"Adonais"

Poetry | Percy Bysshe Shelley

 How does Shelley curse the critic in “Adonais”?

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How does Shelley curse the critic in Adonais B Shelley s - Adonais is a pastoral elegy written on the untimely death of the Romantic poet John Keats - In this poem Shelley strongly criticizes and curses the literary critics who attacked Keats works He believed that Keats harsh reviewers played a role in his death In the poem Shelley expresses his anger by using simple but strong images and words The Critic is Viperous First Shelley calls the critic a deaf and viperous murderer like a poisonous snake He says his cruel words attacked Keats s sensitive soul just as a snake bites without mercy He calls the critic a nameless worm This shows his deep hate disgust as worms are creatures that feed on decay By calling the critic a worm Shelley suggests that he is insignificant cowardly and morally corrupt Cursing with Shame and Guilt Next Shelley

curses the critic to live in guilt and fear Shelley says he will never find peace Instead he will suffer from guilt self-hatred and shame for what he has done He writes Remorse and Self-contempt shall cling to thee He will be haunted by his actions His own conscience will make him miserable Comparing to a Beaten Animal Shelley imagines the critic as a beaten hound dog who is scared and suffering This image suggests that the critic will live in fear and disgrace just like an abused and unwanted animal Forgotten Shelley also says this critic will be forgotten While Keats as Adonais becomes immortal through his poetry the critic will vanish like shadows Shelley calls him a noteless blot a stain no one notices on a bright page His name will disappear from history while Keats s name shines forever In short Shelley s curse is not just about anger it is also a warning He believes that cruelty and jealousy will destroy the critic s soul while Keats spirit will live on in poetry and beauty nbsp

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