On the Grasshopper and Cricket by John Keats (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes

On the Grasshopper and Cricket by John Keats

Background and context

"On the Grasshopper and Cricket" was written in 1816 by John Keats, one of the major figures of the Romantic Movement. As a Romantic poet, Keats celebrated the beauty of nature and its capacity to bring joy through his poetry. This particular sonnet explores how nature's continuous beauty persists throughout all seasons, represented through the songs of two specific insects - the grasshopper in summer and the cricket in winter.

The main theme of the poem centres on nature's eternal delight and its persistent presence. Keats demonstrates that the "poetry of earth" never truly dies but continues in different forms across the changing seasons.

The complete poem

The Poetry of earth is never dead:
When all the birds are faint with the hot sun,
And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run
From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead;
That is the Grasshopper's—he takes the lead
In summer luxury,—he has never done
With his delights; for when tired out with fun
He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed.

The poetry of earth is ceasing never:
On a lone winter evening, when the frost
Has wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills
The Cricket's song, in warmth increasing ever,
And seems to one in drowsiness half lost,
The Grasshopper's among some grassy hills.

Structure and form

This poem follows the structure of a Petrarchan sonnet, which consists of 14 lines divided into two main sections:

• Octave (first 8 lines): Introduces the grasshopper's song during summer
• Sestet (final 6 lines): Shifts focus to the cricket's song during winter

The rhyme scheme follows the traditional Petrarchan pattern: ABBA ABBA CDE CDE. This structure creates a connection between the two parts whilst also highlighting their seasonal differences.

Metre and rhythm

The poem is written predominantly in iambic pentameter, but Keats introduces subtle variations to create emphasis and reflect the natural rhythms he describes. For example:

• The phrase "Cricket's song, in warmth increasing ever" uses extra syllables (feminine ending) to create a more fluid rhythm
• "When all the birds are faint with the hot sun" includes spondaic stress on "hot sun" to intensify the line's impact

These variations mirror the natural ebb and flow of seasonal changes, enhancing the poem's connection to nature's rhythms.

Detailed analysis

Lines 1-8: Summer and the grasshopper

The opening line establishes the poem's central message: "The Poetry of earth is never dead". This powerful statement introduces the concept that nature continuously creates beauty and music.

During the hot summer months, when birds become silent and seek shade from the intense heat, the grasshopper emerges as nature's spokesperson. Keats describes how this small creature "takes the lead" by providing continuous entertainment through its song.

The grasshopper represents:

• Joy and energy: "summer luxury" and "delights"
• Persistence: "he has never done with his delights"
• Natural contentment: resting "at ease beneath some pleasant weed"

The grasshopper's activities show how nature adapts to seasonal challenges whilst maintaining its musical presence.

Lines 9-14: Winter and the cricket

The second stanza mirrors the first with a similar opening: "The poetry of earth is ceasing never". This repetition reinforces the poem's main theme whilst introducing the winter setting.

During the cold, lonely winter evening, when frost creates silence in the natural world, the cricket provides warmth and comfort from beside the stove. Key observations include:

• Contrast with summer: The cricket sings from indoors, seeking warmth
• Increasing intensity: "in warmth increasing ever" suggests the cricket's song grows stronger
• Memory and connection: The cricket's song reminds listeners of the grasshopper's summer music

Key themes and literary techniques

Nature's continuity

The poem's central theme emphasises that nature's voice never truly stops. Instead, it transforms and adapts to different seasonal conditions whilst maintaining its essential character.

Seasonal juxtaposition

Keats uses juxtaposition to contrast summer and winter:

• Summer: Hot, outdoor, meadows, birds hiding
• Winter: Cold, indoor, frost, silence

Yet both seasons feature insects that maintain nature's musical tradition.

Personification

Both the grasshopper and cricket are personified as poets or musicians who consciously choose to continue earth's song. They become symbols of nature's creative force.

Cyclical structure

The poem's structure reflects the cyclical nature of seasons. Beginning and ending with statements about earth's poetry creates a sense of continuous movement and renewal.

About John Keats

John Keats (1795-1821) was an English Romantic poet who wrote most of his significant works between 1814 and 1819. Despite his short life, dying at only 25 years old, he became one of the most celebrated poets of the nineteenth century.

Keats was known for his rich imagery and innovative poetic forms. His most famous works include "Ode to a Nightingale", "To Autumn", "Endymion", and "Ode on a Grecian Urn". He challenged traditional poetic conventions and created his own distinctive literary style.

His poems often explore themes of beauty, nature, and mortality, reflecting the Romantic Movement's emphasis on emotion, imagination, and the natural world.

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