Understanding the poem 'England in 1819'
I can explain how Shelley presents powerful institutions.
Understanding the poem 'England in 1819'
I can explain how Shelley presents powerful institutions.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- ‘England in 1819’ is arguably a criticism of powerful institutions who are blind to the suffering of ordinary folk.
- The Peterloo Massacre happened in England in 1819.
- The Peterloo Massacre happened at a protest demanding the reform of parliamentary representation.
- Arguably, Shelley criticises the monarchy, the Church and parliament for not acting in the people’s best interests.
Common misconception
That Romantic poets were purely concerned with nature.
While nature is a prominent theme of many Romantic poems, Romantics were also social revolutionaries who criticised institutions such as the monarchy and the Church.
Keywords
Institution - an established organisation or corporation (such as a bank or university) often for use by the public
Monarchy - the system of having a king or queen
Critical - expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements
Romanticism - a poetic movement from the late 18th and early 19th century, focused on emotions and nature
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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