Themes in the Poetry of Keats

Which are examples of themes? Check all that apply.

1,2,4

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave 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! Which theme does the passage most convey?

a

Read the passage from "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles." So do these wonders a most dizzy pain, That mingles Grecian grandeur with the rude Wasting of old Time—with a billowy main— A sun—a shadow of a magnitude. Now, read the passage from "Ozymandias," another poem from the romantic period. And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. How do the passages' themes compare?

a

Read the analysis of a theme from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." One theme in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is that art is an eternal and unchanging truth. Now, read the passage from Keats's poem "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles." So do these wonders a most dizzy pain, That mingles Grecian grandeur with the rude Wasting of old Time—with a billowy main— A sun—a shadow of a magnitude. The theme of the passage relates to the theme from "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by

b

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." 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 What does the speaker say about the main topic of the passage?

b

Read the analysis of a theme from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." One theme in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is that art is an eternal and unchanging truth. Now, read the passage from "Ozymandias," another poem from the romantic period. And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. While the theme of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" focuses on how art is eternal, the theme of "Ozymandias" focuses on how

c

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? What is the impact of Keats's repetition of the word what?

c

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." 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 Which word in the passage expresses eagerness?

d

Read the statement from a paper comparing Keats's poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles." While the message in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is that art is an eternal and unchanging truth, the message in "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles" is that art changes over time. The paper is stating the poems

not c

Knowing that art is the , or subject, of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" helps the reader understand the themes in the poem.

topic