Read "This Living Hand" by John Keats. What is the tone that Keats is trying to convey in his poem? How does his choice of words (diction) and style (syntax) successfully create the tone?
Poetry is such an interesting genre. One simple word can change the tone of a poem. John Keats's "This Living Hand" is an amazing poem that portrays the fears of a man as he approaches death. It is achingly haunting to read as this person struggles with his impending death. The author also imposes on the reader's feelings, threatening them with his haunting spirit, and then soothes their nerves by reassuring them that he has not yet died. The words and structures he uses are very important for creating the poem in this unique way.
The words found in "The Living Hand" are not lengthy or complicated. They are, however, very powerful in the ways they are used. In the very first line, Keats uses the word 'living' to describe his hand. The line would sound fine without it, but by placing it in, he is already showing his worry about death. I felt as though he was reassuring himself that the hand he was pondering was still alive. In the phrase "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights", the word 'dreaming' that Keats was dwelling on how his nights would soon no longer consist of dreaming, but of something no one has yet to experience and tell about. It seems almost bitter, this word 'dreaming', as if he envies us those nights of unrestrained imagination. And finally, the use of the word 'you' in the last line escaped my notice during the first reading, yet caught my eye the second time around. Al the other times when Keats refers to the read or whoever his audience is, he uses the word 'thou' up until the very last occurrence in the last line where he utilizes 'you'. This change makes the last line much more personal.
The way the poem is constructed is also very interesting. The whole poem, excepting the last two lines, is written in the future tense. Keats's use of the future tense reminds the reader that his death is coming sometime in the near future. Maybe not now, but it is creeping nearer as he writes this poem. Also, the poem is in the form of one sentence. He wanted to express everything he was feeling in one single sentence. It feels urgent, as if he only had time to write one sentence and needed to get everything down before it stole out of his mind. The last two lines change from future tense to present tense, like he has returned from his dark thoughts. The line "I hold it towards you." is the author asking for someone to be courageous enough to reach and grasp his hand, to give him a sense of comfort. By making this last phrase into its own line, it dwells on the reader's mind, keeping the poem fresh in their mind. The structure of the poem greatly enhances the reader's experience of the poem.
Each writer has their own unique way of combining syntax and diction to create literary works of art. They use their own words and structures to relate the way they feel and how they see the world. Every time they write, they are giving us a glimpse of their world at that time.
Hannah, I enjoyed how you analyzed that the poem was constructed in one sentence. This was something I did not notice when reading it. It seems, like you said, that what he had to say was urgent, as if he did not want the words to escape him. I also found it interesting how you thought that Keats was reaching out his hand for comfort at the end of the poem. I guess the poem can be interpreted in many ways.
I also like in your last paragraph how you said that every writer has their own way of using syntax and diction. I think the way people combine syntax and diction together is how they form their own style of writing, which is unique to every person. The way a person uses syntax and diction effects how others read what they write. If a person can combine syntax and diction correctly, then others can understand what they are trying to say, and thus they can express their feelings and convey their emotions through their words.
John Keats poem "This Living Hand" is a poem that could be interpreted in many different ways. To me this poem speaks of a man who is reaching out his hand as a peace offering. If the hand shake isn't accepted and the man dies his memory will haunt the second party until he wishes he could go back and change the past. To me, the tone Keats is trying to convey through his poem is expectant. He expects the person to accept the offering because of the negative reprocussions that will happen to him if he denies it.
The words Keats used are very powerful in their descriptions. First he uses "living," "warm," and "capable" to describe his hand now, giving a sense of vitality. Keats then continues describing his dead, cold hand found in the tomb and how it would haunt the other person for ever. Another part of the poem which I find very interesting is the two lines "That thou wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood So in my veins red life might stream again." It is intriguing to me how Keats uses the word "blood" in the first line but "red life" in the second. it is as if the two words are explaining a reincarnated life full of passion. These words expose the vengeance his spirit would exhibit if the handshake (peace offering) would not be reciprocated. This allows the tension of whether or not the second party would accept the offering to build during the course of the poem. The readers expecting the shake to returned.
The style Keats used is also very interesting. He used circuitous, using many words to describe how he really feels. This technique is very useful during the poem because it gives the reader time to think during the already short poem. What happened between the men? Was it of great seriousness? Is Keats a revengeful man? If he is vengeful is it expected of the other party to accept? By using the style circuitous, Keats enables readers to create their own scenario for the poem and connect to it in different ways. By not being straightfoward Keats allows readers their own interpretation of the poem and expectations for the ending.
Erin, your interpretation of the poem was very interesting. Your hand shake analogy made me think of the poem in a different way. Maybe Keats was hoping that the man would refuse his “warm and capable” hand, just so the decision would “haunt his days.” I also reinterpreted the line that read “so in my veins red life might stream again.” I thought that maybe Keats received some sick satisfaction from inflicting haunting dreams. I could see Keats reaching out his hand with an evil smirk on his face. Keats then leaves the question open-ended. He says, “I hold it towards you.” Which kind of makes the reader think, did the other person accept the handshake or did the he refuse the handshake, and fulfill Keats dreams of sick injustice. This was a very interesting perspective Erin, I really enjoyed it!
Erin, first of all, I would like to say good job! You produced a very unique interpretation of the poem. I find our different perspectives very interesting! While reading "This Living Hand," I never considered the fact that he may have been actually holding out his hand offering another person a handshake. It is sort of twisted how he plans on punishing the other person by haunting his days and nights if he does not accept the peace offering. I also agree that the way John Keats shaped his poem made it open to interpretation. It left me, as a reader, asking those questions you listed above. I wonder if the second party actually accepted the "warm and capable" hand extended before him or her.
Erin, I really liked how you looked at the poem. It was a very interesting view. When I read through your interpretation, I had to go back and reread the poem. I really saw where you were came from and it is sad, but it makes you want to never hold grudges, because it is only hurting yourself. I enjoyed reading your interpretation. Good job!
Erin, i loved this! You saw the poem in entire different way than i did and i really enjoyed reading your views.Had i not read this, i would have never thought of the poem that way. You really opened my eyes to a whole new poem in a sense. Thank you and great job!
Erin, great use of strong vocabulary and adjectives throughout your blog post! Also, I think think the style you choose to describe the poem works well.
Erin, I was really interested in the way that you explained the meaning and tone of the poem. I like your idea about the man reaching out to others whether they accept or deny him. I also enjoyed your third paragraph. The questions that you listed made me truly rethink the entire poem over again. Good work!
John Keats successfully creates a mournful and melancholy type of tone in his poem, "This Living Hand." Keats creates this tone through his word choice, and how he uses those words to flow throughout the poem. Anyone reading this poem for the first time would notice how the writer is sad, and he is writing about his own end. His hand from which he writes and expresses his thoughts turns cold, and for that he is sad that no one will ever know or sympathize with the feelings that he has.
The melancholy tone created by Keats is rooted in his choice of diction. Words such as icy, chill, cold, and haunt give the reader a feeling of sorrow and pity. Keats uses the image of the hand to portray how writers express their thoughts and feelings. The hand is "warm and capable" of anything the writer wants to write. However when that hand is not capable of writing it shall be sealed "in the icy silence of the tomb." The line about the icy tomb could be related to how Keats' writing days are over, and even more so, his life. The writer is "grasping" for a way to release thoughts and feelings. Keats understands that his end is near, and his poems are dead in the “silent tomb.”
"This Living Hand" is constructed to portray the feelings that Keats has before his death. He uses his syntax or style to convey images to the reader. The line that reads, "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights" describes how the poem will live on for the reader, but the poem is dead to the writer. Keats is trying to say that every poem is a new beginning for a reader, but an end for every writer. So he continues, "I hold it (the poem) towards you." Keats illustrates the image of himself handing the poem over to the reader, because it is now dead to him. All the images created by Keats are connected. They are connected to the belief that the writer's hand is dying and that the poem is dead, while the reader's beginning has just started.
