Keats-Isabella Flashcards
‘Fair Isabel, poor simple isabel’
This quote is the first line in the poem. The introduction foreshadows their doom. Choosing to begin it with this line is interesting because the poem then starts with this line because it automatically almost makes the reader feel pitiful for the main character.A nickname/shortened name is also used here which could make the character feel more personal, which heightens the feeling evoked by their eventual demise. Also links into Keats’ constant depiction of women through their exterior beauty and makes them seem innocent, she is ‘poor and simple’. Romanticism focused heavily on outward beauty.
‘Fell thin as a young mothers’
This simile shows what ‘could’ve been’ for Isabella and Lorenzo. It shows how egotistic and naive youthful love can be in its hopes. Religious allusion to Mary the mother of Jesus.Maternal imagery. It takes the reader into the heart and soul of the love and it’s wishes, it heightens the tragedy by building up pressure by showing how great and hopeful their love is. She wants to be a mother, but this will never happen for her
‘Not my passion shrive’
The lovers are at the height of the romance in this poem, it heightens the tragedy of reversal of fortune. Lorenzo cannot live without Isabella. This quote blends eroticism with religious ferverence, it is almost trying to extract nobility from sex.
‘Twin roses by the zephyr, blown apart’
Uses a metaphor, they are twin roses, they are two of the same. It also symbolises the idea that their love is momentary bliss that can’t last and is ephemeral, wind blows them away.
Zephyr is greek mythological wind
‘Thesus’ spouse’
Thesus had doomed love, this allusion foreshadows the nature of their love.
‘In torchéd mines and noisy factories’
The brothers are the opposite of Isabella and Lorenzo who blend into the world in their ‘secret bower’. They rape the environment they live in, it feels sweaty and dirty, the last place you would find love. They abuse their power and opress. Links to anti-industrial sentiment held by many romantic poets.
‘So the two brothers and their murdered man’
It is a forgone conclusion, even though he is not yet, Lorenzo is effectively a dead man walking. His fate due to his status is set, he can’t change it. The brothers are named, dehumanises them, pack like. It makes the reader feel pitiful for him because nothing can be done now.
‘Convulséd spur/each richer by being his murder’
The brothers are pure evil basically. They profit from his death (marxist feminism,commodification of women). Half-rhyme builds tension bc you were expecting full rhyme and thwarts rhythm of poem, showing the lovers cant ‘poised’ anymore.
‘She forgot the stars..breeze’
Nothing matters anymore. Link to ode to a Grecian urn. Should admire Isabella for this, she loses her sense of self.
‘O cruelty, to steal my basil pot away from me’
Cyclical ending poem ends with feeling sorry for her, the focus is on Isabella and the pot of basil. The death has been impactful and will always be remembered. The ending doesn’t really offer much in terms of closure or a new equilibrium (againstt aristotle). It is just outright sad and depressing/
Agéd nurse laboured for 3 hours Frozen dainties watered with tears head crowned
pseudo-birth
