Ode on a Grecian Urn...by Keats....Summary&analysis
The popular poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" was composed by John Keats in 1819. The poet was very much impressed after seeing the beautiful urn that was belonged to Lord Holland. The beautiful artistic pictures were engraved on it. Thus the poet was very much inspired to compose this poem after seeing the beauty of urn.
Keats is known as a great lover of Greek art and culture. As a result, the poet composed this beautiful ode on Grecian Urn. He calls the Grecian urn bride who is pure still. It is a symbol of quietness. There are many pictures of Greek culture and art engraved on it. There are young lovers who are following their beloved in the pictures. There is a picture of a boy who is playing the flute under the tree. A singer is also singing his sweet song under the tree.
The poet believes that the leaves of the tree where the singer is singing will never shed their leaves. Because they will always enjoy his songs. The is also a picture of a large number of people engraved on it. Those people are going to attend a religious ceremony. Therefore their village will be empty forever because they will never return to their village. Thus the poet is very much impressed to see the beautiful pictures of men, women, leaves trees and musician engraved on the Grecian Urn.
Ode on a Grecian Urn...analysis
Stanza--1
In the first stanza, the poet says that the Grecian Urn is as quiet as-pure bride. It is kept in one place for a number of years. It seems to the poet like a foster child of silence and time. It is standing very quietly at one place for many places. And time has passed so slowly that it can not destroy the beauty of Grecian Urn.
It seems o the poet like a historian who tells the story of the past through his pictures engraved on it. In fact, it tells the stories of Greek life. The poet is very excited to know about the art of Grecian Urn whether it is related to the valley of Arcady or Tempe. He also wants to know about the pictures carved on it whether it is of ordinary people or Gods. He also wants to know about the lovers who are pursuing their beloved.
Stanza--2
In the second stanza, the poet expresses his feelings about music. He says that the music we hear by our ears is very sweet but the music which we hear through our imagination is sweeter and stable. Our soul is also connected with it strongly. The poet further asks the magician carved on the Grecian Urn that they should continue their music.
Thus the poet feels silent joy by their silent sweet music. The poet says that the boy who plays the flute under a tree will never stop to play his flute and the tree will never shed its leaves. The lover who tries to kiss his beloved will try always to kiss her. Thus he will always love her.
Stanza--3
In this stanza, the poet expresses his thought on the stability and permanence of ancient art and culture. He says that the trees carved on the urn will enjoy always the spring because they will never shed their leaves. The singer will never stop his singing and his song will always be melodious and fresh. And the love of lover towards his beloved will never change with time.
Stanza--4
In this stanza, the poet describes another picture carved on the Urn. It is a picture of a number of people who are going to make the sacrifice of a calf on some green alter. A priest is also going to lead them. The soft sides of the calf are decorated with flowers. The poet says that the town or village of those people will be empty forever.
There will be no one to tell the reason of emptiness of the village because nobody will come back. The poet wants to know about the town out of which the people have come. The poet is very curious to know whether the town is situated by a river or on the sea-shore, or it is built on a hilltop with a fort in its midst. According to the poet, art has made the life of those people immortal.
Stanza--5
In the last stanza, the poet says that there are pictures of forest trees, trodden weeds, men and women carved on it. It is a beautiful piece of Greek art. according to the poet, the silent shape of the urn confuses our minds deeply. We are unable to understand the feelings expressed in the pictures of urn completely. We can not understand the real nature of eternity.
Now Keats calls the urn 'Cold Patoral'. It means that the poet wants to say that it is not a living thing. It is a piece of marble with rural scenes carved on it beautifully. According to the poet it will live in the midst of future generations and try to give them a message that beauty and truth are the same things. To understand this thought is enough for them to relief from their pain and suffering.
