John Keats

John Keats was born on October 31, 1795, in Finsbury, London. The son of a livery stable worker, Keats was the eldest of four children. His siblings included George, Tom, and Mary Frances.

When Keats was just ten years old, his father died from a throw from a horse. Shortly after, his mother died of tuberculosis. Following his mother's death, John became a surgeon's apprentice and began training in the field of medicine, however he soon realized that his true calling was not medicine, but poetry.
Keats' first recorded poem was Imitation of Spencer, written in 1814 and later published in his collection, Poems, in 1817. The collection was not very well received, however, Keats was not deterred from writing.
In 1818, Keats' second collection of poetry, Endymion, was published; much to the disappointment of his critics. It is often felt that this criticism was the beginning of the end for John Keats. The same year brought even further tragedy with the death of Keats' brother Tom, from tuberculosis.
Keats' third and final volume of poetry, Lamia,Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes and Other Poems, was published in 1820, ultimately becoming one of the great works of English poetry. Unfortunately, Keats developed tuberculosis and, cutting his career short, moved to Italy and warmer climate.
One of Keats' most famous poems, Ode on a Grecian Urn, was written in 1819 and was believed to have been inspired by his love for a lady known as Fanny Brawne. In the poem, Keats seems to be contemplating such issues as time, love, and death. He sees the couple on the urn as forever in love, with no threat of aging or dying. The trees are always green and the music is always joyful. This was not to be the case for Keats, though.
On February 23, 1821 Keats died at the age of 25. Though tragedy befell him at a young age, John Keats will live on as one of the greatest poets of all time.

Ode on a Grecian Urn

1.
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-fring'd legend haunts about thy shape
Of dieties 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 ecstacy?

2.
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,
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
Bold Lover, never, 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!

3.
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearied,
For ever piping songs for ever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love!
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.

4.
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,
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets of evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.

5.
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!
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. (1820)

Cook, Roy J. One Hundred and One Famous Poems, Chicago; Contemporary Books, Inc.,1958.

Lancashire, Ian The University of Toronto Library, <"http://library.utoronto.ca/ www/utel/rp/authors/keats.html">.

Ralph, Randy D. Icon Bazaar <"http://www.iconbazaar.com">. (Nov. 1999).

Reynolds, Trent Original "Tree" Artwork (Nov.1999).

Van Leeuen, Steven The Project Bartleby Archive, <"http://www.Bartleby.com/index.html">.

This page was created by Trent W. Reynolds (November 1999)

John Keats

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