"O for a life of sensations rather than thoughts!" What is the relation between thought and feeling in Keats's odes?
             Out of all his poetry, the odes appear to be the most sensually explored poems that Keats wrote. Through this collection of poetry, he deeply explores the world of feelings and the enjoyment of them as well as the idea of transient existence. Do the poems, however, show a separation between thoughts and feelings, and what evidence is there that Keats is trying to obtain his wish for a 'life of sensations rather than thoughts'?
             One of the most striking things about the odes with respect to sensations is the language used. In all of his poems, but especially in the odes, Keats uses highly mimetic language to build upon whatever sensual idea he is trying to portray. In Ode to Psyche there is a seemingly endless use of alliteration. The sibilance of how 'the secrets should be sung' and the 'soft-handed slumber' and the alliteration of 't' in 'these, though temple thou' among with many more examples create an almost dreamlike and transient atmosphere within which to set the poem. This use of alliteration is also found in To Autumn where Keats uses the alliteration of 'm' and 's' to open the poem with 'Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness'. In Ode to a Nightingale the same technique is used to rather different effects. Here the alliterative 'd', 'p' and 'm' found throughout the first opening lines create a sluggish weightiness corresponding to Keats's 'dull' ache. Although the atmosphere being created here is much different to the one used in Ode to Psyche it is the sensations and feelings that are being highlighted through the use of alliteration.
             Another technique used by Keats to create a sensuous mood to his poetry is the repeated use of ternary structure. In Ode to a Nightingale ternary structure appears a number of times with 'the weariness, the fever and the fret' and 'the grass, the...