Shall earth no more inspire thee (AQA GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
'Shall earth no more inspire thee'
Each poetry anthology at GCSE contains 15 poems, and in your exam question you will be given one poem – printed in full – and asked to compare this printed poem to another from the anthology. As this is a closed-book exam, you will not have access to the second poem, so you will have to know it from memory. Fifteen poems is a lot to revise. However, understanding four things will enable you to produce a top-grade response:
The meaning of the poem
The ideas and messages of the poet
How the poet conveys these ideas through their methods
How these ideas compare and contrast with the ideas of other poets in the anthology
Below is a guide to Emily Brontë’s poem 'Shall earth no more inspire thee', from the Worlds and Lives anthology. It includes:
Overview: a breakdown of the poem, including its possible meanings and interpretations
Writer’s methods: an exploration of the poet’s techniques and methods
Context: an exploration of the context of the poem, relevant to its themes
What to compare it to: ideas about which poems to compare it to in the exam
Overview
In order to answer an essay question on any poem, it is vital that you understand what it is about. This section includes:
The poem in a nutshell
A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section
A commentary of each of these sections, outlining Emily Brontë’s intention and message
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' in a nutshell
'Shall earth no more inspire thee', written by the Victorian novelist and poet Emily Brontë, explores complex emotions related to humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Through observations of the power of the universe, the speaker, Nature, pleads for the listener to return to their relationship and find peace.
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' breakdown
Lines 1–4
“Shall earth no more inspire thee,
Thou lonely dreamer now?
Since passion may not fire thee
Shall Nature cease to bow?”
Translation
The lines are ambiguous in terms of who the speaker is addressing:
The speaker asks a “lonely dreamer” without “passion” if nature has also lost its power to “fire” them or motivate them
Brontë’s intention
Brontë’s speaker asks two rhetorical questions to begin, contributing to the poem’s reflective tone
Brontë presents a doubtful speaker and listener, presenting a troubled introspection:
The speaker questions the listener’s isolation and lack of imagination (“fire”)
Lines 5–8
“Thy mind is ever moving
In regions dark to thee;
Recall its useless roving—
Come back and dwell with me.”
Translation
The speaker refers to the listener’s dark and restless (“roving”) thoughts
The speaker comments on the pointlessness of rambling and “useless” thinking
Here, the speaker asks the “lonely dreamer” to return and “dwell” (stay) with them
Brontë’s intention
Brontë raises romantic ideas about the way nature can provide comfort:
The poem raises ideas about human emotions and inner turmoil
Specifically, these lines suggest that, by dreaming, the speaker may calm their restless and gloomy thoughts
Lines 9–12
“I know my mountain breezes
Enchant and soothe thee still —
I know my sunshine pleases
Despite thy wayward will.”
Translation
Here, the reader is alerted that the narrator is “Nature”:
The speaker explains how “my” wind can calm and “my sunshine” can bring peace
The speaker suggests they know that they “soothe” a “wayward will”, which means nature can calm disturbed thoughts
Brontë’s intention
Brontë draws attention to Romantic ideas about the simplicity of nature bringing joy and wellbeing
By personifying nature, she affords it a wise and omniscient voice
Lines 13–16
“When day with evening blending
Sinks from the summer sky,
I’ve seen thy spirit bending
In fond idolatry.”
Translation
The speaker describes the dusk, when the day is “blending” with night
The speaker adds that this scene alters the listener’s mood: “Thy spirit bending”
The speaker reminds the listener that they have praised or worshipped nature in “fond idolatry” previously
Brontë’s intention
Brontë’s speaker, Nature, is certain about the influence of its simple beauty
Brontë appears to be reminding the individual that they have found pleasure in the world before when they have appreciated nature
Lines 17–20
“I’ve watched thee every hour;
I know my mighty sway,
I know my magic power
To drive thy griefs away.”
Translation
The speaker (Nature) tells the listener (the “lonely dreamer”) that they know them very well
The speaker refers to their powerful force (“mighty sway”) that can alter moods
Brontë’s intention
Brontë’s speaker presents the close relationship between nature and the individual:
The speaker lists the things they know about the listener’s “grief”
Brontë stresses the power of reflection and the appreciation of the simple beauty of the natural world to “drive” off pain and sadness
Lines 21–24
“Few hearts to mortals given
On earth so wildly pine;
Yet none would ask a heaven
More like this earth than thine.”
