Ode on a Grecian UrnOde on a Grecian Urn

By John KeatsBy John Keats

John KeatsJohn Keats

John Keats was born on John Keats was born on October 31, 1795.October 31, 1795.At the age of 8 his father died At the age of 8 his father died from a fractured skull after from a fractured skull after falling off a horse and his falling off a horse and his mother died from tuberculosis mother died from tuberculosis six years later.six years later.After their deaths Keats moved After their deaths Keats moved to Hampstead where he met to Hampstead where he met Charles Brown who became a Charles Brown who became a good friend and wrote Keats’ good friend and wrote Keats’ memoirs. In them Brown said memoirs. In them Brown said that it was not until Keats read that it was not until Keats read Edmund Spencer’s Edmund Spencer’s Faery Faery QueenQueen that he realized his own that he realized his own gift for poetry. gift for poetry.

John Keats John Keats

While writing for magazines of his time his While writing for magazines of his time his poems received constant critical attack, but his poems received constant critical attack, but his odes were considered his masterpieces.odes were considered his masterpieces.

Keats is also know for his theory of “Negative Keats is also know for his theory of “Negative Capability” which expresses the belief that great Capability” which expresses the belief that great people have the ability to accept that not people have the ability to accept that not everything can be resolved.everything can be resolved.

John Keats died on February 23, 1821 from John Keats died on February 23, 1821 from tuberculosis at the age of 25tuberculosis at the age of 25

Ode on a Grecian UrnOde on a Grecian Urn

It was written in 1819 and It was written in 1819 and published in 1820.published in 1820.It is one of Keats’ “Five Great It is one of Keats’ “Five Great Odes.”Odes.”The ode follows a structural The ode follows a structural pattern with each stanza pattern with each stanza containing ten lines and ten containing ten lines and ten syllables.syllables.The first four lines of each The first four lines of each stanza are written in a stanza are written in a Shakespearian based quatrain Shakespearian based quatrain and the last six lines are a and the last six lines are a Miltonic based sestet.Miltonic based sestet.

Literary AnalysisLiterary Analysis

In the first stanza the speaker addresses the urn in front of him by In the first stanza the speaker addresses the urn in front of him by describing it as a historian. He admires the figure depicted on it and describing it as a historian. He admires the figure depicted on it and wonders what legend they depict and from where do they come wonders what legend they depict and from where do they come from.from.In the second and third stanzas the speaker looks at a picture on In the second and third stanzas the speaker looks at a picture on the urn, which depicts a man playing a pipe while lying next to his the urn, which depicts a man playing a pipe while lying next to his lover under a group of trees. He believes that the man’s “unheard lover under a group of trees. He believes that the man’s “unheard melodies” sound better then anything mortal because they are not melodies” sound better then anything mortal because they are not affected by time. He also talks about how even though the man affected by time. He also talks about how even though the man can’t kiss the woman the love between the two will last forever can’t kiss the woman the love between the two will last forever unlike mortal love.unlike mortal love.In the fourth stanza the speaker looks at another picture, which In the fourth stanza the speaker looks at another picture, which depicts a group of villagers taking a heifer to be sacrificed. The depicts a group of villagers taking a heifer to be sacrificed. The speaker asks himself where they are taking the heifer to be speaker asks himself where they are taking the heifer to be sacrificed and he imagines that their town will always remain silent sacrificed and he imagines that their town will always remain silent and that they will never return.and that they will never return.In the final stanza the speaker addresses the urn once again saying In the final stanza the speaker addresses the urn once again saying how long after his generation it will still remain a mystery to others.how long after his generation it will still remain a mystery to others.

ThemeTheme

The main theme of “Ode on a Grecian Urn is the idea The main theme of “Ode on a Grecian Urn is the idea that the figures in the urn are free from time and that the figures in the urn are free from time and simultaneously frozen in time. The figures never have to simultaneously frozen in time. The figures never have to confront aging and at the same time the man can never confront aging and at the same time the man can never kiss the woman and the villagers can never return to kiss the woman and the villagers can never return to their town.their town.This theme creates a paradox and also enforces the This theme creates a paradox and also enforces the theory of “negative capability.”theory of “negative capability.”The last two lines of the poem prove to be the most The last two lines of the poem prove to be the most difficult to interpret, which is why they are place in difficult to interpret, which is why they are place in quotations. Some believe that if it is the speaker is quotations. Some believe that if it is the speaker is addressing the urn then he is indicating his awareness of addressing the urn then he is indicating his awareness of its limitations. If it is the urn addressing the speaker, then its limitations. If it is the urn addressing the speaker, then it is basically saying that all human beings need to know it is basically saying that all human beings need to know is beauty and truth and how they are the same.is beauty and truth and how they are the same.

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.online-literature.com/keats/http://www.online-literature.com/keats/

http://www.bartleby.com/101/625.htmlhttp://www.bartleby.com/101/625.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_on_a_Grehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_on_a_Grecian_Urncian_Urn