Writing Prompt

Read the following poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and write an essay about the poem in which you address the following:

How does the poem work? How would you explicate its meaning? What does the poem accomplish aesthetically, intellectually, and/or philosophically?

Work Without Hope

All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair- The bees are stirring-birds are on the wing- And Winter slumbering in the open air Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring! And I the while, the sole unbusy thing, Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.

Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow, Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow. Bloom, 0 ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may, For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away! With lips unbrightened, wreathless brow, I stroll: And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul? Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve, And Hope without an object cannot live.

Example of a “1” Response

The poet uses the device of apostacy to address something he knows will not answer him in return.

The poem works by the poet showing that nature exists for it self and by itself but with no consiousness of itsself or the poet. It is oly the poet, the observer who is conscious not only of nature in all its rich beauty and fecundity and at the same time is not part of it. Or at least he does not busy himself with the same things .

Thew Poet uses the literary device of apostraphy to address something he know will and cannot answer him back. Coleridge asks ” And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul?” He is asking the same question all thoughtfull human beings ask: “Why am I here and what does it all mean?” And what is the purpose of my life?”

He concludes by saying that “hope” is what seperates