Ode to a Grecian Urn (J. Keats)

Linda Arellano

Srygley, Cheryl

AP Literature

Ode to a Grecian Urn (John Keats)

THOU still unravish'd bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape	5
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?	10
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:
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave	15
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!	20
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearièd,
For ever piping songs for ever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love!	25
For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd,
For ever panting, and for ever young;
All breathing human passion far above,
That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy'd,
A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.	30
Who are these coming to the sacrifice?
To what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,
And all her silken flanks with garlands drest?
What little town by river or sea-shore,	35
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of its folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul, to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.	40
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!	45
When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'

1. First Impression: Judging the poem by its title, the reader knows that the theme of the poem will discuss the author’s feelings toward this ornate object. The poem is divided into 5 stanzas in which different facades of the urn are depicted and create this vivid image of a typical Greek scene. He questions whether the people are “deities or mortals, or both”. In order to better appreciate the poem one must be able to identify oneself with what Greek urns look like and what they show. The reader can easily tell that the author is truly fascinated by what he sees and admires this beautiful piece of art.

2. Paraphrase the poem:

a. you beautiful fixed and forever fair bride of silence

b. you adoptive child of silence and slow time

c. History who cannot be express

d. A flowery sweeter than rhyme

e. A legend hunted by its shape

f. Of Gods and Goddesses, mortals or both

g. In different locations in Greece

h. Who are these characters? What maidens loth?

i. What crazy quest? What struggle to escape?

j. What pipers and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?

k. Melodies that have been heard before are sweet, but those unheard

l. Are even sweeter: therefore, the instrument, continue to play

m. Not the sensual ear, but more to the hear

n. Play to the spirits

o. fair lady, beneath the tress, you can’t leave

p. your song, nor ever can those trees be bare;

q. bold lover will never, never can you kiss

r. though very close to your goal, yet do not grieve;

s. she can’t fade, though you have not her great joy

t. For ever will you love, and she be fair!

u. Ah happy, happy branch! That can’t shed

v. Your leaves, nor ever bid the spring good-bye

w. And happy musician, unwearied,

x. For ever playing songs for ever new;

y. More happy love! More happy, happy love!

z. For ever warm and still enjoyed

aa. Forever panting, and forever young,

bb. All breathing human passion far above

cc. That leaves the heart sad and excessively weary

dd. A burning forehead and a parching tongue

ee. Who are these coming to the sacrifice?

ff. To what green altar, o mysterious priest

gg. You lead that heifer lowing at the skies,

hh. And dressed in all her silken flanks and garlands?

ii. What little town by the river or sea shore,

jj. Or mountain built with peaceful citadel,

kk. Is emptied of this folk, this virtuous morning?

ll. And, little town, thy streets for evermore

mm. Will be silent and not a soul to tell

nn. Why your art desolate, can never return

oo. O attic shape! Fair attitude! With braid

pp. Of marble men and women overwrought

qq. With forest branches and the trodden weed;

rr. Your silent form, does tease us out of thought

ss. As does eternity: Cold Pastoral!

tt. When old age shall this generation waste,

uu. You shall remain, in middle of other anguish

vv. Than ours, a friend to man, to which you will say

ww. “Beaty is truth, truth is beauty,” that is all

xx. You know on earth, and all you need to know.

3. Syntax and word choice: The author employed an archaic version of English giving the poem a feel of antiquity. The word choice was very picturesque and complex. The poem was structure by five stanzas of 10 lines each. The poem followed an ababcdcd rhyme scheme. The author also uses lots of rhetorical questions and depicts to Greek scenery, there are also allusions and alliteration.

4. Imagery: This is a key element in the poem since the author is praising the art work on this Grecian Urn. The element of imagery is used continuously throughout ever stanza in the poem creating vivid images from the scenes depicted in the poem. Initially the author creates the image of these characters on the urn, a beautiful young maiden who will stay forever young and a musician who plays the pipes. There is also the image of a priest and the sacrifice of a heifer as well as that of a lonely city located by either a river or sea shore. The element of imagery is crucial, if not the most important in the poem.

5. Tone: The tone of this poem is very descriptive and informative, as if telling a story. This idea is better conveyed by telling the story behind the images depicted in this antique, the Grecian Urn. The author has a tone of respect and admiration for the work of art that is represented on the Urn.

6. Theme: The theme of the poem is to depict and in a sense pay his respects to the Grecian Urns, which are truly beautiful and remarkable works of art. Each urn contains and illustrates a never fading story, a story that was perhaps once part of the everyday life in a citadel or surrounding cities. Through the use of highly descriptive imagery and very specific diction along with a very respectful tone, they all tie in to create this ambiance of admiration towards the Grecian Urn.

7. Conclusion: The initial idea was not far away from what is concluded based on the analysis of the poem. The author makes effective use of the elements that portray his Ode to the Grecian Urn.