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Adonais

Author: Shelley

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

Adonais Poem Verses

Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep —
He hath awakened from the dream of life —
‘Tis we, who lost in stormy visions, keep
With phantoms an unprofitable strife,
And in mad trance, strike with our spirit’s knife
Invulnerable nothings. — We decay
Like corpses in a charnel; fear and grief
Convulse us and consume us day by day,
And cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay.

The One remains, the many change and pass;
Heaven’s light forever shines, Earth’s shadows fly;
Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass,
Stains the white radiance of Eternity,
Until Death tramples it to fragments. — Die,
If thou wouldst be with that which thou dost seek!
Follow where all is fled!—Rome's azure sky,
Flowers, ruins, statues, music, words, are weak
The glory they transfuse with fitting truth to speak.

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Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Adonais' can be tailored/personalised

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Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

The poem speaks about the nature of death and life, emphasizing that death is not the end but rather a transition from life to another realm of existence. The speaker suggests that it is the living who struggle with fear, grief, and hopelessness while the departed are at peace. The poem encourages the living to accept death and follow the departed to the afterlife, where life's glory can be truly understood. The last lines suggest that all earthly things are weak in comparison to the transcendent truth that can be found in death.

The Structure of Poem

The poem consists of two distinct stanzas, with the first stanza comprising of six lines and the second stanza comprising of nine lines. The first stanza employs an ABABCC rhyme scheme and the second stanza follows an ABABCDCDEE rhyme scheme. The poem is written in a formal and elevated style, using archaic language and allusions to create a sense of grandeur and weightiness. The poem explores themes of mortality and the transience of human life, contrasting the fleeting and ephemeral nature of earthly existence with the enduring nature of the divine. The structure of the poem is tightly controlled, with each line contributing to the overall mood and tone of the piece.

Best Quote from Adonais Poem

This is a quote from the poem Adonais by Shelley

"Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep — He hath awakened from the dream of life — ‘Tis we, who lost in stormy visions, keep With phantoms an unprofitable strife..."

This quote offers a profound perspective on the nature of death and life. It suggests that death is not an end, but a transition to a different state of being. The image of awakening from the dream of life is powerful and reminds us that our perceptions of reality can be limited and distorted. The quote also emphasizes the transience of human existence and the enduring nature of the divine.