Analysis Of Ode On A Grecian Urn

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Examining the Grecian Urn” John Keats’ poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” tells the story of a man who finds an ancient urn and examines the images depicted on it marveling at the state of the urn’s beauty. He thinks of the urn as some kind of storyteller. As he inspects the images he wonders about the legends they recount and the place they came from. As he slowly turns the urn he first views a depiction of a group of men that seem to be following a group of women, he wonders what story the picture could be telling. He continues to turn the urn and he sees a picture of a boy playing a pipe while lying with his lover beneath a tree. He comments on the pipe’s melodies saying that they are sweeter than normal melodies because they are unheard and unchanged …show more content…

This serves to reinforce the point of the urn being a storyteller that can teach people valuable lessons (Havens 212.) In line 3 the urn is compared to a “sylvan historian” by use of a metaphor. This further goes to show how the urn is a storyteller and how it is closely related to plants and forests (Sweester.) In lines 29-30 two different devices are used. Metonymy is used to link the musician’s heart to his feelings of being “high-sorrowful and cloy 'd.” Then synecdoche is used to explain the downside of love, that being a fever and thirst represented by "burning forehead, and a parching tongue." These devices serve to illustrates the narrators conflicted feelings towards the nature of the lovers on the urn and their love (Napierkowski.) Once again personification is used in lines 21 and 22, the tree branches, or "boughs," are personified as being "happy," and they never say goodbye, or "adieu.” This reinforces the poems connection to the forest and plant life. (Mazzeno 1-3.) Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn” is often referred to as his best work. Not only that but some even call it one of the greatest Romantic poems ever. The poem shows art as a representation of reality and outpouring of the soul. The last two lines however have been subject to much debate and criticism. Some say that they are a blemish on an otherwise magnificent piece and others argue over how to make sense of them. Whatever the case “Ode on a Grecian Urn” is a fantastic poem and has shown to have significant staying power in modern literature.

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