Romantic Poetry.ppt

Romantic Poetry John Keats Outline John Keats; the odes Ode on a Grecian Urn Notes To Autumn John Keats October 31, 1795-February 23, 1821; died at the age of 25 of tuberculosis . Published only 54 poems. Originally a surgeon (apothecary-surgeon) and changed his mind in 1813-1814. Literary Creation: 1816 – 1821 [love with Fanny Browne 1818-? the odes 1819] poverty 1820 –symptoms of TB; 1821 -- Here lies one whose name was writ in water. Major Ideas: Life as “the Vale of soul-making.” Shakespeare with “negative capability” (like a chameleon—imaginative identification with the other). Keats’ Great Odes “Ode to Psyche” --the goddess Psyche in the arms of Cupid “Ode on a Grecian Urn” – art 3. “Ode to a Nightingale” --art 5. “Ode on Indolence” 6. To Autumn‘ – a finale 4. “Ode on Melancholy” She dwells with Beauty—Beauty that must die;??? And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips? Bidding adieu and aching Pleasure nigh,??? Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips Ode on a Grecian Urn Pay attention to a) the form of address (apostrophe) and the object of address in different stanzas, which imply the speaker’s different relations with the urn; Pay attention to the use of metaphors in calling/describing the urn; The two sides of the urn: their differences and similarities The closing lines—how to interpret them. STANZA I Thou still unravishd bride of quietness, Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: What leaf-fringd legend haunts about thy shape Of deities or mortals, or of both, In Tempe or the dales of Arcady? (1) What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? STANZA II Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endeard, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou ca