Реферат: Stylistic phonetics based on the examples of the works by P.B. Shelley

His early works are characterized by intense political passion. In them he proposed republicanism, free love, atheism and vegetarianism. They contain many autobiographical references and introduced the theme of struggle and renewal, which is present in much of his later works. Musical patterns of his works, which are built on internal rhyme, assonance and run-on lines, clearly show the poet’s mastery of his art. [9]

2.2 The analysis of the content of the song «To the Men of England»

First of all one should introduce the poem itself:

Men of England, wherefore plough

For the Lords who lay you low?

Wherefore weave with toil and care,

The rich robes your tyrants wear?

Wherefore feed, and clothe and save,

From the cradle to the grave,

Those ungrateful drones who

Drain your sweat – nay, drink your blood!

Have ye leisure, comfort, calm,

Shelter, food, love's gentle balm?

Or what is ye buy so dear

With your pain and with your fear?

The seed ye sow, another reaps;

The wealth ye find, another keeps;

The robes ye weave, another wears;

The arms ye forge, another bears.

Sow seed – but let no tyrant reap;

Find wealth – let no impostor heap;

Weave robes – let not the idle wear;

Forge arms – in your defence to bear.

With plough and spade, and hoe and loom,

Trace your grave, and build your tomb,

And weave your winding sheet, till fair

England be your sepulcher.

The text poem in details and its translation into Russian, made by S.Y. Marshak can be seen in Supplement №1.

The song «To the Men of England» was written by Shelley in 1818, while he was staying in Italy. It is an expression of his indignation at the cruelty of capitalist exploitation. Thus it is imbued with bitter irony and wrath. The poem is built on a contrast between «Men of England» – the labourers, who create real value, and the lords – «the ungrateful drones» who exploit the toilers – «drink their blood». Thus, at first look it is quite obvious that this song is meant to be an empowering anthem for the workers of England. However, upon closer examination, it becomes quite clear that Shelley’s message may be a little bit more complicated than it seems. [14]