Ode on a Grecian Urn

             After hearing the other students in the class speak of the infamous John Keats, my curiosity became sparked. I began to ponder how any man could possess such great writing talent that it had a whole spectrum of students perked by it. This spark of curiosity is what has "pushed" me to look deeper into John Keats' writings. The following is a brief summary and analysis of John Keat's Ode on a Grecian Urn.
             The first stanza focuses on the speaker, who is standing before an ancient Grecian urn. The speaker, preoccupied with its depiction of frozen form in time, addresses the urn. He refers to the urn as a "foster-child of silence and slow time." and a "still unravished bride of quietness," He is also quoted refering to the urn as a "historian," which can (in itself) tell a story. He also thinks about the figures on the side of the urn. He ponders where they originate from and what legends they represent. He examines a picture that portrays a group of men seeking-out a group of women, and ponders their story: "What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?"
             The second stanza focuses on the speaker who is looking at another depiction on the urn. This time the depiction is of a young lad playing a pipe (of some sort) lying in harmony with his lover. The speaker quotes that the "silent" melodies of the piper are sweeter than "aloud" melodies, due to their being not affected by time. He is quoted speaking to the youth that, although he can never kiss his lover due to his being stuck in time, he should not and will not grieve, because the beauty she posses will never fade.
             The third stanza focuses on the speaker as he views the trees engulfing the lovers, and communicates feeling happiness and ecstasy that they will never shed their leaves. In essence he is communicating being happy both for the piper because his songs will be fresh forever and for th...

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Ode on a Grecian Urn. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 09:34, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/94143.html