QUESTION 1 This sonnet uses the Shakespearean rhyme scheme, ABA CDC beef g. This sonnet contains a 3 quatrain and a couplet. The theme of the poem focuses on the poet’s fear of death at a young age. He is filled with lots of ideas to write poetry and books and would not be able to get the chance to fulfill his dream. He would not find romance as there is no hope for him because he is dying. In the end of the sonnet his attitude takes a turn to reality that love and him being a famous poet means nothing anymore as he will eventually die.
QUESTION 2 The poet has a lot of negativity in his poem. His fear of dying alone. No one will be with him when he dies because you can only die alone. He writes the poem in a negative way by using metaphors to describe his feelings.
QUESTION 3 His fear of dying in line 1 depicts this grief and suffering. He also as lots of ideas of poems he would like to write together with books. The imagery used here as he compares himself to nature as grain will be sowed and grown ready to be harvested. His life at a prime and mature age will be taken away just like the rain that will be cut down to be harvested.
QUESTION 4 The star means the end of a day because it shines at night, just like his life is compared to this darkness. He try’s to hold on to this star because it shines bright but he knows he has no hope. He will die soon. High romance for him is unreachable because he has a dark cloud over him. He is sad of dying. He won’t be able to reach the shadows of love. He hopes there is a miracle waiting to happen to him but he knows that would not come true.
QUESTION 5 The poet’s interest is to write poetry or find his love interest. He uses this exaggeration since he is so aware of his time on earth is so little. He has not found his love interest yet and his love of writing poetry and to continue to do so. There is too little time available for all these things to do.
QUESTION 6 The use of “shore” introduces a metaphor. The poet views the world as if he is standing on an edge staring out at it. He sees his life and desires in perspective. In the last two lines of the sonnet there is an enjambment where there is a sudden change in his writing there is a conclusion. He is not in touch with the world anymore. He is deprived of everything. This is reality the end of his life for him. His romantic love and he being a famous poet are not so important anymore and are meaningless because he will die soon.
QUESTION 7 John Keats was a doctor when he gave up his career to write poetry. He was 25 years old when he died of tuberculosis from nursing his mother and brother of the disease. He was quiet a renowned poet by his time. His deteriorating health was what prompted him to write this poem ‘When I have fears that I may cease to be” in 1818. He knows his time is drawing nearer and takes in a negative outlook of life. He puts his words to the feelings and emotions when dealing with death.
