For this post, you will create a bulleted list of what you believe to be the 10 most important features of the poem. It may be simple as the rhyme scheme, it may be as minute as the placement of a dash. Note your observation in the list, and briefly explain its significance.
After you have done this, please respond to two of your classmates. Make sure that you are referencing specific insights and/or points of contention here.
1. Unravished bride is important as it shows that this urn tells a story from when it was made. It acts as a historic object.
ReplyDelete2. The speaker calls it a historian showing that the urn is able to tell the history of where it is with its art.
3. The speaker talks about the people on the urn and who they could have been. This is important, because it shows that even after a person dies they can still be remembered through art.
4. The speaker says that the man playing the pipes cannot kiss his lover, but she will remain beautiful, because the urn is frozen in time. This shows the importance of art and its ability to depict different times for generations to come.
5. The speaker is happy in the beginning of the third stanza, because the leaves of the trees will not fall. Again this shows how art never fades even after the creator has died.
6. The speaker says that the pipe player´s songs will always be new in the urn. The urn will always be able to show the work of the pipe player.
7. In the fourth stanza the speaker says ¨thy streets for evermore will silent be; and not a soul to tell. Art can show places that people didn't know existed. Without the urn people would have likely never known the town existed in the first place.
8.The speaker says the urn ¨dost tease us out of thought¨. The urn will show future generations its story leaving them to not think about it on their own.
9. ¨Thou shalt remain, in the midst of their woe¨. This shows again that even when the world is completely different the urn will still be there.
10. The final point, ¨Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.¨ The urn and other artwork show beauty and that is all that matters on earth.
This poem shows the impact art can have on a society. It shows that art is a way for an artist to leave behind their legacy after they are gone. Without art there would be no truth, and without truth there is no purpose to life.
I agree with your 4th point that the images on the urn are basically a standstill in time. These characters in the images are not able to move.This inability to move provides complexity to the image. The viewer wants to know more about the depiction and this frozenness of the characters prohibits this.
DeleteI totally agree with your last point, that the Urn and other works of art are what matter most in the end. These pieces of creation will outlive us all, adn will alays end up leaving the most impact on future generations.
DeleteI also agree with your last point. Art is eternal, and the messages that the provide will be around for several generations to come.
Delete
ReplyDelete1.-Constant questions-makes urn mysterious
2.-"Heard melodies are sweet, but unheard melodies are sweeter".-New things are intriguing
3.Referencing how 'quite' urn is
4. "Beauty is truth"
5.Stand still of time with trees not shedding leaves.
6."Will silent be"
7.Use "quite" to provide mystery to the images on the urn.
8.Paradox-People are not chained by time in images yet they are because they cannot move.
9. Being frozen in images. Maybe live in the moment?
10.Capitalization of Cold Pastoral?
In this poem the author uses images on the urn to portray the complexity and mystery of life. He points out that even though the images are still lifes, the images make one think about what is happening. The mysteriousness of the images is intriguing. This is shown with the line "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter." This shows a intrigued view upon "unheard melodies" otherwise untold stories or these still life images.In all the author points out that life is more complex than commonly thought and nature itself is very mysterious/powerful.
I did not really interpret the poem as describing the images on the urn, but that is very interesting. I like the "still life images" and "unheard melodies" connection. If no one is alive to tell what the artwork is about, then it really has no meaning or is unheard.
DeleteI sympathize a lot with your interpretation except for number nine on your list. If the people are frozen in time, they can't live in the moment or really live at all. They are free from time, but also trapped in time. -kilby
DeleteI find it interesting that the urn can portray untold stories that reflect the past. Although the images of the urn are complex, it intrigues all who see it to wonder what it is trying to describe. Interesting idea.
DeleteOne thing I don't agree with is point 9. The idea of the images being frozen in time is to emphasize that this mysterious piece of art will be able to live forever because it will allows multiple generations to interpret it differently.
Delete-tyson
Delete1. The title - an "Ode on a Grecian Urn" makes it seem like this is an ode only to this one pieces of work, but it seems like an ode to all art. Art lives forever, mankind does not.
ReplyDelete2. The first stanza - Keats uses diction that makes the Grecian Urn seem very old, like how it could have encountered "deities or mortals" or "men or gods", this shows that this piece of art basically has eternal life.