The way writers or poets use their diction and syntax to convey their tone is very powerful. Writers would not be able to portray their feelings without the use of correct diction. Writers have to make their readers understand what they are trying to say. By combining syntax and diction together writers can make readers feel things that they are feeling, and they can convey their emotions. The way someone uses their words and diction is how they express themselves, people can understand them.
Ian, I like how you explained the tone as mournful and melancholy. I agree that the reader feels a sense of sorrow when reading this poem because of the word choices used by John Keats. I enjoyed your analysis of this poem, especially when you stated, "every poem is a new beginning for a reader, but an end for every writer." When I was reading "This Living Hand," I also interpreted the hand as being a symbol of the writer releasing his feelings.
In your last paragraph, I liked how you said the readers need to be able to understand what the writer is saying. This is a very important part of what makes certain literary pieces so successful. The author needs to create a relationship with the audience; for example, the tone used by John Keats was relatable, and many readers felt bad for him. You did a great job of explaining how syntax and diction go hand-in-hand in order to fulfill this task.
Ian, your post has many good points that I failed to notice in my analysis that made me think even more deeply about the meaning of John Keats's poem. I loved the words you used to describe the tone of the poem. They fit perfectly. I also enjoyed your take on the outstretched hand. Your opinion on how Keats's works were dead to him was not something that I dwelled on when I had first read it. The way you express your opinions so strongly is very refreshing. Good work!
Ian, I like how you related the tone of the poem by John Keats to his diction. It was really good that you explained how certain words included in the poem gave it a very sad feeling. I totally agree with your idea that the writer's diction and syntax make an impact on their tone. You made some great points about the poem. Way to go!
Ian, I very much how you talked about how important diction was for writers. What you said about authors or poets needing to make the readers understand couldn't have been more true. I also agree, John Keats put the words together in a fluent way. Great job!
A poem is a very intriguing work of literature, some may even argue that it is an art. Recently, I read an outstanding poem by John Keats called "This Living Hand." He was able to use diction, his choice of words, and syntax, his style, to create a wonderful tone that was very easy to read and enjoy. "This Living Hand" is structured in a way that holds much meaning while appealing to the reader's feelings and emotions.
He starts out his poem by saying, "This living hand now warm and capable of earnest grasping". I believe this line is very significant because, I think, that he is relating "this living hand" to his own hand that is capable of writing. This same hand is also capable of "grasping" for a way to express itself, releasing thoughts and ideas onto paper.
He then continues by saying, "If it were cold and in the icy silence of the tomb," which is another essential line to this poem. John Keats, in my opinion, is basically saying that his writing days are nearly over. I think that he is very worried to be silenced. In this very moment, I feel as though he is reaching out to his readers. As many people are afraid of physical death, he is scared to finish his works because then they, too, will be dead.
After he realizes that his living hand will "die" and his writings will, too, he states, "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights". Throughout his days, his mind will always be thinking about the way he used to express himself through words. At night, his dreams will be "chilled" and they will be as frightening as a nightmare when his writing days are finished.
"That thou would wish thine own heart dry of blood so in my veins red life might stream again," has an interesting meaning behind it. John Keats would rather be dead instead of having his ability to write taken away from him.
He ends his poem by saying, "I hold it towards you." I believe he is literally extending his "living hand" out towards his readers in order for them to take it and continue his legacy. I think he is creating an invitation for others to follow in his footsteps. In my opinion, he is inspiring his readers to express themselves while they still can with "living hands" before the chance is too late. Similar to a physical death, his writings will be finished, but they can be carried on through others and live within their memories.
My analysis of this poem may be completely different than what the author was actually trying to say, but that is the interesting thing about poetry. John Keats wrote his poem with room for interpretation. The words he used contained much meaning and were very powerful. His words in this poem also made the reader feel pity for him. He did an incredible job of painting images in my head as I read this because his thoughts were very strong. By using diction and syntax together, John Keats' created a tone very relatable to the readers.
Sam, I loved how you mentioned how once Keats finishes his works they will die and then compared it to his own situation. I also liked how you interpreted the stretching out of his hand, as if he were offering a legacy to be carried on. That was not something I had realized in my own analysis. Your perspective was very refreshing and you expressed it well! Good work!
Sam, i love how you wrote this. I really like how you took it step by step, line by line, and explained things. This was very enjoyable to read. Good job!
Sam, I really appreciate how you took the time and described your thoughts on each individual line. One can never be too thorough!! I agree when you said that John Keats left his poem open for interpretation. I think you could read the poem ten different times and each time take something different from it. Great Job!! :)
John Keats wrote "this living hand", a very deep and emotional poem. It is short, but it says a lot and really leaves you thinking. When I first read the poem, I thought it was about revenge, and I was left confused after finishing the poem. I thought that John Keats was writing bout seeking revenge once he was in the grave. Because this didn't make total sense to me, I cleared my head and I read it again. Upon reading it again, I understood the poem better in a new way. I don't now see Keats as vengeful, but I see him reaching out to the reader to face the perils of death.
Keats starts out his poem with "This living hand, now warm and capable Of earnest grasping, would, if it were cold. " Now he is alive, he can do anything he wants. But someday this won't be the case, someday he won't be alive, he will be cold and dead. Keats continues "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights That thou would wish thine own heart dry of blood So in my veins red life might stream again." Once he is dead he is saying it will be terrible and you'd do anything to change it, but you can't. "And thou be conscience-calm’d–see here it is– I hold it towards you." Then Keats reassures and comforts you. His hand is still "warm and capable" and be holds it holds it out to you.
I don't think Keats was just holding out his hand, I think he was reaching out. I think that he is rightfully afraid of death, because in all reality death is a scary thing. Keats reaches out to the reader to face death together and live in the moment so when the time of death does come, there are no regrets. Death is inevitable and Keats knows that.
The tone of this poem I think was very mournful in a way. It surely wasn't a happy tone, and if someone were reading it too me i can imagine that they would read it somberly. Keats also picked some very powerful words that really struck me and helped set this saddening tone. He was very open and straight forward with his words. "Cold" and "icy" were two simple adjectives used in a haunting way to describe death and the silence it brings. "Haunt" and "chill" were two action verbs he used in the same line, "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights" which made for what I think was the most powerful line in the poem.
Felicia, I really liked your view of the poem. I thought it was very interesting how you brought up the point that he was afraid of death. I also had to read the poem again before I could fully understand it. It is extremely intriguing how each one of us can read the poem and see it from a different point of view. Great job!
The poem, "This Living Hand", is such a short poem (only seven lines!), yet so much can be interpreted and taken away from those seven lines of writing. After reading it several times to fully understand and comprehend the poem, I think Keats was explaining how he was passing on his poetry and writing skills and memories to someone else because he was passing on. The last line reads, "I hold it towards you". It means that he is holding out his hand and everything for someone else to come along and take up what he left behind. In a way, I feel like the last line could read, "The future is up to you." The tone of Keats' poem could be described as Reflective because I believe that the poem is expressing some of his innermost thoughts and feelings.
The choice of words that Keats uses also helps develop the tone of the poem. In the second and third line, it talks about death, the icy and cold feeling in the tomb. This is what he associated with when he thought of death. It creates a haunting feeling among the readers as well. Then, the poem also touches on a sense of new life in the line, "in my veins, red life might stream again." This changes the mood of the poem slightly.
The style of the poem could be described as epigrammatic because of the clever and unique way he described his feelings throughout the poem. Keats describes his emotions in the poem, but he also leaves it up for the reader to have their own interpretations of the words he wrote. That is one of the reasons why this poem is so unique; there are countless angles that this poem can be looked at from. Each time the reader has a chance to gain a different perspective on the poem and take a different meaning away from it.
On a side note, this poem/blog post reminded me of Virginia Woolf's "The Death of a Moth", because they both relate to the power of death and new beginnings.
Tori, your introductory paragraph really captured my attention! The poem was short, but effective. Also I think you hit it on the button when talking about the final line in the poem. John Keats was reaching out for others to grab hold and take over. You made some really good points and analyzed well. Great job!
Vicki, I really enjoyed reading this blog. I agree with your saying that the poem can be taken differently every time it was read I felt the same way. It is interesting to read your perspective on this poem. Good job!
