The methods of reflection are often invoked during or after an extended illness. For this reason poet, John Keats, struggled with the idea of immortality and its indistinct inimitability in an attempt to come to an understanding or conquer the fears of his unavoidable and untimely death. In Keats' "Ode to A Nightingale" and "Ode on a Grecian Urn", two of his most recognized poems; he endeavors to uncover the essence or truth of eternity by means of analyzing seemingly mortal entities. These entities have the power to inspire Keats to look into the very essence of their being and find a deeper meaning to their existence. After comparing and contrasting the two poems, Keats indirectly resolves that while there are definite truths to both immortality and mortality, there will always remain that intangible ideal essence of eternity much too incomprehensible for any person to grasp.
             For some people, especially Keats, there are some things or occurrences existing in the world that can be considered timeless, being that they do not submit to the limits the measure of time allots the rest of us. After understanding the characteristics of these immortal things one can come to an understanding of what Keats felt to be some of the most important aspects describing immortality. In "Ode to a Nightingale" Keats hears the Nightingale, "In some melodious plot. (L.8)" Keats hears her beauty and writes, " Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!No hungry generations pass thee down;(L.60-61)" Keats understands that it is not the bird that is immortal, yet he explains there is still that touch of permanence in an impermanent world given the song of the bird is the image of immortality. While this vision of perpetual existence comes directly from nature, the urn from "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is considered thusly: " Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness,Thou foster-chil...