Translation
The speaker comments again on the emotional state of the listener:
They refer to a heart that “wildly” pines and grieves deeply
They suggest it is rare to find someone so emotional
However, the speaker suggests the beauty on earth is like “heaven”
They advise the listener to appreciate their world
Brontë’s intention
Brontë refers to the inner turmoil of the listener
Her poem pleads for individuals to consider earth as like “heaven”
She reminds the individual that the earth belongs to them, that it is “thine” earth
Lines 25–28
“Then let my winds caress thee;
Thy comrade let me be —
Since nought beside can bless thee,
Return and dwell with me.”
Translation
The speaker urges the listener to be comforted by the sensory nature of “my winds”
The speaker, Nature, asks for a relationship with the listener, to be their friend (“comrade”)
The speaker again refers to the emotional state of the listener:
They suggest nothing (“nought”) else but being together can heal (“bless”) them
Brontë’s intention
Brontë’s ambiguous speaker and listener create a sense of harmony or “oneness” between human beings and the natural world
Brontë appears to imply that only appreciation of the natural world can bring peace
Writer’s methods
Although this section is organised into three separate sections – form, structure and language – it is always best to move from what the poet is presenting (the techniques they use; the overall form of the poem; what comes at the beginning, middle and end of a poem) to how and why they have made the choices they have.
Focusing on the poet’s overarching ideas, rather than individual poetic techniques, will gain you far more marks. Crucially, in the sections below, all analysis is arranged by theme, and includes Emily Brontë’s intentions behind her choices in terms of:
Form
Structure
Language
Form
The poem’s regular form promotes a consistently reassuring tone. The length of the poem contributes to the persistence of the speaker’s plea as they ask a silent listener to reconnect with the natural world for a more peaceful life. The fluid rhythm contributes to the theme of introspective reflection.
Theme | Evidence | Poet’s intention |
|---|---|---|
Belonging and connection | The poem is made up of seven regular quatrains:
| The rhythm contributes to the theme of the poem:
|
The rhythm shifts between seven- and six-syllable lines, creating a slightly inconsistent rhythm | Nature, the speaker, asserts their power:
| |
Brontë presents an introspective but determined speaker, Nature, who attempts to persuade a listener to ease their troubled thoughts | ||
Structure
Brontë’s poem disrupts the reflective and controlled tone in order to show the tensions in the speaker’s voice as they raise questions about the listener’s dark and restless thoughts and feelings.
Theme | Evidence | Poet’s intention |
|---|---|---|
Disconnected relationships | The poem’s ambiguous perspective begins the poem with uncertainty:
| Brontë conveys the doubt and confusion present in the human world by starting the poem with a confused speaker:
|
The regular, flowing rhythm is slowed with caesura and end-stopped lines: “Recall its useless roving—” | Brontë conveys the speaker’s persuasive tone by prompting pause | |
The speaker repeats their plea to end the poem: “Return and dwell with me”:
| Brontë uses repetition to present the speaker’s reassuring tone, as well as a sense of urgency | |
The poem’s structure reflects the speaker’s initial doubt, which soon changes to a growing certainty about how human beings can find peace in their world | ||
Language
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' is a poem that explores typically romantic ideas regarding humanity’s ability to find peace in their natural environment. Brontë’s description of the beauty of nature is connected to spirituality.