Tori, the first thing I must say is that I love your use of the word epigrammatic! Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed your perspective on the poem because it was different from the other ones I had read and yet it made so much sense. Keats did in fact know he would soon die because of his tuberculosis, I didn't know if you knew that, but that fact sets the perfect base for your interpretation. Excellent job!
After reading "This Living Hand", I instantly thought it was a sad poem, but while I was writing about it, I really thought about it. The poem is not depressing at all. I found it to be very peaceful. It remind me of an elderly man that is in the hospital. He knows he is dying, and he had been dreading it. He comes across as terrified of dying, to the point where he wished he was already dead. This way he wouldn't have the fear building up inside of him anymore. But then he stops and looks around. He realizes that he was not living the life that he did have left. When he was reaching out his hand, I believe it was to his wife to console her. He came to peace with death in the end.
When Keats wrote this poem, he wrote some of it in the present tense and some in the future tense. This helps him convey his tone, which is solemn. He uses the solemn tone because he is in deep thought about life and death, and in this thought he is completely honest with himself. This is a serious subject to be contemplating, which is why Keats poem is solemn.
The words the Keats chose to use were so critical to making the poem into what he wanted the reader to get out of it. When the word "Conscience" is put in, it almost draws the reader back to the old mans reality. Also the part that says "wish thine own heart dry of blood" really forces the reader to stop and wonder why is he saying this. I think that he wanted each reader to get their own impression from it. This poem was informal, because the way it was written almost seems like the old man was giving advice to his grandson to live life while he could. Since it is informal, each reader takes something different from it. This poem really made me think about life and its value, and I believe that was the author's exact intentions.
Erin, you're interpretation of the poem is so different from mine. I looked at it negatively as you looked at it positively. I had not thought of it as an old man dying peacefully, rereading it I completely understand your view.
Erin, I agree with Erin P in that I also had a different interpretation of the poem. While my opinion has not changed, I still find yours very interesting. I definitely think this would be an interesting poem to debate after seeing the different thoughts on it. Great work!
Let me just start off by saying that my initial thought also was that it was a sad poem. I never thought of his reference to reaching out his hand could have been to his wife. That was a great thing you though! Excellent job!
Erin, I loved your interpretation! It was so different than mine; she immediately thought of a peaceful death while I though of a passionate love. I think it's so cool how we both interpreted it so differently but yours still makes absolute sense to me. Your comparison to the old man in the hospital was very good. It shocked me at first because I wasn't expecting it but as I continued to read it just got better and better. Wonderful job!
The poem “This Living Hand” by John Keats is remarkable. The tone throughout most of the poem is rather depressing. Keats creates this tone with the way that the poem is written. The usage of gloomy words during his work is what truly makes this poem special. John Keats did a fantastic job of making the readers have a heartbreaking feeling at the beginning of the poem, but an extraordinary feeling at the end.
John Keats diction and syntax both played a huge role in the meaning of the poem “This Living Hand”. His choice of words is what actually generated the tone. “And in the icy silence of the tomb, So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights”. For the duration of the poem, Keats speaks about death. This was a great way to grab the attention of the audience because death is such a powerful thing that happens to everyone. All people wonder what will happen when they die, so they try to listen to what people have to say when they are discussing the topic of dying. Towards the end of the poem, Keats begins to explain life. “That thou wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood, So in my veins red life might stream again”. He basically forms the poem into two parts with his diction. The beginning is focusing on death and the sadness that comes with it, and the end concentrates on life and the beauty that is involved.
The manner in which he expressed his diction is what led to the syntax. The style for this poem in general was rather simple. John Keats did not include any difficult words. His poem was not complicated at all. This is definitely a good thing because as a writer, the goal is for every reader to be able to comprehend the message that is intended. The style for the poem “This Living Hand” was that when something comes to an end, it is just a new beginning to something in the future. Keats demonstrates that although his hand may be “dying” at the start of the poem, it reaches out to new life at the end. He wanted to make readers realize that this poem had a great amount of significance to it. The meaning was that life is a gift, and that people should not take it for granted. A person can only live once, so it is their responsibility to make the most of their time.
Drew, your beginning paragraph discussing gloomy words, depressing feelings, and heartbreaking feelings was right on. Also, you clearly stated how the use of words did in fact generate the tone. In all, you wrote a very good analysis on John Keats poem. Keep up the good work!
Drew, I have to say your interpretation of the poem was truely unique, I had not thought of the poem as having two parts to it. Your interpretation makes a lot of sense to me and wonder how I saw the poem as vengeful. Overall great job!
Drew, I agree with your interpretation of the syntax of the poem being simple. That is the same way I interpreted the style. I also really enjoy in your last few sentences how you explain that life is a gift and shouldn't be taken for granted. Nice work!
In the poem "This Living Hand" written by John Keats, the use of syntax( style) and diction (choice of words) made this poem as good as it was. Poetry is a great way to express one's feelings and to say how someone really feels. It is healthy to write emotions down and that is exactly what John Keats did. It was obvious that Keats was afraid or upset with the fact of dying. Not so much physically dying, but knowing that it would also be the death of his writing period. John Keats did an excellent job of creating a sympathetic tone to art work. The final line of the poem read "I hold it towards you". This in some way puts pressure on anyone reading this writing. The viewers now know that Keats wants his sense of style and writing to be carried on and continued.
Some people may look at a poem and think it is short so it must not be very good or even professional. John Keats proved that using simple, but strong words are worth more than people assume. The way he worded the poem was interesting. After reading through the poem, some sympathy might be given toward the author. This may be so because he states how he is going from a "warm hand" to a "cold hand" within two lines of the writing. All this statement literally means is that he is coming to his terminal time and so is his writing. The hand at which he constantly wrote with was about to be "in the icy silence of the tomb". John Keats was not ready to give up writing, but he knew his time was approaching.
Throughout the poem, when John Keats states, " So in my veins red life might stream again". He wants to be writing forever and reincarnate almost after his death. He was so passionate about his writing he knew he would never be ready to give it up. I feel this quote, " so in my veins red life might stream again", may also relate to the last line "I hold it towards you". These two quotes can connect because John Keats may have meant that once he is no longer living or able to write, he wants us to follow in his footsteps and write well as he did.
The reason this poem was so effective was because John Keats really knew how use words. His poem was so powerful, but at the same point simple. This gave everyone reading the poem a chance to understand it and comprehend what the author was trying to say. This poem was effective in many ways, but John Keats being able to write with syntax and diction enhanced the reading by extremes.
Jolene: I loved how you used the line "So in my veins red life might stream again" and then said how he wanted his writing to live on far past his lifespan. He knew that it could Dan more after he died. I thought that was a fantastic inference. Awesome job!
For generations, writing has been a way to express oneself. “This Living Hand” by John Keats is not an exception and is in fact a good example of using writing to express your thoughts. Syntax and diction both play a role in manipulating what the audience thinks of a piece, but perhaps the most important tool to use to accurately influence your audience is the tone of your work. The tone of “This Living Hand” by John Keats is haunting.
In order to understand what a poem means, knowledge of the poet’s life can be helpful or even allow you to view the poem in an all new way. John Keats was an Englishman born in 1795. When he died, he was only 25 years old and was suffering from tuberculosis. Joseph Severn, the friend caring for him in his final months, noticed that Keats would awaken from slumber and cry because of it. Severn wrote, “Keats raves till I am in a complete tremble for him”. Thus reading the poem had a greater impact on me after I knew of the dreadful condition Keats was in while writing “This Living Hand”. While discussing the poem with my mother she made an astute remark. She said that had she read the poem without knowing about Keats she would have thought it was a resigned and sorrowful poem of and old man who had lived his share of life. However, with the knowledge of Keats youth she found that his writing was angry and regretful.
The syntax is the style that the author writes with. Keats’ writing in this poem is phrase after phrase without stopping, like a run-on sentence. The words flowed together despite the way some thoughts interrupted others. The urgency with which he writes tints the words with hysteria. This headlong rush makes the reader’s pulse race. The way he writes also makes you contemplate what it will feel like one day when you are on death’s door.
