"A contemplation upon flowers"

A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Henry King

BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,

And be as little vain!

You come abroad, and make a harmless show,

And to your beds of earth again.

5 You are not proud: you know your birth:

For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

You do obey your months and times, but I

Would have it ever Spring:

My fate would know no Winter, never die,

10 Nor think of such a thing.

O that I could my bed of earth but view

And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

O teach me to see Death and not to fear,

But rather to take truce!

15 How often have I seen you at a bier,

And there look fresh and spruce!

You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath

Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.

• The poem consists of _____ stanzas.

• 18

• 4

• 3

• 16

The line “BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,” is an example of...

• Metaphor

• Alliteration

• Irony

• Simile

BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,

And be as little vain!

You come abroad, and make a harmless show,

And to your beds of earth again.

5 You are not proud: you know your birth:

For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

• “Embroider’d garments” suggest that...

• The flowers are very beautiful

• Even the most beautiful are subject to death

• Nature produces colourful things

• The petals of the flowers are decorated with a pattern

A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Henry King

BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,

And be as little vain!

You come abroad, and make a harmless show,

And to your beds of earth again.

5 You are not proud: you know your birth:

For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

• Why are the flowers being referred to as “BRAVE” in line 1? (2mks.)

• Because they are not afraid to die

• Because they are cheerful

• Because they teach lessons

• Because they bloom in winter

A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Henry King

BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,

And be as little vain!

You come abroad, and make a harmless show,

And to your beds of earth again.

5 You are not proud: you know your birth:

For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

You do obey your months and times, but I

Would have it ever Spring:

My fate would know no Winter, never die,

10 Nor think of such a thing.

O that I could my bed of earth but view

And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

O teach me to see Death and not to fear,

But rather to take truce!

15 How often have I seen you at a bier,

And there look fresh and spruce!

You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath

Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death

• The poet ________ the life of flowers to that of humans in an effort to highlight the ­­­­­_______ between how they each respond o death.

• Compare/contrast

• Uses/ personification

• Personifies/comparison

• Personifies/ contrast

You do obey your months and times, but I

Would have it ever Spring:

My fate would know no Winter, never die,

10 Nor think of such a thing.

O that I could my bed of earth but view

And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

• In the line “you do obey your months and times” the poet is making reference to?

• The fate of the flowers

• The Calendar

• The seasons

• His/Her life

A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Henry King

BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,

And be as little vain!

You come abroad, and make a harmless show,

And to your beds of earth again.

5 You are not proud: you know your birth:

For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

You do obey your months and times, but I

Would have it ever Spring:

My fate would know no Winter, never die,

10 Nor think of such a thing.

O that I could my bed of earth but view

And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

O teach me to see Death and not to fear,

But rather to take truce!

15 How often have I seen you at a bier,

And there look fresh and spruce!

You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath

Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.

What does “winter” represent for the persona?

• Death

• Life

• Hardship

• Cold

A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Henry King

BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,

And be as little vain!

You come abroad, and make a harmless show,

And to your beds of earth again.

5 You are not proud: you know your birth:

For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

You do obey your months and times, but I

Would have it ever Spring:

My fate would know no Winter, never die,

10 Nor think of such a thing.

O that I could my bed of earth but view

And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

O teach me to see Death and not to fear,

But rather to take truce!

15 How often have I seen you at a bier,

And there look fresh and spruce!

You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath

Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.

• The word which best describes the mood of the poet is?

• Joyful

• Sorrowful

• Pensive

• Angry

A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Henry King

BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,

And be as little vain!

You come abroad, and make a harmless show,

And to your beds of earth again.

5 You are not proud: you know your birth:

For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

You do obey your months and times, but I

Would have it ever Spring:

My fate would know no Winter, never die,

10 Nor think of such a thing.

O that I could my bed of earth but view

And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

O teach me to see Death and not to fear,

But rather to take truce!

15 How often have I seen you at a bier,

And there look fresh and spruce!

You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath

Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.

• What do you think is the theme of the poem?

• Flowers

• Disdain

• Admiration

• Contrast

A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Henry King

BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,

And be as little vain!

You come abroad, and make a harmless show,

And to your beds of earth again.

5 You are not proud: you know your birth:

For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

You do obey your months and times, but I

Would have it ever Spring:

My fate would know no Winter, never die,

10 Nor think of such a thing.

O that I could my bed of earth but view

And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

O teach me to see Death and not to fear,

But rather to take truce!

15 How often have I seen you at a bier,

And there look fresh and spruce!

You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath

Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.

• Stanza 3 is an example of a/an ...

a. c.

b. d.

• Irony

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Pun