Theme | Evidence | Poet’s intention |
|---|---|---|
Relationships with the world | Vivid emotive language represents a troubled listener:
| Brontë illustrates the inner turmoil of the individual, (the listener) in order to present an individual disconnected from nature |
Brontë uses natural imagery to remind the speaker of the simple beauty in their environment:
| The poet draws attention to everyday events in the natural world, whereby individuals can find peace and joy | |
Brontë uses sensory imagery to suggest nature’s influence: “my mountain breezes/Enchant and soothe” | The poem presents nature as a powerful force, with the ability to affect human emotions | |
Brontë uses imagery relating to religion and the supernatural:
| Brontë presents a powerful spiritual connection that humans have with the natural environment:
| |
Brontë suggests that a close connection with nature and an appreciation of its power can bring tranquillity, an integral idea in Romantic poetry | ||
Context
Examiners repeatedly state that context should not be considered as additional factual information: in this case, it is not random biographical information about Emily Brontë that is unrelated to the ideas in 'Shall earth no more inspire thee'. The best way to understand context is as the ideas and perspectives explored by Brontë in the poem that relate to worlds and lives. This section has therefore been divided into two relevant themes that Brontë explores:
Belonging and connection
Relationships with the world
Belonging and connection
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' is a poem written by the Victorian novelist and poet, Emily Brontë, in 1798:
It is part of a collection that focuses on complex emotions and isolation
Brontë’s poems were published under a pen name, Ellis Bell, to avoid the controversy of being a female writer in patriarchal England
This poem focuses on a “lonely dreamer’s” sense of disconnection:
They describe a “wayward will” and a mind that moves in “regions dark”
They are emotional and “wildly pine”
They are frustrated with the “useless roving” of their thoughts
The poem focuses on how to find personal peace and comfort:
The speaker refers to a close relationship with the environment: “Thy comrade let me be”
The speaker asks the listener to “Return” and “Come back and dwell with me”, to provide relief from their loneliness
Relationships with the world
Romantic poetry is considered to be an artistic response to the Industrial Revolution:
Industrialisation saw the destruction of rural areas in favour of factories and buildings
Typical of Romantic poetry, 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' explores the separation of humans from the natural world
After the Industrial Revolution, poetry such as 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' expresses a growing concern about a sense of disconnection from nature:
Brontë depicts a “lonely dreamer” who is uninspired and without “fire”
The speaker asks the passionless listener, “Shall Nature cease to bow?”
The poem comments on the power of the natural world to impact human’s emotions:
The speaker, Nature, is certain, wise and powerful:
They “know my mountain breezes/Enchant and soothe”
They “know my sunshine pleases”
They “know my magic power” and “mighty sway”
Brontë’s poem alludes to a spiritual connection between humans and the universe:
She compares earth to heaven, suggesting “nought else” can “bless” a troubled soul
What to compare it to
The essay you are required to write in your exam is a comparison of the ideas and themes explored in two of your anthology poems. It is therefore essential that you revise the poems together, in pairs, to understand how each poet presents ideas about worlds and lives in comparison to other poets in the anthology. Given that “Shall earth no more inspire thee” explores the ideas of disconnected relationships between human beings and nature, the following comparisons are the most appropriate:
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' and 'In a London Drawing Room'
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' and 'Lines Written in Early Spring'
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' and 'With Birds You’re Never Lonely'
For each pair of poems, you will find:
The comparison in a nutshell
Similarities between the ideas presented in each poem
Differences between the ideas presented in each poem
Evidence and analysis of these similarities and differences
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' and “'In a London Drawing Room'
Comparison in a nutshell:
Both Emily Brontë’s 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' and George Eliot’s 'In a London Drawing Room' employ speakers who explore their place in the world. Both examine a disconnection from nature that impacts an individual's peace. However, while Brontë’s poem describes the pleasure and power of nature, Eliot describes a weakened urban environment.
Similarities:
Topic sentence | Both poems explore disconnections between human relationships and the natural world | |
|---|---|---|
Evidence and analysis | 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' | 'In a London Drawing Room' |
Brontë reflects on the isolation of a “lonely dreamer”:
| Eliot’s speaker notices the way the individuals on the street seem isolated as they ignore each other:
| |
The speaker refers to a troubled individual:
| Eliot’s speaker conveys a similarly melancholy tone:
| |
Brontë urges disconnected individuals to recall the peace found in the natural world:
| Eliot’s poem reminds humans how urbanised may disconnect them from the universe:
| |
Both poems explore how external worlds impact human beings’ inner lives | ||
Differences:
Topic sentence | While Brontë describes the beauty of nature to convey how this can bring humanity pleasure, Eliot describes an urban setting to comment on its joylessness | |
|---|---|---|
Evidence and analysis | 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' | 'In a London Drawing Room' |
Brontë’s poem uses natural imagery to comment on its simple beauty:
| In contrast, Eliot’s poem describes the urbanised London streets:
| |
The speaker personifies “Nature”, representing it as powerful with a “magic power” and “mighty sway” | Eliot comments on the way the world outside her window seems to lack any “colour”, suggesting nature is weakened:
| |
Brontë’s poem describes a sensual world:
| In contrast, Eliot describes the lack of pleasure in the world she sees:
| |
In order to raise questions about humanity’s relationship with the natural world, Brontë describes the tranquillity found in the natural elements, while Eliot describes a monotonous city street | ||
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' and 'Lines Written in Early Spring'
Comparison in a nutshell:
Both Emily Brontë and William Wordsworth describe mixed emotions as their speakers observe their natural surroundings and reflect on humanity’s relationship with nature. However, Brontë’s 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' offers hope for harmonious relationships, while Wordsworth’s 'Lines Written in Early Spring”' ends on a confused lamentation.