3. The Urn's beauty will not fade, but ours does - "She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!"
4. This Urn gets to stay in the part of its "life" that we all wish we could - "For ever panting, and for ever young"
5. Although art can last forever, if people do not live forever to tell about it, does it really have meaning? - "Will silent be; and not a soul to tell Why thou art desolate, can e'er return"
6. Art is forever - "When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain"
7. The final two lines - I am not sure who actually said this quote but the "a friend to man" reference made me think of Jesus, because he is God's son in the form of a man. I think this quote is significant because it is basically saying art is truth. The beauty of art will not fade even if we do, so art is truth.
8. The personification of the piece of artwork - referring to the Urn as "She", but also saying the Urn cannot do things that humans can - “never canst thou kiss”
9. The Urn cannot change or experience growth - stays the same forever - “Ah, happy, happy boughs! That cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu” - with the mentioning of Spring it also brings in the sense that the Urn can never be born again or bloom/experience seasonal changes
10. The mentioning of eternal life in the last stanza - “Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!” - maybe mentions this to acknowledge that there is some kind of eternity for everything, whether it is art or whether it is mankind
Keats personifies the Urn and yet also makes it seem like it has no human qualities. I find it very interesting how he did this and incorporated the ideas of art living forever, even though man does not. Everything has some kind of eternity, but on earth the only thing that matters is that “beauty is truth.”
I like your first point on how the poem is about all artwork and not just the urn in the title. The speaker is saying that all art is a way for man to stay alive even after death.
DeleteI agree with the Urn's immortal beauty, the Urn being an image of art. I wrote about the poem being about the immortality and beauty of art, but I now see how the Urn plays a role in this symbolism of eternal beauty and life.
DeleteYour 5th point really intrigued me. I had not thought about it like that. I think that maybe art has no single meaning. Perhaps it is relative to each viewer.
DeleteI like your 7th point about the final 2 lines, as well as your 5th point. It's an interesting thought that I didn't even think about or recognize, but it made me think.
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ReplyDelete-It is important that Keats referred to a woman as an "unravish'd bride of quietness", because an unravished woman is a virgin, and virgins were thought as pure and holy, The oman being of quietness means that she has not much to say, and is perhaps not confident enough to speak
ReplyDelete-Keats describes this Sylvan historian as a virgin and quiet woman, someone who has tales more sweet than the very ode he's writing. This deomstrates that he is aware that this poem isn't the most pleasant or popular, but he continues to write and express himself freely. Perhaps he is jealous of this pure and sweet woman telling her tale.
-One important note is how he says that unheard melodies are sweeter than those that are heard, because he is noting that unpopular or undiscovered art has the most value. Pieces of creativity that has yet to be found are often the most beautiful and full.
-this "she" that Keats is referring to, the fair one that cannot fade, is certainly a depiction of art itself. Art cannot fade, and continues to be fair. He also attaches the art to the artist, an important note because it reminds us that art is immortal, and never leaves the soul.
-Noting that these "happy boughs" cannot shed for Spring is a symbol of rebirth. Since we're personifying art, Keats is saying that art isn't meant to die and be born again like nature is. Again, art is immortal and the "happy melodist" is unwearied because they know their art will live on.
-Keats describes human passion as a burning fire, a definition of the phrase "burning passion". Art can easily be someone's burning passion, forever young and always able to be enjoyed.
-A sacrifice is described in this poem is which is important because it is often said that many artists sacrifice themselves for their work. People like Kurt Cobain and Prince end up slaving to their art, and lose sight of why they started making it in the first place. Keats here is deomstrating that artists sacrifice a lot to make beautiful art.
-There are some places, like this small town Keats describes, where art is desolate. This is crucial to note, because the town is depicted as "emptied" of these artists who are willing to sacrifice it all to create art. This is a stab at lazy artists, who don't actually have the burning passion to imagine and create.
-"Silent form, dost tease us out of thought as doth eternity" is important because he's referring to the immortality of art teasing the mortal lives of the artists. Art lives on, but the artists are tied down to their limited time on earth.
-The last five lines wrap up the meaning of this ode as a whole, the most important line being "Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe". THis means that despite everything else going wrong in the world, art remains as it has always been; immortal, beautiful, and "a friend to man."
This ode personifies art as a virgin, quiet woman full of youth and beauty. Art, being immortal, has always been kind to the world and those who serve it. While the artists and cretors are tied down by mortality, the pieces of imagination these artist leave behind will always live on. "Beauty is truth" redefines this truth, that art is an immortal, beautiful being, no matter what else is crashing down around us.
