England in 1819

• context

  1819 / Percy Shelley

  was a romantic poet, criticized society + oppression

  published by his wife after his death (it was dangerous to post something against monarchy)

  themes - politics / corruption / power/ society

  link - name journeys / homing
• "an old, mad, blind, despised and dying king"

  mp - opening / attack on George III + monarchy

  polysyndetic list - shames king / condemning him / stripping him of dignity + show hes decaying

  adjectives "mad" / "blind" - literal + metaphorical weakness / king unfit to rule

  unforgiving scornful tone - direct/ sets it for the rest of poem
• "till they drop in blind in blood"

  mp - describe soldiers enforcing violence

  violent imagery - image of soldiers sacrificing / everyone is a victim

  alliteration "B" - mimics brutal, emphasise bloodshed

  metaphor - soldiers morally fighting blind / no control
• "a glorious phantom may burst, to illumine out tempestuous day"

  mp - final volta of sonnet / shift to hope

  personification "glorious phantom" - symbolise revolution / new political idea/ show shelley's belief in change

  verb "burst" - sudden / explosive / urgent / unpredictable / illuminates hope + change

  metaphor "tempestuous day" - current state is stormy but has potential