Period 5 "When I Have Fears" Quiz

The correct answer suggests that the overall meaning of the poem is that the speaker is afraid to die because he won't be able to experience love and fame. This implies that the speaker values these aspects of life and is fearful of missing out on them in death.

"When I Have Fears" represents a deeply personal expression of an emotion that became ingrained in Keats' life as early as 1816—the fear of a premature death. The unsettling presence of this fear might be attributed to the brief lifespans of both his parents.

The line "think that I may never live to trace their shadows with the magic hand of chance" suggests that the speaker is expressing a sense of uncertainty and fear that they may not have the opportunity to fulfill their desires and dreams before they die. The phrase "the magic hand of chance" implies that the speaker believes their life and opportunities are governed by unpredictable and uncontrollable forces.

This poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means it has lines with five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables. This poetic meter is commonly used in English poetry and is associated with the works of William Shakespeare. The use of iambic pentameter creates a rhythmic and musical quality to the poem, allowing for a smooth and natural flow of words.

Although the speaker feels alone, he never mentions how his feelings are different from other people's.