I agree with your perception of "Beauty is truth". Art encaptures a immortal value that cannot be found in life. This "immortal" image captures a moment and loses the ability to show anything beyond what is happening in the image. Almost a inability to progress the story of a image due to it being "frozen" and immortal.
DeleteI like your explanation of ¨she¨ in the second stanza as a representation of art itself. I didn't think about it in that way, but it makes complete sense.
DeleteI agree with your idea that the poem emphasizes that art is immortal. It is an interesting concept that while humans do not live forever, what we create can and will live on and bring peace to this hectic world.
DeleteI did not focus on the personification of art as a virgin, but that is a very interesting point. I like your third point! I think he wanted us to acknowledge the value of undiscovered art or art that maybe we have discovered, but are not sure of its true meaning. Art is immortal and humans are obviously not, so this poem kind of gives us the idea that there is art out there that we have not discovered or do not know the true meaning of, but he also tells us simply that "beauty is truth."
DeleteI like how you mentioned how artists make sacrifices for their work. Many artists pour so much of themselves into their work and often times that goes unnoticed. -kilby
DeleteI never took really noticed the personification of she and art and woman. However, how would it relate to "Bold Lover, never, never canst thous kiss"?
DeleteI didn't even think about the connection between artists and sacrifices. I agree that when time passes, some artists eventually become blind to why they started creating art in the first place.
Delete-rhetorical questions: Emphasizing the speakers main idea and to get the audience to deeply think.
ReplyDelete-metaphor: "a flowery tale" helps the reader grasp an idea that might not have been originally understood.
-ancient language: gives the reader an idea of time period and setting
-punctuation: diversity in tone and rhythm throughout the poem
-repetition: emphasizing a point that the speaker is trying to make clear
-quote: the concluding quote summarizes the poem and life itself into a simplistic meaning
-word choice: descriptive adjectives give the poem depth and more of a creative understanding to the meaning
-Capitalization: certain words are capitalized to emphasize their meaning such as Lover, clearly reflecting the importance of this "Lover" and how he/she is more than the term
-Warning: the end of the second stanza is a warning to the reader by giving the reader guidance and advice (personable)
-Oppositions: describing the oppositions of locations to live emphasizing the concept of togetherness and equality.
The description of melodies, "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter," sticks out because it is relaying the message of the desirable unknown. It is significant in this poem because it foreshadows the concluding quote, simplicity. The truthful beauty that is oftentimes overlooked, can often be the idea that morphs the human experience.
Wow! I completely missed the use of antiquated language to cement the notion that the vase is from ages past. Also, the use of capitalization for emphasis is something that appears strange at first glance, yet is an important technique.
DeleteI did not notice the capitalization of some of these words. That is definitely something to be noted. I also like the idea of the simplicity. I hadn't thought of it that way, and I agree.
DeleteI agree with your points! I had never thought about the "flowery tale" as being a metaphor for the urn's stories being previously misunderstood. I also agree with you that the unheard melodies convey the idea that truth and beauty are not always presented in a direct manner, rather they are unknown.
Delete1. Iambic Pentameter- adds rhythm to the poem.
ReplyDelete2.Rhyme Scheme- gives the poem an indefinite structure because the last three lines in each stanza are variable
3.Paradox- the people on the urn are free from time, but also frozen in time.
4. Shift in last stanza- stops describing the urn.
5. Theme- some aspects of life don't change throughout time.
6. Connotation- conveys happy/ curious language then goes to sad/ bittersweet.
7. Attitude- feels melancholy about time never coming to a stop
8.Stanza structure- John Keats uses the first 4 lines of each stanza to state what he's talking about then uses the next 6 to develop his idea.
9. "Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe..." By the time our generation has died out, the urn will still be there to tell its story.
10. Beauty- found in the urn because it is the "foster child of silence and slow time."
In this poem, the timelessness of art and the mystery of life are shown through the urn. The speaker tries several times to engage himself with the urn to figure out its meaning, asking several questions and receiving no answer. Since the urn can give him no answer, he stops his questioning. -Kilby
I dig the organization of it and didn't quite take it from a structural standpoint.
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ReplyDelete1. To start his poem about the Grecian Urn, Keats uses a metaphor to compare the urn to a beautiful woman, who, though is quiet (because, it's an inanimate object...) tells a story through her artwork.
ReplyDelete2. He then compares the vase to a "foster-child of silence and slow time", saying that though it has been hidden away, and irrelevant to some for a long time, at one time, it had a purpose.
3. He then asks rhetorical questions,as if the vase were able to answer.
4. By doing this, he is also personifying the vase.
5. The speaker then goes on to describe the people he sees. They are described to be eternally happy on the vase, and will be depicted that way for the rest of eternity.
6. The speaker begins asking rhetorical questions again, this time, talking to the town. He says that because the depiction on the urn is eternal, the people will never venture back home.
7. The speaker also uses repetition several times through the poem to reiterate his claims and emphasize how happy and loving the people on the vase are. However, he also emphasizes, when talking about the "bold" lover, that he will "never, never" get to kiss the girl he seems to be in love with, because he is eternally locked in his place on the vase.
8. Though the urn is inanimate, the speaker says "When old age shall this generation waste, thou shalt remain", meaning that even when the speaker is dead, and so is the rest of his generation, the vase is still in existence.
9. This also means that the vase will give good advice for more generations to come because the message it's artwork is eternal.
10. He ends his poem with "Beauty is truth, truth beauty- that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. By saying this, he says that all that we need to know is found through beauty on earth, and even though we may want to know other things, they are not essential to us. The urn depicts the beauty and everything that really matters on Earth.
This poem shows that through art, a message can be eternal. Though people come and go, their legacy lives on through their art work. He compares art to the "truth" and says that through art and beauty, we have everything we need to know.
I think you could expand 3-4 in saying that the speaker calls the urn as a historian telling stories. I like #10 and how it says the urn depicts everything important here on earth, but I'm not sure how the last scene shown on the urn relates.
DeleteThere's a rhyme scheme which I guess keeps the beat of it. The use of questions makes it feel like I'm going through an existential crisis (which I already am). An urn is just a vase with a lid that keeps ashes together. The memories of someone is dying off and the only thing that keeps a person together is them decaying. The statues have eyes that can see everything and keep it in but since they're not live people then it doesn't count. Time is continuing without the people who were alive at the time. People have so much potential and sometimes the greatest things are never made.The truth is beautiful. Why is it that there are so many people coming to a funeral? It's like if the person already died but now they're still in a limbo of repeating death over and over again but you have to accept the beautiful truth of death and let it go.
ReplyDeleteReflection: Milton is this sad guy who knows that time is not on his side. We all die, the young, the old, the beautiful and the bold. Only statues of stone and marble will continue on but it's not like we can change it.
ReplyDelete1. Diction such as "quietness, silence, slow time"- gives the poem a stillness. The pictures on the urn are still, and the speakers' word choice emphasizes the stillness.
ReplyDelete2. Each Stanza represents a different picture on the urn- represents the different experiences we have as people (falling in love, morning the death of someone we love, ect).
3. Irony in 3rd stanza- they are in love, and they are about to kiss, but they never can because they are paintings on an urn, and their time stands still. However, she will be beautiful forever.
4. Line of questioning in the 1st stanza- who are these people on the urn? It doesn't matter. They are immortal, trapped in a single moment.
5. Paradox in the 2nd stanza- unheard melodies are sweeter. The person playing the pipes will play them forever, and never move on because he is a painting, and his time stands still. The paradox emphasises the tragedy and beauty of their still time.
6. "When old age shall this generation waste, thou shalt remain"- while we grow old, the people in the urn will stay locked in their moment, forever young. They will transcend death because they are a piece of art.
7. Title- Ode on a Grecian Urn, not Ode to a Grecian Urn. This shows that this is not about the urn itself, but about the paintings that are on it.
8. "thou, silent form, dost tease us"- the art on the urn "teases" us because we long for immortality, yet we do not fully understand it. The urn is somewhat tragic. Time does not exist here, so the lovers will never kiss, the pipe player will never play anything else. They are locked in a moment.
9. Repetition of the word "happy" in 4th stanza- It is a happy moment, yet the repetition of the word happy makes me wonder if this is ironic somehow. They will never grow old or experience anything else other than this moment.
10. "Of marbel men and maidens overwrought, with forest branches and the trodden weed"- here, it looks as if nature is overcoming even art. The statues are deteriorating in nature.
This ode shows that time in an art piece is unmoving. The people in the urn are forever trapped in a single moment. There is beauty and slight tragedy there, in my interpretation. The urn does not lie. It shows the reality that the paintings are living in, and that truth is beautiful.
I really agree with your first point talking about how the diction gives the poem a stiller and slower feel. I was struggling to find the right word to describe it and I think this is it. It's interesting that its still as the poem is describing life moving a ta very fast pace.
Delete-tyson
Delete-ABAB to CDE rhyme scheme- as the rhyme scheme changes, the author begins to "analyze" the part of the urn he's looking at rather than describe it.
ReplyDelete-In each stanza, when the author double indents, he begins to speak about the future of each individual piece of the urn.
-The capitalization of "Bold Lover" indicates that Keats has a very high appreciation/respect for love.
-When Keats says that human passion leaves "a burning forehead", he is emphasizing that all human love leaves someone angry with their partner.
-The capitalization of Cold Pastoral is significant because it emphasizes that the urn is lifeless and cold, even though it has all of these vibrant descriptions of life.
-The dash placed on the second to last line is quite abrupt and the line afterwords stating that it's all you need to know gives the whole last two lines a negative connotation. The dash to me seems like something that tries to throw the reader off in a way.
-When the author continuously questions the an image of men sacrificing a cow, it emphasizes just how much art van expand our creativity, as it doesn't always force feed an ending.
-When the author says "truth is beauty, beauty truth,",leaving the second is out, I believe he is trying to make the reader think he saying truth is beauty without directly saying it.
-When the author states that the boy's songs will be ever new suggest that art seems to get old very quickly.
-When Keats says the urn "teases us out of thought", it's a way of saying that art makes us think about the world around us in a way we usually don't think about it going through day to day life.
Keats' commentary on art is significant because it still applies to the art that is produced today. The songs played by the boy on the urn are always going to be new and ever changing as time goes on and will achieve immortality, unlike the countless recycled songs played on radio stations today that are quickly forgotten. The commentary on time affecting love is also still relevant, as Keaton's thoughts on time burning out love is reflected on the 50% divorce rate in modern America.
-tyson
1. The most important theme is that of the vase freezing time. Across every stanza, the idea that the vase depicts a static moment in time that cannot change is mentioned. This advances the idea that the vase represents timeless beauty.
ReplyDelete2. Throughout the poem, the perpetual silence of the vase advances the notion that, although beautiful, the vase is a limited representation of an unchanging moment. The vase is the “still unravish’d bride of quietness” and “foster-child of silence” insinuating that the reticent nature of the vase is an innate part of the vase. The vase is fundamentally limited to visual communication and unable to speak to an onlooker.
3. The rhetorical questions in the last six lines of the first stanza and in the fourth stanza establish that the speaker is prodding and interrogating the vase for information. The speaker must know who the gods or humans depicted are and what they did in life to fully understand the artistic idea that the vase expresses. Ultimately, these questions are left unanswered, despite gaining a deeper understanding for the vase. Thus, the speaker can continue to learn and appreciate the vase by gazing at it evermore.
4. The presence of auditory imagery throughout the poem but concentrated in the second stanza serves to juxtapose the silence of the vase and add sensory language uncharacteristic of a vase. The line “Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone” establishes that the vase connects to the speaker on a spiritual level. The speaker is so moved by the vase that the visual medium is transcended by spiritual songs. Overall, auditory imagery puts forth the synethstysic idea that visual art can elicit non visual sensory responses when particularly meaningful.
5. The visual imagery focuses on depicting the vase as a scene of nature and vibrant with life. The pun in the line “Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave” revolves on the concept that leave means both flat, green photosynthesis factories and exiting a physical location. Even within natural imagery, the author uses additional literary devices to stave off monotony.
6. Throughout this poem, repetition highlights key words and themes. The line “More happy love! more happy, happy love!” in stanza three embodies this literary device. In this instance, repetition focuses in on the intense joy of the springtime scene depicted on the vase.
7. The theme of uncertainty and ambiguity saturates the poem. As previously noted, all that the vase communicates is strictly visual, so there is significant room for interpreting vague scenes. In the fourth stanza, the “mysterious priest” represents this ambiguity because even the idea the the figure is a priest is an assumption. A static visual medium such as a vase leaves room for interpretation.
