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How does Keats use language to create contrast?

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How does Keats use language to create contrast in stanzas I - XVIII? In Stanza XVIII, Porphyro is described as "burning" when we are told of his strong feelings for Madeline. The reader is told of the very active, alive emotions that Porphyro is experiencing. In Stanza IX, Porphyro is extremely aware of Madeline with his "heart on fire for Madeline". This contrasts with Madeline's cold, dreamy remoteness from everything and everyone around her. Stanzas V-VIII highlight on Madeline's disconnection from the world, since she is so oblivious to everything that is happening around her. "The music, yearning like a God in pain, She scarcely heard....came many a tiptoe...but she saw not: her heart was other where" (Stanza VIII).This stanza indicates the contrast between the awake and lively Porphyro and the sleepy and dreamy Madeline, who is so oblivious to everything that she does not even realise that Porphyro is in her chamber. Keats also uses many images to set up the contrasts between the cold outside the castle and the warmth inside the castle. ...read more.


'Gold' and 'Silver' help to tune in with the readers senses and to introduce them to a completely different environment, and this helps Keats to create contrast through language. For example, Keats uses more alliteration to emphasise on a faster pace and on the joys of St Agnes' Eves celebrations. "...ever eager eyed" (Stanza IV). The faster pace also helps to highlight on the warmth and excitement that is surrounding those in the party. This is in contrast with the lonely and very cold Beadsman in the chapel outside the castle. Furthermore, some of the stanzas, between stanzas I - XVIII, have a purely descriptive role, whilst other stanzas have a purely narrative role. This change enables Keats to emphasise on the idea of contrast. In the descriptive stanzas, there is hardly any involvement from the narrator, as the story of Madeline is purely described through the use of metaphors, adjectives, alliteration etc. This helps the reader to feel connected with the story as well as to gain a clearer understanding of the situation in the story and of the settings around the characters. ...read more.


So, Keats is able to highlight to the reader that Porphyro feels relieved and happy to see the aged nurse, since she can give him information on Madeline's whereabouts. Therefore, Keats is informing the reader that we should also feel happy and relieved for Porphyro. This is in contrast to the descriptive stanzas, where the reader was left to decide whether the stanza is on a happy tone or a sad tone, as well as leaving us to decide how we feel about the story in the poem. Overall, the contrasts that are used in these stanzas and in the overall poem enable Keats to highlight on important ideas and aspects of the poem. They also enable the reader to create links and ideas with certain aspects of the poem, since the contrasts also help to form a relationship between different stanzas and various events in the poem. Therefore, through the use of language and various devices, Keats is able to maintain and involve the audience' interest by establishing contrast in the poem. ?? ?? ?? ?? ...read more.

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