Shall earth no more inspire thee

• Who wrote the poem 'Shall earth no more inspire thee'?

  Emily Brontë
• What complex emotions does 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' explore?

  Humanity’s relationship with the natural world
• In the poem, who is the speaker that pleads for the listener to return to their relationship with nature?

  Nature
• What rhetorical questions does the speaker ask in lines 1-4 of the poem?

  “Shall earth no more inspire thee?” and “Shall Nature cease to bow?”
• What does the speaker mean by referring to the listener as a “lonely dreamer”?

  The listener is isolated and lacks passion
• How does Brontë present the speaker's tone in the poem?

  Reflective and doubtful
• What does the speaker suggest about the listener's thoughts in lines 5-8?

  The listener's thoughts are dark and restless
• What does the speaker ask the listener to do in lines 5-8?

  To return and dwell with them
• How does the speaker describe their influence on the listener in lines 9-12?

  The speaker suggests they can calm and please the listener
• What does Brontë imply about nature's power in lines 9-12?

  Nature has the power to soothe disturbed thoughts
• What imagery does the speaker use in lines 13-16 to describe the time of day?

  Dusk, when day blends with evening
• How does the speaker describe the listener's previous feelings towards nature in lines 13-16?

  The listener has praised nature in “fond idolatry”
• What does the speaker claim to know about the listener in lines 17-20?

  The speaker knows the listener very well and their griefs
• What does Brontë emphasize about the relationship between nature and the individual in lines 17-20?

  Nature has the power to alleviate human grief
• What emotional state does the speaker describe in lines 21-24?

  A heart that “wildly” pines and grieves deeply
• How does the speaker compare earth to heaven in lines 21-24?

  The beauty on earth is like “heaven”
• What does the speaker urge the listener to do in lines 25-28?

  To let nature comfort them and return to it
• What does Brontë imply about the relationship between humans and nature in lines 25-28?

  Only appreciation of nature can bring peace
• What is the overall form of 'Shall earth no more inspire thee'?

  • The poem consists of seven regular quatrains
  • Maintains a regular rhyme scheme of ABAB
  • Promotes a reassuring tone and introspective reflection
• How does Brontë structure the poem to convey themes of disconnected relationships?

  • Begins with uncertainty through rhetorical questions
  • Uses ambiguous pronouns to confuse perspective
  • Blends voices of humans and nature for universal harmony
  • Employs caesura and end-stopped lines to slow rhythm
• What language techniques does Brontë use to explore relationships with the world?

  • Vivid emotive language to represent a troubled listener
  • Natural imagery to highlight beauty in the environment
  • Sensory imagery to suggest nature’s influence
  • Religious imagery to allude to spiritual connections
• In what year was 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' written?

  1798
• Why did Brontë publish her poems under a pen name?

  To avoid controversy as a female writer in patriarchal England
• How does the poem reflect the impact of the Industrial Revolution on Romantic poetry?

  It expresses concern about disconnection from nature
• What does the speaker suggest about the listener's emotional state throughout the poem?

  The listener experiences deep emotional turmoil and isolation
• What overarching idea does Brontë convey about nature in the poem?

  Nature can provide comfort and peace to troubled souls