8. The thought-provoking nature of the scenes on the vase is key to understanding the fascination of the speaker with the vase. The way that “Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought” represents why the art of the vase inspired the ekphrastic creation of a poem to honor it.
9. The urn represents a time capsule of sorts that is from ages past and will outlive the speaker. THe statement that “Thou shall remain, in midst of other woe” concludes that the vase has and will endure trials. The vase in on a journey through time while representing a fleeting past moment.
10. Of great significance is the quote in the last two lines. This is what the speaker cares most deeply about and the key to understanding the poem. The idea that beauty and truth are interchangeable and that understanding this leads to a fulfilling life on earth is the central takeaway from this ode.
I didn't quite think of the urn as freezing time, but as encapsulating each period of time. But I think I like your wording of that more. Also, (#10) the author is definitely talking about the intertwined connection between beauty and truth. I would like to know what you took the beauty as to mean. Does it mean literal beauty or art?
DeleteAs for your reflection, I would add the theme of death into the mix as well.
John Keates offers an insightful look at themes of time, nature, truth, and beauty in “Ode to a Grecian Urn” in five stanzas with a variation of an ABABCDEDCE rhyme scheme. By using the urn as a vehicle to represent time past and visual art, Keates explores the similarities of truth and beauty, eventually concluding that they are identical. Rich imagery fills the poem, creating a muitisencory landscape encapsulating the speaker’s experience of the poem. Thus, this poem beautifully reflects on a beautiful work of art.
ReplyDelete1. asking questions to the urn -> the speaker's attempt of connecting with and relating to the images and people on the urn
ReplyDelete2. “Sylvan historian” -> describes the urn as being a storyteller
3. “Your leaves, nor bid the Spring adieu” -> the leaves on the urn never die and are forever living; emphasis is put on the timelessness of the images
4. “for ever young” -> the piece is never aging; more emphasis on the unaging of the art
5. each stanza -> a new scene is described and has its own unique story, but all of them defy time and aging and have their own beauty
6. title -> the title tells that the poem is an ode and tribute to not just the urn, but the artwork on it
7. the speaker is opposing ideas in that the art is described as living forever, but also being stuck in time, unable to do anything (ex. “never canst thou kiss”, but “she cannot fade”)
8. rhyme scheme -> the rhyming makes it song like
9. imagery/descriptive words -> the descriptions of each image allow it to be imagined, and use strong words (ex. “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter”, “fair youth”, mountain-built with peaceful citadel”, and “for ever warm and to be enjoy’d”
10. repetition of “happy” in the third stanza -> this emphasizes the joy of the pictures and the happy moment they’re stuck in
The poem tells of how the different depictions and images on the urn have beaten death and time. The art lives on the creator cannot, and tells future generations the same stories it told in the past. Art is important because it can avoid the inevitable death humans face and live on for much longer.
Your analysis of "Sylvan historian" is insightful and the consistent use of textual evidence bolsters your credibility. Unrelated to your literary analysis, I found your arrows (->) to be aesthetically pleasing and effective way to move the reader's attention from your point to your evidence and analysis.
DeleteI totally agree with the paradox of the images not being able to do anything or change, yet they will live on longer than humans who do have the ability to do things! To elaborate on the repetition of "happy", maybe the poem is saying that living in the moment will bring joy to us, just like how the pictures are happy to be stuck in the moment.
DeleteI agree with all of your points, and also find it interesting that you made the connection between the historian to the urn being a storyteller. This actually makes much more sense because the urn is telling a story through the different images seen by the speaker. The urn is basically telling its history and why it became a valued piece of art.
Delete1. The theme of beauty in this poem is significant because the poem describes different forms of beauty, be it in youth, nature, music, or art. The last line says that "Beauty is truth".
ReplyDelete2. "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,-that is all" has a dash in it to signify that beauty is not a concrete thing or idea, it is simply the truth. Ending the poem with a quote makes the advice it gives more meaningful.
3. The title is significant because it shows that the poem will be an ode addressing a Grecian Urn, possibly giving a respectful historic connotation.
4. The personification of the urn; “Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian” is significant because it gives the urn human-like qualities and it shows that the urn reflects images from history.
5. The repetition of “for ever” is important because it emphasises that the urn will depict the art on it forever. An example of this is “For ever painting, and for ever young” showing that the images will stay the way they are and won’t change and cannot fade.
6. The urn is referred to as the “unravished bride of quietness”, putting a feminine aspect to it. Why not refer to the urn as a groom? Perhaps because beauty is often associated with women.
