On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer
Settings
Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. Oft of one wide expanse had I been told That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne; Yet did I never breathe its pure serene Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken; Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes He star'd at the Pacific - and all his men Look'd at each other with a wild surmise Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
- 1.What type of poem is this?
- A.
Shakespearean Sonnet
- B.
Ode
- C.
Petrarchan Sonnet
- D.
Epic Ballad
- E.
Carpe Diem
- F.
Epithalamium
- 2.Keats wrote this poem in reaction to...
- 3.Which of the literary devices are present? (More than one.)
- A.
Onomatopoeia
- B.
Simile
- C.
Overstatement
- D.
Allusion
- E.
Rhyme Scheme
- F.
Oxymoron
- G.
Dialogue
- H.
Euphemism
- 4.What is the significance of the "realms of gold" in contrast to the "western islands"? Why does Keats mention these locations? (Pay attention to the setting of the poem.)
- 5.Describe the change in the narrator that occurs in the poem. From what you can tell, how is he different from before? (Occurs about halfway through the poem.)
- 6.Which planet is Keats supposedly talking about in this poem? (It was newly discovered in his lifetime.)
- A.
Uranus
- B.
Neptune
- C.
Pluto
- D.
Earth
- E.
Mars
- F.
Jupiter
- 7.Assuming Keats did this on purpose, why did he choose Cortez instead of Balboa? (Balboa was the first European to discover the Pacific Ocean)
- 8.Where is the "peak of Darien" located, which Keats refers to?
- A.
Britain
- B.
Connecticut
- C.
Spain
- D.
Panama
- E.
Madagascar
- 9.Who is Homer, and what would Chapman's Homer be?
- A.
Homer is an epic Greek poem. Chapman's Homer is a different spin-off based on Homer.
- B.
Homer is a Greek poet, author of such works as the Odyssey or Iliad. Chapman's Homer is the translation of Homer's poems.
- C.
Homer is a yellow man, from the Simpson's. Thus Chapman's Homer is just a name for one of Chapman's friends who is similar to Homer.
- D.
Homer is a sponge. Thus Chapman's Homer is what Chapman uses to clean his dishes.
- 10.What feeling do you get from this poem? (Be eloquent.)
Back to top