Similarities:
Topic sentence | Both poems explore a speaker’s intense emotions as they contemplate disconnections with their world | |
|---|---|---|
Evidence and analysis | 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' | 'Lines Written in Early Spring' |
Brontë’s poem raises questions about humans’ disconnections with their environment:
| Wordsworth’s speaker has “sad thoughts”, which recall concerns about human’s disconnected relationships:
| |
The poem highlights the negative impact of an individual’s lack of harmony with nature:
| Similarly, Wordsworth conveys the speaker’s feelings through emotive language:
| |
The speakers comment on complex emotions, which are affected by relationships with each other and their responses to their external world | ||
Topic sentence | Both poems comment on the value of the natural world | |
|---|---|---|
Evidence and analysis | 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' | 'Lines Written in Early Spring' |
Brontë uses natural imagery to describe the pleasure nature brings:
| Wordsworth uses natural imagery to describe a pleasant pastoral scene:
| |
Brontë comments on a spiritual connection between humans and the natural world:
| Wordsworth uses religious imagery to allude to the close relationship between all living things and God:
| |
Both poems describe the natural world as having a powerfully spiritual impact on human beings and explore devotion to nature | ||
Differences:
Topic sentence | Emily Brontë’s poem offers comfort to a lonely listener, while William Wordsworth’s depicts an isolated speaker with an unresolved question | |
|---|---|---|
Evidence and analysis | 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' | 'Lines Written in Early Spring' |
The first-person speaker addresses a listener with whom they have a close relationship: “I’ve watched thee every hour” | The speaker is alone with their sad thoughts: “And much it grieved my heart to think” | |
Brontë’s speaker, Nature, offers the comfort of companionship, asking “Thy comrade let me be”
| Wordsworth’s speaker finds themselves alone in their disconnected world:
| |
The poet repeats the earlier call to “Come back and dwell with me” at the end:
| Wordsworth ends the poem on a rhetorical question, which leaves the speaker’s concerns unresolved:
| |
Brontë’s poem offers hope for harmony between humans and the natural world, while Wordsworth’s poem raises unanswered questions about his disconnected world | ||
'Shall earth no more inspire thee' and 'With Birds You’re Never Lonely'
Comparison in a nutshell:
Both Emily Brontë’s 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' and Raymond Antrobus’ 'With Birds You're Never Lonely' consider the significance of connecting with nature to find peace and harmony. But while Brontë’s poem expresses Romantic ideals about personal joy found in introspection about nature, Antrobus contrasts a modern urban world and a rural community.
Similarities:
Topic sentence | Both poems highlight connections between the natural world and the world of humans | |
|---|---|---|
Evidence and analysis | 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' | 'With Birds You’re Never Lonely' |
Brontë uses natural imagery to convey the simple beauty found in nature:
| Correspondingly, Antrobus uses natural imagery to describe nature as vibrant:
| |
Brontë’s “lonely dreamer” has dark thoughts when they are not in a relationship with nature:
| Antrobus’ poem, too, considers the impact of a disconnection from nature:
| |
Brontë raises questions about humans’ relationship with “Nature”:
| Here, Antrobus also uses a rhetorical question to reflect on nature:
| |
The poets both comment on a lack of connection and joy in the human world, which, they observe, is not present in the natural world | ||
Differences:
Topic sentence | Brontë’s Romantic poem explores the spiritual connection between nature and humans while Antrobus’ poem explores human connections with the natural world across two modern settings | |
|---|---|---|
Evidence and analysis | 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' | 'With Birds You’re Never Lonely' |
Brontë’s reflective poem is a silent conversation between nature and a “lonely dreamer”:
| Sensory language brings a noisy coffee shop in London to life:
| |
Brontë’s speaker suggests an underlying connection between nature and the individual:
| Antrobus’ speaker appears to put faith in groups of humans in rural communities:
| |
Brontë’s poem advises simple acts, such as appreciating the earth as if it is a “heaven”:
| Antrobus’ poem, however, implies that the lack of nature in urban settings leaves little room for spirituality:
| |
Brontë’s poem explores an instinctive spiritual connection between nature and humans, while Antrobus examines connections forged by family that can lead to a better connection with the natural world | ||
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