Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

“Tall Nettles” by Philip Edward Thomas was published in 1916.

Context”

Philip Edward Thomas was a British poet who lived from 1878-1917. He was a close friend of Robert Frost and his poetry is often associated with the Georgian poets of the early 20th century. The time period in which he wrote was marked by significant social and political changes, including World War I, which would have undoubtedly influenced his work.

Content:

Tall Nettles is a poem about the beauty of nature and the cycle of life. The poem describes the tall nettles in a field, and how they grow and eventually die, giving way to new life. The poem also touches on themes of time, growth, and decay.

Form:

Tall Nettles is a lyric poem consisting of six quatrains with a rhyme scheme of ABAB. The meter is predominantly iambic tetrameter, with occasional variations. The poem has a regular structure that reflects the cyclical nature of its subject matter.

Poetic Elements:

The poem uses a variety of poetic techniques and devices to convey its themes. These include imagery, symbolism, and personification. The imagery of the tall nettles is used to explore the ideas of growth and decay, while the personification of the nettles gives them a sense of agency and purpose.

Evaluation Plus:

Tall Nettles is a beautifully written poem that uses vivid imagery and poetic techniques to convey its themes. The poem is particularly effective in its use of personification, which gives the nettles a sense of life and purpose. The regular structure and rhyme scheme of the poem also contribute to its overall impact. From an evaluation standpoint, the poem can be seen as a commentary on the cycle of life and death, and the beauty that can be found in the natural world. Overall, Tall Nettles is a powerful example of Edward Thomas's skill as a poet and his ability to convey complex ideas through the use of poetic language.

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