The odes- J. Keats
Ode on a Grecian Urn: Plot Summery: The poet examines a Greek funeral vase and the images embossed on it. a The Ode is like a trail of thought provoked by the motifs embossed on the Urn. The images arouse the poet to contemplate the irony of life and art. The latter offers eternity ("She cannot fade") while the former cannot separate the shadow of death from itself ("When old age shall this generation waste"). So while the drawings are lifeless they contain a perfection and immortality which their human counterparts can only dream of. Yet, the action which the images depict are halted and frozen never able to reach their climax or finality- for example: "Fair youth...thou canst not leave ... Bold lover...never canst thou kiss..." The poet and his poem conversely have freedom granted to them by their mobility in time. Though both come at a cost: mortal lovers may become sated after achieving their goal; the lovers in the art on the other hand must forever remain unsatisfied. Nevertheless, it is this very aspect of art, the fact that it can remain untainted by time that fascinates and possibly appeals to Keats. Keats sees the mystery of the soul mirrored in the mystery of art ("Thou...unravished bride of q
Nature is tamed and an influence of man imposed- the trees aren't wildly grown but planted and controlled in a "cottage" garden. The blend of nature and man is recurrent; even the human presence in a poem predominantly about nature is aptly hidden, never mentioned as he or she but whose presence is quietly observed. This subtle blend is an example of the new poet- he has lost the intensity of the desire to be of one world and not the other. But then the speaker's previous depressed state is recalled and a new dimension added- that of death. This reminds us of the shadow constantly hanging over the mortal, something which life in the desired world would be free of. "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" Yet he is quick to reassure us that his depression isn't because he envy's the bird but as a by-product of the happiness he feels when hearing the song. This psychological insight gives depth to the depression felt by the poet while juxtaposing the happiness with the feeling of sadness heightens it.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Plot Summery, Fay Stanza, Ode Nightingale, Grecian Urn, Keats Keats, Ode Romantic-, Urn Keats, Agnes Lamia, plot summery, plot summery poet, summery poet, grecian urn, Ode Grecian, ode grecian urn, ode nightingale, nightingale's song, stanza five, life art, aspects autumn, fourth stanza, natural nature,
Approximate Word count = 1725
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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