‘Under the richly sensuous surface, we fnd Keats’ characteristic
presentation of all experience as a tangle of inseparable but
irreconcilable opposites.’ (Jack Stillinger)
Write about Keats’ use of opposites in ‘Ode to a Grecian
Urn’ and ‘Ode to Melancholy’
You must discuss relevant contextual factors
In both ‘Ode to a Grecian Urn’ and ‘Ode to Melancholy’ Keats seeks to
highlight the stark contrast between an eternal and immortal perfection or
beauty and to the ephemeral and transient human experience and beauty. He
highlights the Manichean opposition between immortal beauty and pleasure
and transient human experience and suferingg can be read to refect Keats’
own belief around what he called ‘negative capability’g which he described as
‘when a man is capable of being in uncertaintiesg mysteriesg doubtsg without
any irritable reaching after fact and reason’ when a ‘sense of Beauty
overcomes every other consideration or rather obliterates all consideration’.
This idea can be seen within ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ as Keats contrasts the
perfect frozen moments of eternal bliss felt by the fgures on an urn to the
sufering and sorrow any mortal would be destined to feel following. Howeverg
although the ending also is strongly ambiguousg it can be read as Keats
emphasising that the only beauty humans will ever truly be able to know is the
beauty of transient human experienceg as this is beauty humans can ever fully
experienceg therefore it is truth. This idea does link to the Romantic movement
that held pure and intense experience and emotions in high esteemg in the
Romantic tradition to endure and feel emotions in their fullest form was
instrumental to human experience. This idea is also clearly within ‘Ode to
Melancholy’ as Keats contrasts supposedly antithetical emotionsg of pleasure
and joy with Melancholy. This also links to Romantic ideas around the
importance of nature and humans place in natureg the consistently of change
within nature acts an important refection of the consistency change within
human experience. Humans are inextricably linked to and a part of natureg
thus the changes within nature between vibrantg fulflment and growth as well
as coldnessg dissolution and. Nature is beautiful even though it is transientg
Keats emphasises human experience is no diferent to this and that opposite
emotions and experiences are a necessity and cannot exist or be defned
without each other.
Keats juxtaposes contrasting natural imagesg to present both a sense of
pleasantness and sufering within nature. Howeverg even within thisg both
images are valued necessary parts of natureg which Keats clearly uses as a
broader metaphor for human experienceg to present how even though
sufering and pleasure are oppositesg one emotion cannot exist without the
other. Keats describes the experience of melancholy to fall “like a weeping
cloud” and create “droop-headed fowers” as it “hides the green hill in an April
shroud.” Here there is a clear use of sombre and depressing natural imagery
with the simile “like a weeping cloud” is directly linked to the human
emotional expression cryingg which is an expression of distress unique to
humanity and presents an intense overpowering sadness and sufering. This
presentation of all experience as a tangle of inseparable but
irreconcilable opposites.’ (Jack Stillinger)
Write about Keats’ use of opposites in ‘Ode to a Grecian
Urn’ and ‘Ode to Melancholy’
You must discuss relevant contextual factors
In both ‘Ode to a Grecian Urn’ and ‘Ode to Melancholy’ Keats seeks to
highlight the stark contrast between an eternal and immortal perfection or
beauty and to the ephemeral and transient human experience and beauty. He
highlights the Manichean opposition between immortal beauty and pleasure
and transient human experience and suferingg can be read to refect Keats’
own belief around what he called ‘negative capability’g which he described as
‘when a man is capable of being in uncertaintiesg mysteriesg doubtsg without
any irritable reaching after fact and reason’ when a ‘sense of Beauty
overcomes every other consideration or rather obliterates all consideration’.
This idea can be seen within ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ as Keats contrasts the
perfect frozen moments of eternal bliss felt by the fgures on an urn to the
sufering and sorrow any mortal would be destined to feel following. Howeverg
although the ending also is strongly ambiguousg it can be read as Keats
emphasising that the only beauty humans will ever truly be able to know is the
beauty of transient human experienceg as this is beauty humans can ever fully
experienceg therefore it is truth. This idea does link to the Romantic movement
that held pure and intense experience and emotions in high esteemg in the
Romantic tradition to endure and feel emotions in their fullest form was
instrumental to human experience. This idea is also clearly within ‘Ode to
Melancholy’ as Keats contrasts supposedly antithetical emotionsg of pleasure
and joy with Melancholy. This also links to Romantic ideas around the
importance of nature and humans place in natureg the consistently of change
within nature acts an important refection of the consistency change within
human experience. Humans are inextricably linked to and a part of natureg
thus the changes within nature between vibrantg fulflment and growth as well
as coldnessg dissolution and. Nature is beautiful even though it is transientg
Keats emphasises human experience is no diferent to this and that opposite
emotions and experiences are a necessity and cannot exist or be defned
without each other.
Keats juxtaposes contrasting natural imagesg to present both a sense of
pleasantness and sufering within nature. Howeverg even within thisg both
images are valued necessary parts of natureg which Keats clearly uses as a
broader metaphor for human experienceg to present how even though
sufering and pleasure are oppositesg one emotion cannot exist without the
other. Keats describes the experience of melancholy to fall “like a weeping
cloud” and create “droop-headed fowers” as it “hides the green hill in an April
shroud.” Here there is a clear use of sombre and depressing natural imagery
with the simile “like a weeping cloud” is directly linked to the human
emotional expression cryingg which is an expression of distress unique to
humanity and presents an intense overpowering sadness and sufering. This
