Ode to a Nightingale

A detailed Summary of Ode to a Nightingale

As one reads this poem of John Keats, the overwhelming feeling is the envy the poet feels toward the nightingale and his song. He compared the carefree life of the bird to the pain, suffering and mortality of men. He continually referred to Greek gods and mythology when speaking of the nightingale as somehow the Bird possessed magical powers.

The speaker opened with the explanation "my heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains my sense" as he listened to the song of the nightingale. He compared his feelings to those of a person that had drunk "hemlock" or an "opiate" so that their senses had become dull, or as if drinking from "Lethe-wards," a river of the lower world, which produced forgetfulness of past life. Keats compared the bird to that of a "Dryad," or a female spirit, which was assigned a certain tree to watch over and whose life was so closely connected to the tree that if it were to die so would the Dryad. Or perhaps in some mysterious way the nightingale's song were "some melodious plot" to enchant his listener. He explained the reason for his envy as being "happy in thy happiness" or because the bird sang so beautifully with "full throated ease."

Keats longs for the effects of liquor "

Yet while he is with the nightingale and her sweet song "already with thee! tender is the night" he imagined the "Queen-Moon ...on her throne, cluster'd around by all her starry Fays" or fairies; for it is said that only during a full moon may one witness fairy dances. This alludes to the magical condition he believes the nightingale possesses and how she is able to lead him to this world of lore. At this time there is very little light to identify his surroundings, so his senses were awakened as he recognized the "soft incense hang[ing] upon the boughs" and detected the scents of the "fruit tree wild, hawthorn, violets, the musk-rose full of sweet wine" and listened to the "murmurous haunt of flies."

As he sat in the dark listening, he contemplated his death and related how he is "half in love with easeful Death" having written many times about him or "call'd him....in many a mused rhyme." At this time Keats thinks it is a good time to die and do away with whatever pain he may experience, as he said "seems it rich to die to cease upon midnight with no pain" in comparison to the nightingale which is "pouring forth thy soul abroad in such an ecstasy!" However he is quick to change this desire when he contemplated the fact that the nightingale would continue to sing, even if it be a sad song "thy high requiem" while he would be unable to hear the music. He would in effect "have ears in vain."

At this point Keats no longer viewed the bird's song as one of joy but rathe

Some common words found in the essay are:
Poesy Poesy, John Keats, Mount Helicon, Ruth Bible, ODE NIGHTINGALE, comparison nightingale, listened song nightingale, song bird, nightingale's song, song nightingale, listened song,

Approximate Word count = 997
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English