Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats

An Ode is a very formal poem, written in exalted language, that praises someone or something.

Literary Analysis: A Student Example

Perhaps one of his most debated poems by scholars and poetry critics alike, John Keats "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is an evoking work that captures the passion and lush beauty of the imagery frozen on an inanimate object, a Greek urn.

He describes the timeless scenes that are portrayed, a passion that is continual and yet the urn itself cannot change. Though the object itself is inanimate, the story that unfolds on it is set in perpetual motion.

Keats begins with the reference to an "unravish'd bride of quietness,” as the urn portrays a story that has begun but cannot be ended. Its action is incapable of finishing itself. And therein lays its beauty. He goes on to refer to it as "Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time.” For time itself has no effect on the images portrayed on the urn, they themselves are timeless in their action, forever frozen in their present. And yet time, the enemy to all things beautiful, does and will have an effect on the urn itself. This is why he refers to it as a "foster-child" and uses the reference "slow time" to mean time itself and its relationship to the urn and not the figures depicted on it.

Keats describes the frozen action depicted on the urn as ecstasy with its gods and mortals. He asks "What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?...What ecstasy? He can only speculate as to their dealings with one another and the joyous celebration their images suggest. He goes on to state "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter,” inciting us to imagine what beautiful tunes are being played out by the silent figures on the urn.

True to the Romantic Era, Keats’ words are highly suggestive and sexually charged as he refers to a male image on the urn "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, Forever wilt Thou love, and she be fair.” Thus, the poem suggests that the object of the Lover's affection will never be attained, his desires never consummated; nevertheless, he should have heart, for he will forever feel love as it is and her beauty and allure will always remain.

Keats goes on to describe the trees and how they will never lose their leaves or "bid the Spring adieu", but rather remain in perpetual beauty and life. Likewise he addresses a village scene as "What little town by river or sea-shore or mountain built with peaceful citadel, is emptied of its folk this pious morn?" suggesting the village in its frozen imagery is barren without citizens.

The tempo builds in the last eight lines of the poem as Keats almost accuses the urn of mocking the frailty of life and its temporal existence. "When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe.”

The last line of the poem has been the most controversial as some scholars have referred to it as a "blemish" on a seemingly perfect poem, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty, -that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." Keats ascribes these words to the urn as though it were speaking to us. If consideration is given to the timelessness of the images the urn portrays and their light-heartedness and lack of concern for fleeting time, then this final line is simply in "character" with the silent images, and highly appropriate.