem and answer the questions:
Which line sums up the poem for you?
Do you agree that a poem seems to be a kind of “farewell to love”, recognition of the passing of time, the end of roving, or adventuring, and the relationships implied?
So we'll go no more a- roving
So we'll go no more a- roving So late into the night,Though the heart be still as loving,And the moon be still as bright.For the sword outwears its sheath,And the soul wears out the breast,And the heart must pause to breathe,And Love itself have rest.Though the night was made for loving,And the day returns too soon,Yet we'll go no more a- rovingBy the light of the moon.
II. Read the poem “My Soul is Dark” and in prose describe the content of it.
My Soul is Dark
My soul is dark - Oh! quickly string The harp I yet can brook to hear; And let thy gentle fingers fling Its melting murmurs o'er mine ear. If in this heart a hope be dear, That sound shall charm it forth again: If in these eyes there lurk a tear, Twill flow, and cease to burn my brain.
But bid the strain be wild and deep, Nor let thy notes of joy be first: I tell thee, minstrel, I must weep, Or else this heavy heart will burst; For it hath been by sorrow nursed, And ached in sleepless silence, long; And now 'tis doomed to know the worst, And break at once - or yield to song.
2. Compare your thoughts with the thoughts expressed in the essay below (https://stuffjeffreads.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/my-soul-is-dark-by-lord-byronlive day).
This poem is a great example of English Romanticism. It is an expression of inner pain and suffering that is only eased through the restorative power of art.
In the poem, Byron conveys a sense of deep sorrow, the type which leads to isolation and despair. The emphasis on the darkness of his soul indicates that all hope and joy are void from his being. He is cast into a state of darkness that nothing seems able to penetrate. He concedes that there is one thing that can overcome this darkness, and that is music.
Here it is important to note that music has two meanings. On one level, he is referring to music in the audible sense. Instrumental music is unique in artistic expression because the tones communicate directly with the psyche and instill emotion without the use of words. But music is also a metaphor for poetry, and I think that Byron is claiming that there are actually two ways in which he can overcome his sorrow: by either listening to music or by opening up his soul through the composition of poetry. So in the final line, when Byron states that his heart will “break at once – or yield to song,” he is asserting that he can cure himself of his internal darkness is by opening his heart and expressing his deep emotion through poetry, which is essentially what he is doing in this poem.
I relate to this poem on a deep level. There have been many times in my life where playing music and writing poetry were the only ways that I was able to deal with my inner turmoil. I guess that’s why I have always related to the Romantic poets on a visceral level. Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts.
JOHN KEATS
COMPARISON
Read and compare original lines (from A THING OF BEAUTY) with the translation made by B. Pasternak.
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will neverPass into nothingness; but still will keepA bower quiet for us, and a sleepFull of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. 
***
Прекрасное пленяет навсегда.
К нему не остываешь. Никогда
Не впасть ему в ничтожество. Все снова
Нас будет влечь к испытанному крову
С готовым ложем и здоровым сном.
Перевод Б.Л. Пастернака
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE
DISCUSSION
Read the poem and discuss your responses to it.
Are you emotionally touched by the poem?
Do words and phrases stick in your memory?
How has the poet made an impression and why?
What if you slept
And what if
In your sleep
You dreamed
And what if
In your dream
You went to heaven
And there plucked a strange and beautiful flower
And what if
When you awoke
You had that flower in you hand
Ah, what then?