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William Blake often refers to himself as a “Bard.” His use of the term means

“To a Louse” is set in a

Briefly explain the literal meaning of and the irony of the following lines.   Water, water every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water every where, Nor any drop to drink.

The subtitle of Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience reflects his purpose of showing “two contrary states the human soul.” In other words, Blake’s intention is to show

In the “Preface” to Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth claims that man’s “degrading thirst after outrageous stimulation” has led to man’s

The following lines from “The Tables Turned” illustrate which of the following ideas?   One impulse from a vernal wood May teach you more of man, Of moral evil and of good, Than all the sages can.

For the following passage by Burns, (1) name the poem and (2) briefly explain its significance.   Still thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me! The present only toucheth thee: But Och! I backward cast my e’e On prospects drear! An’ forward tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear!

In a few sentences, explain how the following stanza from “I wandered lonely as a cloud” reflects Wordsworth’s poetic philosophy.   For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.

Which of the following principles of poetry is not found in Wordsworth’s “Preface” to Lyrical Ballads?

When Wordsworth writes that books are “a dull and endless strife,” he may be using hyperbole, but he is also expressing which fundamental Romantic attitude?