Diction is the words the author uses to convey their thoughts and to make their writings much more powerful and meaningful. Keats’ diction is formal and elevated, as he uses more elaborate grammatical structures and is also very intellectual. Some words I found important in this poem were earnest, wish, and calm’d. “Earnest” is important because it shows a certain strength that those who are healthy have that the infirmed or deceased do not. “Wish” is a powerful word because Keats not only says that you would if you could, he says that you would want to give your life if it meant returning his. “Calm’d” was significant because it meant that only after trading your life for Keats’ would you be able to feel at ease.
The diction and syntax make the tone of this poem all the more powerful. I find Keats’ tone in this poem to be both somber and haunting. At the same time I find it to be very emotional; perhaps even urging. This poem required me to read it through several times before I could understand, but that just made it all the more enriching. Perhaps this is why Keats’ poems and letters are some of the most popular pieces to analyze in English literature.
Meaghan, I love everything about this post! I appreciated the history lesson on Keats. I had not known anything about him before reading his poem, but helped me understand the poem a little bit better! I also really like a lot of the words you used, like "tints" and "headlong rush." Also, I like how you described the importance of some of the words Keats used. You choices for tone were also very intriguing. They were unique words that I never thought of.
The poem "This Living Hand" by John Keats is a great poem. The poem is very short but is still a very good work of literature. The tone for this poem is one of almost despair. Throughout much of the poem the feeling given off is of a dark icy tomb. Without using the words icy, cold, and later on chill to describe the tomb I do not believe that the reader would have grasped the true meaning of the poem. This shows how important word choice really is in writing literature everywhere.
The syntax and diction of the poem "This Living Hand" give the poem it's tone. Without the correct use of syntax and diction Keats would have not been able to grasp your attention with his gloomy, almost creepy words. The third line in the poem, "And in the icy silence of the tomb" is one that really grabbed my attention the usage of the words icy, cold, and chill create a feeling of death. It is easy to tell from this choice of words that Keats thinks that death will be chilling and cold. When Keats wrote "so in my veins red life could stream again" I felt as if Keats was entering Heaven. I also feel that when he writes "I hold it towards you" he is saying that he would like others to come with him to the afterlife.
The syntax or style for the poem "This Living Hand" is very interesting. I believe the syntax for this poem is simple. I believe this because it is not hard to read and it is not very complicated. This is an excellent choice of style for this poem because it allows it to be read by many different types of people. I believe there was also some symbolization in this poem, depending on how it is interpreted. I believe the warm hand is taking someone up to heaven after a cold death, but it also could be interpreted in a very different way. The poem "This Living Hand" by John Keats is one that can be interpreted in a different way every time it is read.
Austin, I like how you mentioned a few words from the poem and said that without them, the reader would not fully comprehend the true meaning. Also also, I enjoyed your interpretation of the line, "so in my veins red life could stream again." I never thought of it that way. I also liked your entire last paragraph, especially when you wrote about the symbolization. Again, I hadn't looked at it in that way.
I very much enjoyed this poem. I believe that John Keats had a very strong and confident tone yet betrayed a sense of softness and peace. I think that he was relaxed and at ease when he wrote "And thou be conscience-calmed-see here it is- I hold it towards you". He knew that there was turmoil, but he wanted it resolved and was going to try and do whatever he could to make that peace happen. As much as he could have been reaching his hand out to shake another man's hand in a peace treaty, I believe that he is reaching for something better. ; for a new tomorrow.
Unlike George Orwell, Mr. Keats did not use complex vocabulary words to get his point across. In fact, he was not very abstruse, or difficult to understand at all. He used smaller and easily comprehend words that allowed the people ready it to better relate. In the line "so haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights" I love how he used the words haunt and chill. They go together very well. For example, when watching a scary movie, one feels haunted of course, but also a sense of " the chills". He used these very well to describe the inner war that was occurring.
John Keats' style is interesting. Even if one doesn't analyze this poem or read in-between the lines of it, it is so great because it is easily relatable. If one would decided to look further into it, they could possible feel the tension or stress that inspired him to write this little piece of poetry. I have read it more than ten times because each time I go and read through it, I find something else hidden there between those words that were written so long ago.
Poetry is a diverse way of expressing emotions. A poem mirrors how the writer is feeling. "This Living Hand," by John Keats gravitates towards his alarmed feeling of dying. In his case, Keats is more fearful of his written work dying. The tone of this short poem appears to be gloomy yet hopeful. Keats worries that his work will slowly fade away, along with his name. But, he sort of leaves it up to his readers to continue to spread his poetry. This mix of emotions makes it very easy to see that Keats is passionate about his work and its future.
Without syntax and diction, there would probably be no tone to this poem. Diction is extremely important to all written works. Keats used intriguing words and phrases like earnest grasping, icy silence, haunt, and chill. When I first read this poem, I was confused. His first line, "This living hand, now warm and capable of earnest grasping...," had me thinking the poem was going to be gentle and happy. But after reading it a few more times, I unearthed a sense of hatred towards anyone who would forget his poetry. His words of choice aided in the display of these feelings. I also became conscious of what he thought death would feel like. Keats described death by saying, "...icy silence of the tomb..." It sounded like Keats did not want to die and be alone in his coffin. These words and verses are all very powerful, and they help the reader discover the tone of the poem.
Syntax is the style the author uses. One style Keats used is picturesque. His words pictured the entire poem without any effort. It is important to be able to see what the author's message. Another style Keats used is succinct. This poem is very short, but it gets to the point and is pretty clear. Some poems are short, but they lack interest and quality. Keats was talented and knew what he wanted to say and how to go about it. I could tell Keats wrote this poem from his heart.
In this poem, I feel as though Keats is reaching out to his readers. He wanted our promise that, even though he is physically dead, his work will live on for generation after generation. Keats understood that everyone dies, but he wanted a special part of him to stay alive.
When John Keats wrote the poem "This Living Hand" he was twenty four. This is important for two reasons. That year John Keats published more work than he ever had before because he had fallen in love and was secretly engaged. Also, he would die the following year from tuberculosis. "This Living Hand" was one of the last pieces he wrote.
It is said that Keats generally had a more somber tone. This poem, however, seemed to be more of an expression of how he felt about his current love. It seemed to say that for the first time Keats was on uneven ground, giving his heart to a woman that he feared living without. He was taking a step out of his comfort zone and offering himself to her entirely. This was very evident to me especially in the final line "...so here it is - I hold it towards you." That was the point when it was obvious to me that he was referring to giving something away. He expresses his dread of losing the woman by saying "That thoug wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood." This line says to me that without her why would he even want to live.
Because of the time period when this was written a sort of older English is used in words like wouldst and thine. But it is still obvious that Keats is very descriptive. When he speaks of the tomb he refers to it as "cold" and with an "icy silence." This leads the reader to dislike the tomb because it is made to sound dark and unfriendly. In a way the tomb is set juxtapose to the "warm and capable" hand as well as the blood that keeps him alive. By doing this I feel as if the hand is so welcoming that it makes the tomb seem even worse. Besides being so descriptive, Keats uses a few words that I find very powerful. The word "grasping" stuck out to me. It made me think of two hands clutching each other for strength. He also said "red life" which I found to be much more appealing and touching than simply using the word blood. Because of the words and phrases he used the poem seemed to carry a lot of emotion from himself to the reader.
Though many of Keats' other works were not written in this style I found myself reading it again and again. Each time I discovered something new that made me love the poem even more. The way he seems to put his heart into every line made me feel as if he was speaking directly to me and I could hear the emotions in his voice. I believe this to be a result of his excellent word usage. It really enhances the meaning of the poem.
Poetry is such an interesting genre. One simple word can change the tone of a poem. John Keats's "This Living Hand" is an amazing poem that portrays the fears of a man as he approaches death. It is achingly haunting to read as this person struggles with his impending death. The author also imposes on the reader's feelings, threatening them with his haunting spirit, and then soothes their nerves by reassuring them that he has not yet died. The words and structures he uses are very important for creating the poem in this unique way.
