John Keats wrote many poems that had similar themes. Much of his work is considered to be a key part of Romantic Poetry. To understand one of his poems it is necessary to look beyond it to his other works and personal life. One poem worth just such a look is “Ode to a Grecian Urn”. This poem contains not only aspects of his writing which are reflected in his other works but some certain stylistic elements that reflect aspects of his personal life.
The stylistic elements mentioned also appear in the title. On the surface, this poem is about what the title dictates: a Grecian urn. The urn however is a metaphor for legacy. “When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain…” (Lines 46 and 47) This passage conveys that the story told in the painting of the urn shall outlive this generation and live on. Throughout the poem Keats describes how the stories will never wear out as he goes from frame to frame of the urn.
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,......
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Approximate Word Count: 571
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |