On The Grasshopper and Cricket
The poetry of earth is never dead:
When all the birds are faint with the hot sun,
And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run
From hedge to hedge about the new‑mown meadow;
That is the grasshopper’s—he takes the lead
In summer luxury—he has never done
With his delights; for when tired out with fun
He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed.
The poetry of earth is ceasing never:
On a lone winter evening, when the frost
Has wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills
The cricket’s song, in warmth increasing ever,
And seems to one in drowsiness half lost,
The grasshopper’s among some grassy hills.
Summary of “On The Grasshopper and Cricket”
- Background: This sonnet was written by John Keats, one of the most celebrated Romantic poets. It first appeared in his 1817 collection Poems. The title points directly to the two insects that frame the poem’s imagery.
- Central Idea: Keats celebrates nature’s continual song. Even when birds retreat from the heat of summer or winter frost silences the world, the grasshopper and cricket keep singing. Their voices remind us that beauty never truly dies; it simply changes with the seasons.
- Message for Readers: The poem invites listeners to open their “inner eyes” and hear nature’s music. Those who listen will discover a quiet luxury, a love of the earth that is always present if we are willing to notice.
Detailed Analysis and Interpretation
The Opening Lines (Lines 1‑4)
- Keats opens with an absolute statement: “The poetry of earth is never dead.” This sets the tone that nature’s song is eternal.
- He contrasts the birds, who are “faint” under the hot sun, with a new sound that “runs from hedge to hedge.” The grasshopper’s voice becomes the protagonist of summer.
The Grasshopper (Lines 5‑8)
- Keats describes the insect as a champion of luxury: it continues singing even when others rest. Its “delights” are simple pleasures, and its rest beneath a weed shows contentment in nature’s small comforts.
- The grasshopper embodies summer’s vitality—its song is bright, rhythmic, and unhurried.
transition to Winter (Lines 9‑10)
- The poem shifts from the heat of summer to a “lone winter evening.” The word “frost” introduces silence, suggesting that the world has quieted.
- Keats uses the image of a stove’s shrill sound to contrast with the stillness outside, hinting at human warmth against nature’s chill.
The Cricket (Lines 11‑14)
- In winter, when silence dominates, the cricket sings. Its song “increases ever” in warmth, offering comfort to a sleepy listener.
- The final line ties back to the grasshopper: even in winter, the insect’s presence is felt among grassy hills, reminding us that nature’s music persists across seasons.
Overall Message
- Keats uses two insects as symbols of seasonal continuity. The poem shows that beauty and song are not confined to one time; they adapt and endure.
- The central theme is the enduring poetry of nature, a reminder that even in silence there is music if we listen.
Literary Devices Highlighted for Young Readers
- personification: The poem gives life to “frost” and “the poetry of earth,” making them feel like living characters that can sing or silence.
- imagery: Vivid pictures such as “new‑mown meadow” and “pleasant weed” help readers see the scene in their minds.
- alliteration: Repeating initial consonant sounds, for example “frost has wrought a silence,” creates musical rhythm that echoes the poem’s theme of song.
- rhyme scheme: The sonnet follows an ABBAACCA‑DEFDEF pattern. Notice how the ending words match to give the poem a gentle musical flow.
- symbolism: The grasshopper and cricket stand for summer’s liveliness and winter’s quiet resilience, showing that nature’s beauty is always present.
Why This Poem Is Great for Classroom Discussion
- It encourages students to listen closely to the world around them.
- The poem’s simple language makes it accessible while still offering rich imagery and sound patterns.
- Students can explore how Keats uses everyday insects to talk about big ideas like time, change, and beauty.
By reading this poem aloud and discussing its images and sounds, children will learn that poetry is not just words on a page—it is the music of nature waiting for us to hear it.