ReplyDeleteThe words found in "The Living Hand" are not lengthy or complicated. They are, however, very powerful in the ways they are used. In the very first line, Keats uses the word 'living' to describe his hand. The line would sound fine without it, but by placing it in, he is already showing his worry about death. I felt as though he was reassuring himself that the hand he was pondering was still alive. In the phrase "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights", the word 'dreaming' that Keats was dwelling on how his nights would soon no longer consist of dreaming, but of something no one has yet to experience and tell about. It seems almost bitter, this word 'dreaming', as if he envies us those nights of unrestrained imagination. And finally, the use of the word 'you' in the last line escaped my notice during the first reading, yet caught my eye the second time around. Al the other times when Keats refers to the read or whoever his audience is, he uses the word 'thou' up until the very last occurrence in the last line where he utilizes 'you'. This change makes the last line much more personal.
The way the poem is constructed is also very interesting. The whole poem, excepting the last two lines, is written in the future tense. Keats's use of the future tense reminds the reader that his death is coming sometime in the near future. Maybe not now, but it is creeping nearer as he writes this poem. Also, the poem is in the form of one sentence. He wanted to express everything he was feeling in one single sentence. It feels urgent, as if he only had time to write one sentence and needed to get everything down before it stole out of his mind. The last two lines change from future tense to present tense, like he has returned from his dark thoughts. The line "I hold it towards you." is the author asking for someone to be courageous enough to reach and grasp his hand, to give him a sense of comfort. By making this last phrase into its own line, it dwells on the reader's mind, keeping the poem fresh in their mind. The structure of the poem greatly enhances the reader's experience of the poem.
Each writer has their own unique way of combining syntax and diction to create literary works of art. They use their own words and structures to relate the way they feel and how they see the world. Every time they write, they are giving us a glimpse of their world at that time.
Hannah, I enjoyed how you analyzed that the poem was constructed in one sentence. This was something I did not notice when reading it. It seems, like you said, that what he had to say was urgent, as if he did not want the words to escape him. I also found it interesting how you thought that Keats was reaching out his hand for comfort at the end of the poem. I guess the poem can be interpreted in many ways.
DeleteI also like in your last paragraph how you said that every writer has their own way of using syntax and diction. I think the way people combine syntax and diction together is how they form their own style of writing, which is unique to every person. The way a person uses syntax and diction effects how others read what they write. If a person can combine syntax and diction correctly, then others can understand what they are trying to say, and thus they can express their feelings and convey their emotions through their words.
Nice Job!
John Keats poem "This Living Hand" is a poem that could be interpreted in many different ways. To me this poem speaks of a man who is reaching out his hand as a peace offering. If the hand shake isn't accepted and the man dies his memory will haunt the second party until he wishes he could go back and change the past. To me, the tone Keats is trying to convey through his poem is expectant. He expects the person to accept the offering because of the negative reprocussions that will happen to him if he denies it.
ReplyDeleteThe words Keats used are very powerful in their descriptions. First he uses "living," "warm," and "capable" to describe his hand now, giving a sense of vitality. Keats then continues describing his dead, cold hand found in the tomb and how it would haunt the other person for ever. Another part of the poem which I find very interesting is the two lines "That thou wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood So in my veins red life might stream again." It is intriguing to me how Keats uses the word "blood" in the first line but "red life" in the second. it is as if the two words are explaining a reincarnated life full of passion. These words expose the vengeance his spirit would exhibit if the handshake (peace offering) would not be reciprocated. This allows the tension of whether or not the second party would accept the offering to build during the course of the poem. The readers expecting the shake to returned.
The style Keats used is also very interesting. He used circuitous, using many words to describe how he really feels. This technique is very useful during the poem because it gives the reader time to think during the already short poem. What happened between the men? Was it of great seriousness? Is Keats a revengeful man? If he is vengeful is it expected of the other party to accept? By using the style circuitous, Keats enables readers to create their own scenario for the poem and connect to it in different ways. By not being straightfoward Keats allows readers their own interpretation of the poem and expectations for the ending.
Erin, your interpretation of the poem was very interesting. Your hand shake analogy made me think of the poem in a different way. Maybe Keats was hoping that the man would refuse his “warm and capable” hand, just so the decision would “haunt his days.” I also reinterpreted the line that read “so in my veins red life might stream again.” I thought that maybe Keats received some sick satisfaction from inflicting haunting dreams. I could see Keats reaching out his hand with an evil smirk on his face. Keats then leaves the question open-ended. He says, “I hold it towards you.” Which kind of makes the reader think, did the other person accept the handshake or did the he refuse the handshake, and fulfill Keats dreams of sick injustice. This was a very interesting perspective Erin, I really enjoyed it!
DeleteErin, first of all, I would like to say good job! You produced a very unique interpretation of the poem. I find our different perspectives very interesting! While reading "This Living Hand," I never considered the fact that he may have been actually holding out his hand offering another person a handshake. It is sort of twisted how he plans on punishing the other person by haunting his days and nights if he does not accept the peace offering. I also agree that the way John Keats shaped his poem made it open to interpretation. It left me, as a reader, asking those questions you listed above. I wonder if the second party actually accepted the "warm and capable" hand extended before him or her.
DeleteAwesome work, Erin!
Erin, I really liked how you looked at the poem. It was a very interesting view. When I read through your interpretation, I had to go back and reread the poem. I really saw where you were came from and it is sad, but it makes you want to never hold grudges, because it is only hurting yourself. I enjoyed reading your interpretation. Good job!
DeleteErin, i loved this! You saw the poem in entire different way than i did and i really enjoyed reading your views.Had i not read this, i would have never thought of the poem that way. You really opened my eyes to a whole new poem in a sense. Thank you and great job!
DeleteErin, great use of strong vocabulary and adjectives throughout your blog post! Also, I think think the style you choose to describe the poem works well.
DeleteErin, I was really interested in the way that you explained the meaning and tone of the poem. I like your idea about the man reaching out to others whether they accept or deny him. I also enjoyed your third paragraph. The questions that you listed made me truly rethink the entire poem over again. Good work!
DeleteJohn Keats successfully creates a mournful and melancholy type of tone in his poem, "This Living Hand." Keats creates this tone through his word choice, and how he uses those words to flow throughout the poem. Anyone reading this poem for the first time would notice how the writer is sad, and he is writing about his own end. His hand from which he writes and expresses his thoughts turns cold, and for that he is sad that no one will ever know or sympathize with the feelings that he has.
ReplyDeleteThe melancholy tone created by Keats is rooted in his choice of diction. Words such as icy, chill, cold, and haunt give the reader a feeling of sorrow and pity. Keats uses the image of the hand to portray how writers express their thoughts and feelings. The hand is "warm and capable" of anything the writer wants to write. However when that hand is not capable of writing it shall be sealed "in the icy silence of the tomb." The line about the icy tomb could be related to how Keats' writing days are over, and even more so, his life. The writer is "grasping" for a way to release thoughts and feelings. Keats understands that his end is near, and his poems are dead in the “silent tomb.”
"This Living Hand" is constructed to portray the feelings that Keats has before his death. He uses his syntax or style to convey images to the reader. The line that reads, "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights" describes how the poem will live on for the reader, but the poem is dead to the writer. Keats is trying to say that every poem is a new beginning for a reader, but an end for every writer. So he continues, "I hold it (the poem) towards you." Keats illustrates the image of himself handing the poem over to the reader, because it is now dead to him. All the images created by Keats are connected. They are connected to the belief that the writer's hand is dying and that the poem is dead, while the reader's beginning has just started.
The way writers or poets use their diction and syntax to convey their tone is very powerful. Writers would not be able to portray their feelings without the use of correct diction. Writers have to make their readers understand what they are trying to say. By combining syntax and diction together writers can make readers feel things that they are feeling, and they can convey their emotions. The way someone uses their words and diction is how they express themselves, people can understand them.
