England in 1819 By Percy Bysshe Shelly

1. England in 1819 By Percy Bysshe Shelly Cassidy White

2. England in 1819 An army, whom liberticide and prey Makes as a two-edged sword to all who wield; Golden and sanguine laws which tempt and slay; Religion Christless, Godless—a book sealed; A senate, Time’s worst statute, unrepealed— Are graves from which a glorious Phantom may Burst, to illumine our tempestuous day. An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying-King; Princes, the dregs of their dull race, who flow Through public scorn,—mud from a muddy spring; Rulers who neither see nor feel nor know, But leechlike to their fainting country cling Till they drop, blind in blood, without a blow. A people starved and stabbed in th' untilled field;

3. Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) Born on August 4, 1792, Percy Bysshe Shelley was the oldest child of eight. He attended Eton college for six years then later went to Oxford University where he began to write poetry. Shelley ventured on various ships sailing wherever they would take him. On July 8, 1822, the ship that Shelley was sailing on sank in a storm. Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned in the wreck. • Achievements • In 1810 he published a gothic novel “Zastrozzi”. • In 1817 he wrote the long narrative poem “Laon and Cyntha” • Many of his famous works such as “Men of England” were written while he lived in Italy.

4. Structure The structure of this poem is very simplistic. It is a lyric poem because there is end rhyme and expresses the thoughts and emotions Percy Bysshe Shelley has about England in 1819. 1 stanza 15 lines Lyric poem The speaker of this poem is a peasant in 1819 England End Rhyme

5. This is the first half of “England in 1819” Rhyme Scheme: A regular pattern of end rhymes. An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying-King; Princes, the dregs of their dull race, who flow Through public scorn,—mud from a muddy spring; Rulers who neither see nor feel nor know, But leechlike to their fainting country cling Till they drop, blind in blood, without a blow. A people starved and stabbed in th' untilled field; A B A B A B C Rhyme Scheme

6. This is the second half of “England in 1819” An army, whom liberticide and prey Makes as a two-edged sword to all who wield; Golden and sanguine laws which tempt and slay; Religion Christless, Godless—a book sealed; A senate, Time’s worst statute, unrepealed— Are graves from which a glorious Phantom may Burst, to illumine our tempestuous day. D C E C C E E Rhyme Scheme

7. This is the first half of “England in 1819” An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying-King; Princes, the dregs of their dull race, who flow Through public scorn,—mud from a muddy spring; Rulers who neither see nor feel nor know, But leechlike to their fainting country cling Till they drop, blind in blood, without a blow. A people starved and stabbed in th' untilled field; Metaphor The metaphor in this poem is used to explain the rulers are clinging to their failing country like leeches. Thus comparing two unlike things A metaphor is a comparison of tow unlike things in which one this is said to be another.

8. This is the second half of “England in 1819” An army, whom liberticide and prey Makes as a two-edged sword to all who wield; Golden and sanguine laws which tempt and slay; Religion Christless, Godless—a book sealed; A senate, Time’s worst statute, unrepealed— Are graves from which a glorious Phantom may Burst, to illumine our tempestuous day. Personification In this poem, personification is used to convey how in England during that time period, laws that were in place were unjust and wrong. Knowing, however, that a sword cannot actually make laws. Personification a type of metaphor where human qualities are given to inanimate objects or non-humans

9. This is the first half of “England in 1819” Alliteration Alliteration is the repeating of the same consonant sound in many words. An old, mad, blind, despised, anddying-King; Princes, the dregs of their dull race, who flow Through public scorn,—mud from a muddy spring; Rulers who neither see nor feel nor know, But leechlike to their fainting country cling Till they drop, blind in blood, without a blow. A people starved and stabbed in th' untilled field; In the poem “England in 1819” the alliteration found is the “d” sound. Shelley used alliteration to emphasize the chaos that is happening in England at the time.

10. Literal • England is falling under hard times. • The rulers of England cannot be looked to for help. • Everyone has to defend their selves. • Figurative • When it says “a dying kind” it is actually speaking of England falling and dying slowly • The dull race of people is flowing away • People are trying to keep the country together but it will eventually fall while they cling • It will one day break away from the downfall and come out strong Author’s Purpose The purpose of this poem is to tell the story of how life was in England in 1819. Percy Bysshe Shelley wanted to help people have a better understanding of what had to be done and the problems and positive issues in England at the time.

11. Theme The theme of this poem is people trying to break free of the hardships in their country at the time and making it a better place for everyone everywhere. People overcoming obstacles that have been placed in their path.

12. Sources www.poets.org www.gradesaver.com www.online-literature.com www.poemhunter.com