At first glance, it is not significant that Keats composed an ode which portrays a Grecian urn. But after some time, the reader might ask himself, why Keats has chosen an urn for his poem and what kind of urn he is talking about. It is not clear, whether Keats is writing about an urn which is used to contain the ashes of a dead body, if it is just a decorative element or if it contains something else. It is not even clear, whether he is talking about a real or an imagined object. This term paper therefore deals with the purpose of the urn in Keats' ode and answers the question what function this object occupies. Taking Keats' quote on Milton's "Paradise Lost" in account, it is to assume that Keats uses the urn as an ideal symbol for contrasting the real, transient world with an apparently perfect, imagined world. With the urn as a basis, Keats constructs a poem which portrays the variety of contrasts on three different levels, namely a conversation level between narrator and urn, a level with regard on the stories portrayed on the urn and a stylistic level of the poem itself. In the course of this paper, the contrasts in the conversation level are portrayed at first, followed by contrasts and oppositions in the stories on the urn pictured by the narrator and in a third section the contrasts on a stylistic level are illustrated.
John Keats was well aware that using contrasts was one of the criteria which caused a huge prestige to Milton's "Paradise Lost". But also in Keats' works, especially in his odes which he wrote in 1819, forms of oppositions and contrasts appear to play a major role in these poems. His odes deal with existence and imagination, while they often contrast transient life and eternal death. One of these odes which exemplifies this pattern is the "Ode on a Grecian Urn".
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Keats's Contrary Attitude Towards the Urn
- 2.1 Keats's contrary attitude towards the urn
- 2.2 The urn as an active speaker
- 2.3 The use of questions as a communication instrument
- 3. Stories Portrayed on the Urn
- 3.1 The story of Daphne and Apollo as an image of contrasting feelings
- 3.2 The pursuit for counterparts
- 3.3 The desolate town as a contrast between eternity and remoteness
- 4. Stylistic Contrasts in the Ode
- 4.1 Paradoxes as an instrument of contrast between real and imagined world
- 4.2 Exaggerations to conceal the narrator's view
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the function of the Grecian urn in Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn," focusing on how the urn serves as a symbol to highlight contrasts within the poem. The analysis will explore the various levels at which these contrasts operate, examining the interaction between the narrator and the urn, the narratives depicted on the urn itself, and the stylistic choices employed by the poet.
- The contrast between the real and imagined world.
- The personification of the urn and its role in the poem's narrative.
- The contrasting feelings and actions portrayed in the scenes depicted on the urn.
- The use of paradox and exaggeration to create a sense of ambiguity.
- The exploration of themes of beauty, permanence, and mortality.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central argument of the paper: that Keats utilizes the Grecian urn as a powerful symbol to represent the contrast between the transient, real world and an idealized, imagined world. The chapter highlights Keats's awareness of the power of contrast in poetry, referencing his notes on Milton's "Paradise Lost." It introduces the ambiguity surrounding the nature of the urn itself—whether real or imagined, functional or decorative—and sets the stage for an analysis of the poem's multifaceted contrasts on conversational, narrative, and stylistic levels.
2. Keats's Contrary Attitude Towards the Urn: This section delves into the paradoxical nature of the narrator's interaction with the urn. By addressing the inanimate object with human attributes ("unravish'd bride of quietness," "foster-child of silence and slow time"), Keats creates an absurd yet intriguing dynamic. The chapter analyzes the ambiguous connotations of these descriptions, highlighting how they simultaneously suggest both positive and negative aspects, reflecting the poem's overall sense of contrast and ambiguity. The use of questions further contributes to this effect, simulating a conversation that exists only in the narrator's mind.
3. Stories Portrayed on the Urn: This chapter focuses on the narratives depicted on the urn, highlighting the contrasting feelings and situations presented. The myth of Apollo and Daphne is identified as a potential source for one of the narratives, emphasizing the opposition between Apollo's persistent love and Daphne's rejection. The chapter then discusses a second scene portraying a chase between satyrs and nymphs, again illustrating contrasting desires and actions. The analysis explores how the eternal nature of these scenes on the urn contrasts with their inherent incompleteness, leaving the resolution and emotional impact open to the reader's interpretation. The final scene, a sacrificial procession leading to a desolate town, further underscores the theme of contrast, highlighting the opposition between the eternal image of the town captured on the urn and its temporal desolation.
4. Stylistic Contrasts in the Ode: This section analyzes Keats's stylistic choices, focusing on the use of paradox and exaggeration to emphasize the contrasts between the real and imagined worlds. The chapter examines paradoxical statements like "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard / Are sweeter," illustrating how Keats uses these contradictions to highlight the superiority of the imagined over the real. The repeated use of "happy" to describe the scenes on the urn is then analyzed as an example of exaggeration, subtly revealing the narrator's ambivalent feelings towards the idealized world presented. This ambiguity further strengthens the overall theme of contrast in the poem.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
John Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn, contrast, paradox, imagination, reality, personification, ambiguity, Apollo and Daphne, idealization, mortality, permanence, literary analysis, poetic imagery.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn"
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the function of the Grecian urn in Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn," focusing on how the urn serves as a symbol to highlight contrasts within the poem. The analysis explores these contrasts on multiple levels: the interaction between the narrator and the urn, the narratives depicted on the urn, and Keats's stylistic choices.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes, including the contrast between the real and imagined world, the personification of the urn and its narrative role, contrasting feelings and actions in the urn's depicted scenes, the use of paradox and exaggeration to create ambiguity, and the exploration of beauty, permanence, and mortality.
How does the paper analyze the interaction between the narrator and the urn?
The paper examines the paradoxical nature of the narrator's interaction with the urn. The personification of the urn ("unravish'd bride of quietness," "foster-child of silence and slow time") creates an absurd yet intriguing dynamic. The analysis highlights the ambiguous connotations of these descriptions, showing how they simultaneously suggest positive and negative aspects, reflecting the poem's overall ambiguity.
What are the significant narratives depicted on the urn, and how are they analyzed?
The analysis focuses on narratives like the myth of Apollo and Daphne, emphasizing the contrast between Apollo's persistent love and Daphne's rejection. A second scene (satyrs and nymphs) also illustrates contrasting desires and actions. The analysis explores how the eternal nature of these scenes contrasts with their inherent incompleteness, leaving interpretation open to the reader. A final scene (sacrificial procession to a desolate town) further underscores the theme of contrast between eternal image and temporal desolation.
How does the paper discuss Keats's stylistic choices in the poem?
The paper analyzes Keats's use of paradox and exaggeration to emphasize contrasts between the real and imagined worlds. Examples include paradoxical statements like "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard / Are sweeter," highlighting the imagined world's superiority. The repeated use of "happy" is analyzed as exaggeration, subtly revealing the narrator's ambivalent feelings.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the document?
The document provides summaries for each chapter: an introduction establishing the central argument; a chapter on Keats's contrary attitude toward the urn, exploring the paradoxical interaction; a chapter focusing on the contrasting narratives depicted on the urn; and a final chapter analyzing Keats's stylistic choices, particularly paradox and exaggeration.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: John Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn, contrast, paradox, imagination, reality, personification, ambiguity, Apollo and Daphne, idealization, mortality, permanence, literary analysis, poetic imagery.
What is the overall argument of the paper?
The central argument is that Keats uses the Grecian urn as a powerful symbol to represent the contrast between the transient, real world and an idealized, imagined world. The ambiguity surrounding the urn's nature (real or imagined) sets the stage for analyzing multifaceted contrasts on conversational, narrative, and stylistic levels.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2016, The Urn as a Perfect Symbol of Contrast in Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/501531