Ian, I like how you explained the tone as mournful and melancholy. I agree that the reader feels a sense of sorrow when reading this poem because of the word choices used by John Keats. I enjoyed your analysis of this poem, especially when you stated, "every poem is a new beginning for a reader, but an end for every writer." When I was reading "This Living Hand," I also interpreted the hand as being a symbol of the writer releasing his feelings.
DeleteIn your last paragraph, I liked how you said the readers need to be able to understand what the writer is saying. This is a very important part of what makes certain literary pieces so successful. The author needs to create a relationship with the audience; for example, the tone used by John Keats was relatable, and many readers felt bad for him. You did a great job of explaining how syntax and diction go hand-in-hand in order to fulfill this task.
Nice work, Ian!
Ian, your post has many good points that I failed to notice in my analysis that made me think even more deeply about the meaning of John Keats's poem. I loved the words you used to describe the tone of the poem. They fit perfectly. I also enjoyed your take on the outstretched hand. Your opinion on how Keats's works were dead to him was not something that I dwelled on when I had first read it. The way you express your opinions so strongly is very refreshing. Good work!
DeleteIan, I like how you related the tone of the poem by John Keats to his diction. It was really good that you explained how certain words included in the poem gave it a very sad feeling. I totally agree with your idea that the writer's diction and syntax make an impact on their tone. You made some great points about the poem. Way to go!
DeleteIan, I very much how you talked about how important diction was for writers. What you said about authors or poets needing to make the readers understand couldn't have been more true. I also agree, John Keats put the words together in a fluent way. Great job!
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ReplyDeleteA poem is a very intriguing work of literature, some may even argue that it is an art. Recently, I read an outstanding poem by John Keats called "This Living Hand." He was able to use diction, his choice of words, and syntax, his style, to create a wonderful tone that was very easy to read and enjoy. "This Living Hand" is structured in a way that holds much meaning while appealing to the reader's feelings and emotions.
ReplyDeleteHe starts out his poem by saying, "This living hand now warm and capable of earnest grasping". I believe this line is very significant because, I think, that he is relating "this living hand" to his own hand that is capable of writing. This same hand is also capable of "grasping" for a way to express itself, releasing thoughts and ideas onto paper.
He then continues by saying, "If it were cold and in the icy silence of the tomb," which is another essential line to this poem. John Keats, in my opinion, is basically saying that his writing days are nearly over. I think that he is very worried to be silenced. In this very moment, I feel as though he is reaching out to his readers. As many people are afraid of physical death, he is scared to finish his works because then they, too, will be dead.
After he realizes that his living hand will "die" and his writings will, too, he states, "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights". Throughout his days, his mind will always be thinking about the way he used to express himself through words. At night, his dreams will be "chilled" and they will be as frightening as a nightmare when his writing days are finished.
"That thou would wish thine own heart dry of blood so in my veins red life might stream again," has an interesting meaning behind it. John Keats would rather be dead instead of having his ability to write taken away from him.
He ends his poem by saying, "I hold it towards you." I believe he is literally extending his "living hand" out towards his readers in order for them to take it and continue his legacy. I think he is creating an invitation for others to follow in his footsteps. In my opinion, he is inspiring his readers to express themselves while they still can with "living hands" before the chance is too late. Similar to a physical death, his writings will be finished, but they can be carried on through others and live within their memories.
My analysis of this poem may be completely different than what the author was actually trying to say, but that is the interesting thing about poetry. John Keats wrote his poem with room for interpretation. The words he used contained much meaning and were very powerful. His words in this poem also made the reader feel pity for him. He did an incredible job of painting images in my head as I read this because his thoughts were very strong. By using diction and syntax together, John Keats' created a tone very relatable to the readers.
Sam, I loved how you mentioned how once Keats finishes his works they will die and then compared it to his own situation. I also liked how you interpreted the stretching out of his hand, as if he were offering a legacy to be carried on. That was not something I had realized in my own analysis. Your perspective was very refreshing and you expressed it well! Good work!
DeleteSam, i love how you wrote this. I really like how you took it step by step, line by line, and explained things. This was very enjoyable to read. Good job!
DeleteSam, I really appreciate how you took the time and described your thoughts on each individual line. One can never be too thorough!! I agree when you said that John Keats left his poem open for interpretation. I think you could read the poem ten different times and each time take something different from it.
DeleteGreat Job!! :)
John Keats wrote "this living hand", a very deep and emotional poem. It is short, but it says a lot and really leaves you thinking. When I first read the poem, I thought it was about revenge, and I was left confused after finishing the poem. I thought that John Keats was writing bout seeking revenge once he was in the grave. Because this didn't make total sense to me, I cleared my head and I read it again. Upon reading it again, I understood the poem better in a new way. I don't now see Keats as vengeful, but I see him reaching out to the reader to face the perils of death.
ReplyDeleteKeats starts out his poem with "This living hand, now warm and capable Of earnest grasping, would, if it were cold. " Now he is alive, he can do anything he wants. But someday this won't be the case, someday he won't be alive, he will be cold and dead. Keats continues "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights That thou would wish thine own heart dry of blood So in my veins red life might stream again." Once he is dead he is saying it will be terrible and you'd do anything to change it, but you can't. "And thou be conscience-calm’d–see here it is– I hold it towards you." Then Keats reassures and comforts you. His hand is still "warm and capable" and be holds it holds it out to you.
I don't think Keats was just holding out his hand, I think he was reaching out. I think that he is rightfully afraid of death, because in all reality death is a scary thing. Keats reaches out to the reader to face death together and live in the moment so when the time of death does come, there are no regrets. Death is inevitable and Keats knows that.
The tone of this poem I think was very mournful in a way. It surely wasn't a happy tone, and if someone were reading it too me i can imagine that they would read it somberly. Keats also picked some very powerful words that really struck me and helped set this saddening tone. He was very open and straight forward with his words. "Cold" and "icy" were two simple adjectives used in a haunting way to describe death and the silence it brings. "Haunt" and "chill" were two action verbs he used in the same line, "So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights" which made for what I think was the most powerful line in the poem.
Felicia, I really liked your view of the poem. I thought it was very interesting how you brought up the point that he was afraid of death. I also had to read the poem again before I could fully understand it. It is extremely intriguing how each one of us can read the poem and see it from a different point of view. Great job!
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ReplyDeleteThe poem, "This Living Hand", is such a short poem (only seven lines!), yet so much can be interpreted and taken away from those seven lines of writing. After reading it several times to fully understand and comprehend the poem, I think Keats was explaining how he was passing on his poetry and writing skills and memories to someone else because he was passing on. The last line reads, "I hold it towards you". It means that he is holding out his hand and everything for someone else to come along and take up what he left behind. In a way, I feel like the last line could read, "The future is up to you." The tone of Keats' poem could be described as Reflective because I believe that the poem is expressing some of his innermost thoughts and feelings.
ReplyDeleteThe choice of words that Keats uses also helps develop the tone of the poem. In the second and third line, it talks about death, the icy and cold feeling in the tomb. This is what he associated with when he thought of death. It creates a haunting feeling among the readers as well. Then, the poem also touches on a sense of new life in the line, "in my veins, red life might stream again." This changes the mood of the poem slightly.
The style of the poem could be described as epigrammatic because of the clever and unique way he described his feelings throughout the poem. Keats describes his emotions in the poem, but he also leaves it up for the reader to have their own interpretations of the words he wrote. That is one of the reasons why this poem is so unique; there are countless angles that this poem can be looked at from. Each time the reader has a chance to gain a different perspective on the poem and take a different meaning away from it.
On a side note, this poem/blog post reminded me of Virginia Woolf's "The Death of a Moth", because they both relate to the power of death and new beginnings.
Tori, your introductory paragraph really captured my attention! The poem was short, but effective. Also I think you hit it on the button when talking about the final line in the poem. John Keats was reaching out for others to grab hold and take over. You made some really good points and analyzed well. Great job!
DeleteVicki, I really enjoyed reading this blog. I agree with your saying that the poem can be taken differently every time it was read I felt the same way. It is interesting to read your perspective on this poem. Good job!
