Isabella

• Fair Isabel, poor simple Isabel'


  The first line of the poem describes Isabella as an innocent and weak character. She comes across as the tragic victim.
• I will drink her tears'


  connotes sacrifice and demonstrates the care he would give for her to be happy. The tragic irony that he drinks her tears alive here and the basil pot on top of his head drinks her head when he is dead. Foreshadows his death
• high conceit of such a bride'


  error of judgement - delusional, they will never be able to marry - false sense of hope - due to societal expectations and their contrasting status's
• wintry cold / summer clime'


  metaphor for life and warmth - warning sign to their relationship - he's dependent on her for life - love has the ability to change his physical temperature from cold to warm
• parting they seemed to tread upon the air'


  moment of happiness
• all close they met again'


  - anger and death

  - relates to Macbeth, hiding their secrets from God

  - they're risking everything to meet each other - their secrecy will ultimately lead to risk and danger
• there is richest juice in poison-flowers'


  the danger that encompasses them heightens the sweetness of their love

  although undermined by the imagery that the bees can sense the danger and stay away unlike Isabella and Lorenzo who are blinded to the dangers due to their obsessive love
• the seal on the cold ice with piteous bark


  violent imagery - abuse of power - Keats commentary on slavery / exploitation

  theme of slavery

  reflection on Keats own views on capatialism
• why were they proud?


  Indicates Keats hate towards the brothers. (showing his frustration from the repetition and rhetorical question) Does he question his own actions of placing such cruelty in his work? Are they of such demonic-like embodiment that he too feels endangered?
• in hungry pride and gainful cowardice
• "When 'twas their plan to coax her by degrees to some high noble and his olive trees"
• to kill Lorenzo and there bury him


  Blunt sentence contrasts the flowering language that is consistent throughout the poem.
• there was Lorenzo slain and buried in
• they dipped their swords in the water
• "Poor Girl! Put on thy stifling widow's weed"


  interjection from poet to show sympathy for Isabella who does not know that Lorenzo is dead.
• she weeps alone...sorely she wept until the night came on
• by gradual decay from beauty fell


  grotesque imagery describes downfall, suffering implied as natural stage of life. LOSS OF IDENTITY
• it was a vision
• Go, shed one tear upon my heather-bloom, and it shall comfort me within the tomb


  pathos - evokes emotions from readers
• with death, as life


  juxtaposed ideas
• and she forgot the stars, the moon, and sun, and she forgot the blue above the trees, and she forgot the dells where waters run, and she forgot the chilly autumn breeze


  (lots)
• hung over her sweet basil evermore
• she ever fed it with thin tears
• For simple Isabel is soon to be among the dead
• "Away they went with blood upon their heads to banishment"
• for cruel it is...to steal my basil-pot away from me
• no heart was there in Florence but did mourn in pity of her love
• O cruelty, to steal my basil-pot away from me!