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Ode on a Grecian Urn Explication

Pages: 2
Words: 645

Ode on a Grecian Urn is doubtlessly on the list of the best-known poetic works by John Keats, a British romanticist of the early 19th century. In the writing under review, the author, presumably, seeks to express his perspective on what messages art is able to transmit. In addition, he highlights how an artistic item, which may seem ordinary to a random person, resonates with the inner world of an appraiser. Due to this descriptiveness and sensitivity, the role of culture in human life is doubtlessly more than simply aesthetic. The most meaningful elements of poetry that Keats applies to the advancement of the theme are metaphor, tone, and syntax.

The poem begins with a reference to how old the ancient Greek vase is, and to which item the entire writing as actually devoted. Notably, Keats writes, “Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness, / Thou foster-child of silence and slow time” (lns 1-2). This metaphorical description focuses on the fact that the piece of art has passed through centuries but is, nevertheless, extant in good or, at least, relatively good preservation. Due to this, it is possible to have a notion of the sociocultural peculiarities of the society that existed several thousands of years ago. Such occasions exemplify the historical importance of culture, as it enables the connection not only between generations but between epochs and civilizations from various periods as well.

The tone throughout the writing is elevated and highly calorific, which is, in one respect, known to have been rather typical of Victorian literature in general. Along with that, in this particular poem, such a manner may serve to illustrate the author’s fascination with the classical art object. Thus, Keats writes the following:

O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede

Of marble men and maidens overwrought,

With forest branches and the trodden weed;

Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought

As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral! (lns 41-45).

The purpose of such a wordy and luxuriant description apparently goes beyond simply depicting the images that the poet can see on the vase. Specifically, he seeks to introduce ancient Greek art generally as exquisite and idealistic along with identifying the degree to which it appeals to him personally. This shows how closely culture is connected with human feelings and emotions, hence what role it may play in the psychological well-being of an individual.

Another element of poetry that Keats utilizes in Ode to a Grecian Urn is syntax. In particular, the work comprises prolonged sentences, both complex and compound, the parts of which the author unites with multiple semicolons. “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard / Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; / Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear’d, / Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone”, the poet writes (lns 11-14). Such a way to organize writing may be regarded as an ancestor of the so-called stream of consciousness, which uses no punctuation marks at all. Syntax constructions that seem never-ending apparently symbolize that neither art itself nor the emotions that it awakens in humans will ever cease. This assumption is probably among the conclusions to which the poet attempts to drive his readers.

To summarize, Ode to a Grecian Urn by John Keats is a textbook example of romantic poetry of the Victorian period in British literature. With the help of various poetic elements, such as tone, syntax, and metaphor, the author highlights the power of culture and its importance to humans. In particular, he shows how a piece of art can survive serious social perturbations and even outlive its epoch but still be able to touch the human soul. Based on that statement, the writer illustrates that art and culture are broader notions than simply esthetically pleasant something. Notably, they are a means of communication throughout time, hence the memory of the entire humanity.