7. The line “heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter” also reflects the theme of “beauty is the truth” because the truth is not always explicitly stated.
8. There are many questions in the 1st and 4th stanzas to create a feeling of mysteriousness and uncertainty.
9. The fact that there are multiple stories and images on the urn reflects universal human experiences such as love and happiness.
10. Trees are used numerously in this poem; “beneath the trees”, “forest branches” because trees are God’s art as a part of nature and the urn is the work of an artist . According to the author, trees “can never be bare” “nor ever bid the Spring adieu”, just like how the urn “shalt remain”. The fact that both remain give a sense of eternity.
John Keat’s commentary on time shows, from an artist’s perspective, that pieces of art will survive through time and by this, it can achieve immortality in a way. Time defeats humans because it brings death to us all, but time will not bring death to an inanimate piece of art. This poem also shows that in order to find beauty in something, it has to be the truth first. The speaker views the Grecian urn as beautiful because it truthfully reflects history and the urn will live on to show this history.
I never really thought about comparing beauty to actual women, which was a good idea! I agree with you on all of your points, including the one where you said the last line of the poem makes it become more meaningful. I think that was the intent of Keats, trying to make strong claims for advice towards readers. He wants to show them that time is slow and when it goes by quickly, you don't have enough to make change in the world, so history lives on.
DeleteLike Amber, I didn't see think about beauty having a connection to actual women. To even further back up that it's talking about actual women, you could say the speaker's use of sensual diction. Some example being: panting, passion, love, sacrifice, unravished. The the continued use of "her/she" could further back up your claim.
DeleteI agree with your take away on the piece! I think that it focuses on the timelessness of a thing rather than the sad, unfortunate fate of us all. I really liked your number 2 on your list as well though. The idea that beauty isn't one concrete thing in general is something that I definitely didn't pick up on the first time reading through, however I couldn't agree more! You had some really good points in your list.
Delete1. “beauty is truth, truth beauty”- the author uses this example of symbolism in the poem to compare the pictures on the urn to the reality of the world.
ReplyDelete2. Repetition- of words: happy love
To emphasize the importance of being happy and that it can make you feel like love lasts forever, even when too much of it doesn’t.
3. Imagery- “silken flanks”; “burning forehead”; “parching tongue”; “leaf-fringed legend”
Keats provides the reader with these complex images to have them imagine what the world was like back in these times.
4. Metaphors- “unravish’d bride of quietness”; “foster-child of silence”; “a flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme”
These are used to show the relationship of the piece of art to things such as nature and humans themselves. They are also used to describe the art and history of the urn.
5. Capitalization- “Bold Lover”; “Cold Pastoral”; “Sylvan historian”
used to emphasize how they are all important figures and that even though they are different, they are all connected through art.
6. Time- ”For ever thou wilt love, and she be fair”
Nothing can ever be affected by time, including love and beauty. The speaker believes in natural eternity.
7. Rhyme Scheme- uses this certain scheme for each stanza to make a point and then shows how everything said by the speaker connects back to those main topics and the urn.
8. Questions- can be considered as a way to get into the minds of the reader and make them think or ponder over things, like the speaker does in the poem. Also, to explain to the reader where the urn is, what it looks like, and why it is so valued.
9. 1st picture- “In Tempe or the dales of Arcady”
Describes the place over the first picture in a valley of Greece, which reflects upon the age of the urn and how long ago it was made. This represents that all art lasts forever.
10. Title- it seems the speaker of the poem takes pride in the urn and cherishes it.
John Keats's poem values a work of art and how it is passed down through generations. Through this art, he offers us a reflection on life, lust, and sacrifices that should be taking seriously. This is to ensure that everyone can learn from the past mistakes and prevent them in the future, as the world grows.
I really liked that you included the fact that Keats values a work of art and its timelessness. I also liked your number 9 on your list because that is definitely something that is important and that I didn't pick up on!
