Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is my absolute favorite poem, of all genres, nationalities and time periods. Though it is certainly not the only factor, a major contribution to my favoritism for the poem results from the sheer number of lines that can stand on their own and speak more than other poems can for pages. In my opinion, of course.
The first set of lines that always stick out to me come from the second stanza: "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard/ Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on." While Keats may be talking about the piper who can never finish his song, as depicted on the urn, this has always been a sort of symbol for optimism for me. While a song may never be heard as it is intended, it can also never be ruined.
Another major point from the poem that stands out comes from the last stanza, and is in fact comprised of the last two lines. "'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' - that is all/ Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." I think it really goes without saying that this can be taken on its own completely, when applied to our lives in today's society, and yet contributes so much to the poem as a whole. This sort of usage is part of what made Keats great, and is part of what makes this poem so great to me.
No comments:
Post a Comment