Poem Review: To The Philippines by Rizal

TO THE PHILIPPINES by J.P. Rizal
The light foam of the son'rous sea Doth kiss her feet with loving desire;The cultured West adores her smileAnd the frosty Pole her flow'red attire.
With tenderness, stammering, my MuseTo her 'midst undines and naiads does sing;I offer her my fortune and bliss:Oh, artists! her brow chaste ringWith myrtle green and roses red
§  What is the poem about? OR What is the theme of the poem?
-       It is about the Philippines being compared as beautiful as a woman lover
§  Who is the speaker?
-       Rizal
§  Who is the poem addressed to?
-       To the country
§  What is the tone of speaking?
-       First person, I (found on 3^rd stanza)
§  Does the poem belong to any particular category? (Ode, sonnet, ballad, dramatic monologue, lyric, confessional, modern, post-modern, etc.)
-       sonnet
§  What is the mood of the poem? (Happy, sad)
-       inspired
§  How does the poem begin? (Most poems begin either with a description of something or a statement)
-       It begins with description of sunrise while someone is still asleep
§  How does the poem proceed? (When writing, include a short summary of the poem.)
-       The poem opens up with general description of nature and land, then proceeds to physical attributes and attire, and ends to offering to please the mother land.
§  Does the initial mood change? Why?
-       It is consistently descriptive.
§  How does the poem end?
-       With a vow to give fortune and bliss
§  What is the philosophy of life expressed in the poem? (Optimistic, pessimistic, religious, pantheistic, mystical, cynical, etc.)
-       optimistic
§  Are there any autobiographical elements in the poem?
-       none
§  Has the poet used any figures of speech? Are they apt and suitable to the situation? How do they enhance the meaning? (One great quality of good poets is to find similarity in quite dissimilar things.)
-       Yes, it pictures the subject using colorful words.
§  Are there things like a rhyme scheme, alliteration, assonance, etc.? Do they add to the charm of the poem?
-       A
B,AB Pattern
-       yes
§  Does the poem remind you of any other poem? What are the similarities and differences?
-       no
§  What feeling has the poem created in you? Is it touching, for example?

Aglowing and fair like a houri on high,Full of grace and pure like the Morn that peepsWhen in the sky the clouds are tinted blue,Of th' Indian land, a goddess sleeps.

And lilies, and extol the Philippines!

§  Has the poem got any contemporary significance? Is the theme universal?

-       It is imaginative