DeleteTori, the first thing I must say is that I love your use of the word epigrammatic! Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed your perspective on the poem because it was different from the other ones I had read and yet it made so much sense. Keats did in fact know he would soon die because of his tuberculosis, I didn't know if you knew that, but that fact sets the perfect base for your interpretation. Excellent job!
DeleteAfter reading "This Living Hand", I instantly thought it was a sad poem, but while I was writing about it, I really thought about it. The poem is not depressing at all. I found it to be very peaceful. It remind me of an elderly man that is in the hospital. He knows he is dying, and he had been dreading it. He comes across as terrified of dying, to the point where he wished he was already dead. This way he wouldn't have the fear building up inside of him anymore. But then he stops and looks around. He realizes that he was not living the life that he did have left. When he was reaching out his hand, I believe it was to his wife to console her. He came to peace with death in the end.
ReplyDeleteWhen Keats wrote this poem, he wrote some of it in the present tense and some in the future tense. This helps him convey his tone, which is solemn. He uses the solemn tone because he is in deep thought about life and death, and in this thought he is completely honest with himself. This is a serious subject to be contemplating, which is why Keats poem is solemn.
The words the Keats chose to use were so critical to making the poem into what he wanted the reader to get out of it. When the word "Conscience" is put in, it almost draws the reader back to the old mans reality. Also the part that says "wish thine own heart dry of blood" really forces the reader to stop and wonder why is he saying this. I think that he wanted each reader to get their own impression from it. This poem was informal, because the way it was written almost seems like the old man was giving advice to his grandson to live life while he could. Since it is informal, each reader takes something different from it. This poem really made me think about life and its value, and I believe that was the author's exact intentions.
Erin, you're interpretation of the poem is so different from mine. I looked at it negatively as you looked at it positively. I had not thought of it as an old man dying peacefully, rereading it I completely understand your view.
DeleteErin, I agree with Erin P in that I also had a different interpretation of the poem. While my opinion has not changed, I still find yours very interesting. I definitely think this would be an interesting poem to debate after seeing the different thoughts on it. Great work!
DeleteLet me just start off by saying that my initial thought also was that it was a sad poem. I never thought of his reference to reaching out his hand could have been to his wife. That was a great thing you though! Excellent job!
DeleteErin, I loved your interpretation! It was so different than mine; she immediately thought of a peaceful death while I though of a passionate love. I think it's so cool how we both interpreted it so differently but yours still makes absolute sense to me. Your comparison to the old man in the hospital was very good. It shocked me at first because I wasn't expecting it but as I continued to read it just got better and better. Wonderful job!
DeleteThe poem “This Living Hand” by John Keats is remarkable. The tone throughout most of the poem is rather depressing. Keats creates this tone with the way that the poem is written. The usage of gloomy words during his work is what truly makes this poem special. John Keats did a fantastic job of making the readers have a heartbreaking feeling at the beginning of the poem, but an extraordinary feeling at the end.
ReplyDeleteJohn Keats diction and syntax both played a huge role in the meaning of the poem “This Living Hand”. His choice of words is what actually generated the tone. “And in the icy silence of the tomb, So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights”. For the duration of the poem, Keats speaks about death. This was a great way to grab the attention of the audience because death is such a powerful thing that happens to everyone. All people wonder what will happen when they die, so they try to listen to what people have to say when they are discussing the topic of dying. Towards the end of the poem, Keats begins to explain life. “That thou wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood, So in my veins red life might stream again”. He basically forms the poem into two parts with his diction. The beginning is focusing on death and the sadness that comes with it, and the end concentrates on life and the beauty that is involved.
The manner in which he expressed his diction is what led to the syntax. The style for this poem in general was rather simple. John Keats did not include any difficult words. His poem was not complicated at all. This is definitely a good thing because as a writer, the goal is for every reader to be able to comprehend the message that is intended. The style for the poem “This Living Hand” was that when something comes to an end, it is just a new beginning to something in the future. Keats demonstrates that although his hand may be “dying” at the start of the poem, it reaches out to new life at the end. He wanted to make readers realize that this poem had a great amount of significance to it. The meaning was that life is a gift, and that people should not take it for granted. A person can only live once, so it is their responsibility to make the most of their time.
Drew, your beginning paragraph discussing gloomy words, depressing feelings, and heartbreaking feelings was right on. Also, you clearly stated how the use of words did in fact generate the tone. In all, you wrote a very good analysis on John Keats poem. Keep up the good work!
DeleteDrew, I have to say your interpretation of the poem was truely unique, I had not thought of the poem as having two parts to it. Your interpretation makes a lot of sense to me and wonder how I saw the poem as vengeful. Overall great job!
DeleteDrew, I liked that you pulled words directly from the poem. I thought it was nice reference that you used very well. Good job!
DeleteDrew, I agree with your interpretation of the syntax of the poem being simple. That is the same way I interpreted the style. I also really enjoy in your last few sentences how you explain that life is a gift and shouldn't be taken for granted. Nice work!
DeleteIn the poem "This Living Hand" written by John Keats, the use of syntax( style) and diction (choice of words) made this poem as good as it was. Poetry is a great way to express one's feelings and to say how someone really feels. It is healthy to write emotions down and that is exactly what John Keats did. It was obvious that Keats was afraid or upset with the fact of dying. Not so much physically dying, but knowing that it would also be the death of his writing period. John Keats did an excellent job of creating a sympathetic tone to art work. The final line of the poem read "I hold it towards you". This in some way puts pressure on anyone reading this writing. The viewers now know that Keats wants his sense of style and writing to be carried on and continued.
ReplyDeleteSome people may look at a poem and think it is short so it must not be very good or even professional. John Keats proved that using simple, but strong words are worth more than people assume. The way he worded the poem was interesting. After reading through the poem, some sympathy might be given toward the author. This may be so because he states how he is going from a "warm hand" to a "cold hand" within two lines of the writing. All this statement literally means is that he is coming to his terminal time and so is his writing. The hand at which he constantly wrote with was about to be "in the icy silence of the tomb". John Keats was not ready to give up writing, but he knew his time was approaching.
Throughout the poem, when John Keats states, " So in my veins red life might stream again". He wants to be writing forever and reincarnate almost after his death. He was so passionate about his writing he knew he would never be ready to give it up. I feel this quote, " so in my veins red life might stream again", may also relate to the last line "I hold it towards you". These two quotes can connect because John Keats may have meant that once he is no longer living or able to write, he wants us to follow in his footsteps and write well as he did.
The reason this poem was so effective was because John Keats really knew how use words. His poem was so powerful, but at the same point simple. This gave everyone reading the poem a chance to understand it and comprehend what the author was trying to say. This poem was effective in many ways, but John Keats being able to write with syntax and diction enhanced the reading by extremes.
Jolene:
DeleteI loved how you used the line "So in my veins red life might stream again" and then said how he wanted his writing to live on far past his lifespan. He knew that it could Dan more after he died. I thought that was a fantastic inference. Awesome job!
For generations, writing has been a way to express oneself. “This Living Hand” by John Keats is not an exception and is in fact a good example of using writing to express your thoughts. Syntax and diction both play a role in manipulating what the audience thinks of a piece, but perhaps the most important tool to use to accurately influence your audience is the tone of your work. The tone of “This Living Hand” by John Keats is haunting.
ReplyDeleteIn order to understand what a poem means, knowledge of the poet’s life can be helpful or even allow you to view the poem in an all new way. John Keats was an Englishman born in 1795. When he died, he was only 25 years old and was suffering from tuberculosis. Joseph Severn, the friend caring for him in his final months, noticed that Keats would awaken from slumber and cry because of it. Severn wrote, “Keats raves till I am in a complete tremble for him”. Thus reading the poem had a greater impact on me after I knew of the dreadful condition Keats was in while writing “This Living Hand”. While discussing the poem with my mother she made an astute remark. She said that had she read the poem without knowing about Keats she would have thought it was a resigned and sorrowful poem of and old man who had lived his share of life. However, with the knowledge of Keats youth she found that his writing was angry and regretful.