Delete1. Use of second person pov
ReplyDeletea.Speaker is speaking to the urn but also to the readers
b.Makes the readers think
2.Rhetorical Questions
a.Speaker’s asking rhetorical questions that won’t ever be answered because he’s speaking to an urn
b.The complexity of art and life, and how we’ll (humans) never get an answer to what art and beauty truly is. And what life is really all about
c.But at the same time, he’s asking the reader the same questions
d.Emphasizes the complexity and confusion life brings
3.Seemingly random exclamation marks and the uncapitalization of the next word
a.Shows the speaker amazement at the urn
4.Speaker’s amazement at the urn
a.Shows how art and death (which the urn symbolizes [more on that in #5]) amazes and causes
5.The changing symbolism of the urn
a.Calls it
i.“Unravished bride of quietness”
ii.“Child of silence and slow time”
iii.“Friend of man”
iv.A distractor to mankind of death
b.Emphasizes the complexity of art
6.Rhyming of thought and overwrought & woe and know
a.Thinking (thought) of death makes us overwhelmed/anxious
b.And to know is to be full of woe (sadness)
7.Following up on that, the urn represents the story of humanity
8.Personification of Spring
a.You can't say goodbye to ‘her’ because there’s always going to be new life even after you die
9.A shift from positive to a more darker note
a.Shows the darker side of art and life
b.Life’s confusing and time goes on forever so that can make humans nervous
10.A metaphor of Beauty and Truth in the last 2 lines
a.Art will show the truth
Reflection:
Overall it appears the idea of this poem is how art is complex because while it can represent life, it can also represent death. And in this undying representation of life and death, art tells the story of humanity. And this points to the main theme; art is the immortal representation of humanity. This work is important because it shows the importance of art.
1) Rhyme Scheme: This is important because it provides the fact that the poem really is a ode. It is also important because it ties into the "Grecian" portion of the title, since and ode is a type of poem that the Greek people commonly wrote.
ReplyDelete2) The capitalization of spring in stanza 3- Personifies spring. The spring and leaves off the branches of trees cannot physically tell one another goodbye in real life.
3) The words "Cold Pastoral" in stanza 5- This line is important because it gives insight to how the speaker thinks that religion ties into the artwork of the urn.
4) Questions in the last lines of stanza 1- These add to the imagery seen in the poem. Allows for personal mental imagery of what may or may not be on the urn.
5) The capitalization of the word "lover" in stanza 2- This is also personifying a lover. Even though that's a real person, in this sense if he is portrayed on the urn, he would have no capacity of human mannerisms.
6) Last two lines of stanza 5- The placement of this quote is important because it gives insight to what the speaker believes about how beauty & truth tie into one another.
7) Reminiscence of time- The time that the speaker speaks about is important because it shows how artwork and literature will last forever, which seems to be what part of the poem is about.
8) Metaphors- ex. A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: The speaker uses metaphors to compare things found in the poem to other things in order to add images for the reader.
9) Imagery- The speaker uses very descriptive language to add to the importance and the general meaning of the work. It helps us to provide a image in our mind of what the poem is about.
10) Commas- The speaker uses commas as a way to add emphasis to particular areas of the work.
The possible themes that this poem reflects are all very strong and powerful ones. The view that the speaker gives out of time is very true in what he states. As a person, time will run out but giving things back like literature and art will render your life here on earth as beautiful and timeless. I thought that Keats' form of imagery was very important and practical in the overall sense of the theme and point that he was trying to make.
1. It starts off with the speaker silencing the urn in a sense by describing it as a ¨bride of quietness¨ to speak for it with their own impression.
ReplyDelete2. The stone urn is hardly affected by time, and easily tells a story with its unique beauty; it has possibly been seen and touched by hundreds and thousands, by man and god alike.
3. The small hint of a paradox about indulgence and desire is important, and leaves you thinking.
4. At the third stanza, the speaker addresses a tree and brings forth the paradox of life vs. lifelessness beyond the lady and her lover.
5. The repetition of ¨for ever¨ seems to symbolize a unheard song that plays forever, and all involved in the song last forever.
6. The scene shifts as the fourth stanza begins to a sacrificial cow, which seems to make the point just hom important sacrifices can be to art.
7. The asking of questions by the speaker are powerful and crucial, in the sense that they make you think; without them here, this wouldn't be as good and it wouldn't be engaging despite being impossible to answer.
8. The mentioning of an alter and town make it feel like an entirely new and different world exists within the urn.
9. At the last stanza, the speaker reminds the reader that the urn is eternal.
10. What seems to be the most important is the very end, ¨Beauty is truth, truth beauty,¨ - that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. This message is from the urn this time rather than the speaker, which feels unsettling at realization. Its story is compassionate, but cold as well.