Post by Betrayer Of Hope on Feb 9, 2007 6:13:52 GMT 1
In an attempt to get this Mansion up and jumpin', I've decided (with the help of our gracious librarian) to begin a poetry discussion thread. Come! Be a member of the discussion club!
Our first poem that is up for discussion is "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by Romantic poet John Keats. Perhaps a little background information is necessary before we begin our discussion.
Keats wrote in the Romantic Era of writing, and much like other works of that era, his poetry had much to do with things such as nature, beauty, and free thought-many of the things that come to mind when you hear the word "romantic."
In "Ode on a Grecian Urn," Keats presents an interesting philosophical question-'Is it better,' he asks us, 'to be stuck in an extremely happy moment forever?' as the couple described in the poem are, or 'Is a mortal life preferrable, or better?'
Sorry for the lack of flowery language in that "prompt for discussion" but I wrote an essay in AP today and am creatively drained...but without further ado...the poem:
"Ode on a Grecian Urn"
by John Keats
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-fringed legend haunts about thy shape 5
Of deities 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 ecstasy? 10
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 15
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
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,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! 20
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearièd,
For ever piping songs for ever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love! 25
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. 30
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, 35
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of its folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul, to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return. 40
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! 45
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.' 50
________________________________________
Now keep in mind that we'd like you to keep your comments on the poem sparing, and rather generate good discussion on the prompt, or introduce a related subject as pertains to the poem. This is John Keats, one of the greatest poets of all time, so please keep comments such as "This poetry is really good" to the minimum, because OBVIOUSLY it is good.
Now...discuss!
Our first poem that is up for discussion is "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by Romantic poet John Keats. Perhaps a little background information is necessary before we begin our discussion.
Keats wrote in the Romantic Era of writing, and much like other works of that era, his poetry had much to do with things such as nature, beauty, and free thought-many of the things that come to mind when you hear the word "romantic."
In "Ode on a Grecian Urn," Keats presents an interesting philosophical question-'Is it better,' he asks us, 'to be stuck in an extremely happy moment forever?' as the couple described in the poem are, or 'Is a mortal life preferrable, or better?'
Sorry for the lack of flowery language in that "prompt for discussion" but I wrote an essay in AP today and am creatively drained...but without further ado...the poem:
"Ode on a Grecian Urn"
by John Keats
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-fringed legend haunts about thy shape 5
Of deities 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 ecstasy? 10
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 15
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
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,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! 20
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearièd,
For ever piping songs for ever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love! 25
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. 30
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, 35
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of its folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul, to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return. 40
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! 45
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.' 50
________________________________________
Now keep in mind that we'd like you to keep your comments on the poem sparing, and rather generate good discussion on the prompt, or introduce a related subject as pertains to the poem. This is John Keats, one of the greatest poets of all time, so please keep comments such as "This poetry is really good" to the minimum, because OBVIOUSLY it is good.
Now...discuss!