The syntax is the style that the author writes with. Keats’ writing in this poem is phrase after phrase without stopping, like a run-on sentence. The words flowed together despite the way some thoughts interrupted others. The urgency with which he writes tints the words with hysteria. This headlong rush makes the reader’s pulse race. The way he writes also makes you contemplate what it will feel like one day when you are on death’s door.
Diction is the words the author uses to convey their thoughts and to make their writings much more powerful and meaningful. Keats’ diction is formal and elevated, as he uses more elaborate grammatical structures and is also very intellectual. Some words I found important in this poem were earnest, wish, and calm’d. “Earnest” is important because it shows a certain strength that those who are healthy have that the infirmed or deceased do not. “Wish” is a powerful word because Keats not only says that you would if you could, he says that you would want to give your life if it meant returning his. “Calm’d” was significant because it meant that only after trading your life for Keats’ would you be able to feel at ease.
The diction and syntax make the tone of this poem all the more powerful. I find Keats’ tone in this poem to be both somber and haunting. At the same time I find it to be very emotional; perhaps even urging. This poem required me to read it through several times before I could understand, but that just made it all the more enriching. Perhaps this is why Keats’ poems and letters are some of the most popular pieces to analyze in English literature.
Meaghan, I love everything about this post! I appreciated the history lesson on Keats. I had not known anything about him before reading his poem, but helped me understand the poem a little bit better! I also really like a lot of the words you used, like "tints" and "headlong rush." Also, I like how you described the importance of some of the words Keats used. You choices for tone were also very intriguing. They were unique words that I never thought of.
DeleteGreat job, Meaghan!
The poem "This Living Hand" by John Keats is a great poem. The poem is very short but is still a very good work of literature. The tone for this poem is one of almost despair. Throughout much of the poem the feeling given off is of a dark icy tomb. Without using the words icy, cold, and later on chill to describe the tomb I do not believe that the reader would have grasped the true meaning of the poem. This shows how important word choice really is in writing literature everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThe syntax and diction of the poem "This Living Hand" give the poem it's tone. Without the correct use of syntax and diction Keats would have not been able to grasp your attention with his gloomy, almost creepy words. The third line in the poem, "And in the icy silence of the tomb" is one that really grabbed my attention the usage of the words icy, cold, and chill create a feeling of death. It is easy to tell from this choice of words that Keats thinks that death will be chilling and cold. When Keats wrote "so in my veins red life could stream again" I felt as if Keats was entering Heaven. I also feel that when he writes "I hold it towards you" he is saying that he would like others to come with him to the afterlife.
The syntax or style for the poem "This Living Hand" is very interesting. I believe the syntax for this poem is simple. I believe this because it is not hard to read and it is not very complicated. This is an excellent choice of style for this poem because it allows it to be read by many different types of people. I believe there was also some symbolization in this poem, depending on how it is interpreted. I believe the warm hand is taking someone up to heaven after a cold death, but it also could be interpreted in a very different way. The poem "This Living Hand" by John Keats is one that can be interpreted in a different way every time it is read.
Austin, I like how you mentioned a few words from the poem and said that without them, the reader would not fully comprehend the true meaning. Also also, I enjoyed your interpretation of the line, "so in my veins red life could stream again." I never thought of it that way. I also liked your entire last paragraph, especially when you wrote about the symbolization. Again, I hadn't looked at it in that way.
DeleteOverall, you did a great job, Austin!
I very much enjoyed this poem. I believe that John Keats had a very strong and confident tone yet betrayed a sense of softness and peace. I think that he was relaxed and at ease when he wrote "And thou be conscience-calmed-see here it is- I hold it towards you". He knew that there was turmoil, but he wanted it resolved and was going to try and do whatever he could to make that peace happen. As much as he could have been reaching his hand out to shake another man's hand in a peace treaty, I believe that he is reaching for something better. ; for a new tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteUnlike George Orwell, Mr. Keats did not use complex vocabulary words to get his point across. In fact, he was not very abstruse, or difficult to understand at all.
He used smaller and easily comprehend words that allowed the people ready it to better relate. In the line "so haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights" I love how he used the words haunt and chill. They go together very well. For example, when watching a scary movie, one feels haunted of course, but also a sense of " the chills". He used these very well to describe the inner war that was occurring.
John Keats' style is interesting. Even if one doesn't analyze this poem or read in-between the lines of it, it is so great because it is easily relatable. If one would decided to look further into it, they could possible feel the tension or stress that inspired him to write this little piece of poetry. I have read it more than ten times because each time I go and read through it, I find something else hidden there between those words that were written so long ago.
Poetry is a diverse way of expressing emotions. A poem mirrors how the writer is feeling. "This Living Hand," by John Keats gravitates towards his alarmed feeling of dying. In his case, Keats is more fearful of his written work dying. The tone of this short poem appears to be gloomy yet hopeful. Keats worries that his work will slowly fade away, along with his name. But, he sort of leaves it up to his readers to continue to spread his poetry. This mix of emotions makes it very easy to see that Keats is passionate about his work and its future.
ReplyDeleteWithout syntax and diction, there would probably be no tone to this poem. Diction is extremely important to all written works. Keats used intriguing words and phrases like earnest grasping, icy silence, haunt, and chill. When I first read this poem, I was confused. His first line, "This living hand, now warm and capable of earnest grasping...," had me thinking the poem was going to be gentle and happy. But after reading it a few more times, I unearthed a sense of hatred towards anyone who would forget his poetry. His words of choice aided in the display of these feelings. I also became conscious of what he thought death would feel like. Keats described death by saying, "...icy silence of the tomb..." It sounded like Keats did not want to die and be alone in his coffin. These words and verses are all very powerful, and they help the reader discover the tone of the poem.
Syntax is the style the author uses. One style Keats used is picturesque. His words pictured the entire poem without any effort. It is important to be able to see what the author's message. Another style Keats used is succinct. This poem is very short, but it gets to the point and is pretty clear. Some poems are short, but they lack interest and quality. Keats was talented and knew what he wanted to say and how to go about it. I could tell Keats wrote this poem from his heart.
In this poem, I feel as though Keats is reaching out to his readers. He wanted our promise that, even though he is physically dead, his work will live on for generation after generation. Keats understood that everyone dies, but he wanted a special part of him to stay alive.
When John Keats wrote the poem "This Living Hand" he was twenty four. This is important for two reasons. That year John Keats published more work than he ever had before because he had fallen in love and was secretly engaged. Also, he would die the following year from tuberculosis. "This Living Hand" was one of the last pieces he wrote.
ReplyDeleteIt is said that Keats generally had a more somber tone. This poem, however, seemed to be more of an expression of how he felt about his current love. It seemed to say that for the first time Keats was on uneven ground, giving his heart to a woman that he feared living without. He was taking a step out of his comfort zone and offering himself to her entirely. This was very evident to me especially in the final line "...so here it is - I hold it towards you." That was the point when it was obvious to me that he was referring to giving something away. He expresses his dread of losing the woman by saying "That thoug wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood." This line says to me that without her why would he even want to live.
Because of the time period when this was written a sort of older English is used in words like wouldst and thine. But it is still obvious that Keats is very descriptive. When he speaks of the tomb he refers to it as "cold" and with an "icy silence." This leads the reader to dislike the tomb because it is made to sound dark and unfriendly. In a way the tomb is set juxtapose to the "warm and capable" hand as well as the blood that keeps him alive. By doing this I feel as if the hand is so welcoming that it makes the tomb seem even worse. Besides being so descriptive, Keats uses a few words that I find very powerful. The word "grasping" stuck out to me. It made me think of two hands clutching each other for strength. He also said "red life" which I found to be much more appealing and touching than simply using the word blood. Because of the words and phrases he used the poem seemed to carry a lot of emotion from himself to the reader.
Though many of Keats' other works were not written in this style I found myself reading it again and again. Each time I discovered something new that made me love the poem even more. The way he seems to put his heart into every line made me feel as if he was speaking directly to me and I could hear the emotions in his voice. I believe this to be a result of his excellent word usage. It really enhances the meaning of the poem.