1. John Keats 1795-1821

2. Brief Biography Son of a stable-owner Small of stature (barely 5ft when grown), but still athletic. Had poor health most of his life Felt he would have an early death Parents died when he was young Apprenticed to an apothecary Started writing when he was 18 Had a ill-fated engagement with Fanny Brawne 1821 Dies in Rome

3. Fanny Brawne Met her in September of 1818 Keats was 23 she was 18 We know very little about her, her letters were buried with Keats All we see is his side of the story His letters were intense and passionate Love was a disease only she could cure He loves her but death imagery is often mentioned in the letters Refers to her as “the Minx” in letters to friends Relationship was apparently never consummated He was never financially secure enough to marry her

4. Literary…continued Sensuous Distinctive description Engages all of the senses Mythic imagery Borrows from Greek Mythology Frustrated Sexuality Pleasure vs. pain Lethal women – almost “vampiric” imagery “Christabel” “Lamia” Was the least political of the 2nd generation Romantics Some say he was reacting to the social horrors by being intentionally “escapist”

5. Literary Traits Most of his poetry is written between 1818-1821 Constantly experimented with poetic forms Ie: Spenserian Sonnet Sub-form of the English sonnet Ababbabccdcdee rhyme scheme Eventually writes in blank-verse

6. The Odes Probably his most distinctive achievement Most of them written in the spring of 1819 Composed very quickly Very self-aware Examines the creative process Poems of “sensation” rather than thought Written during a tumultuous time in his life: Death of brother His own ill health Pining for Fanny Browne

7. The Odes…continued "Beauty is truth, truth beauty.“ reconcile the frankly human experience : of touch, taste, hearing, and sight moral and philosophical aspirations of timeless art rich, evocative language luscious sounds, sensual symbols of beauty Keats focuses on the images of the nightingale and the urn a symbolic debate of the sensual pleasures and pains of mortal existence versus the ecstatic dissolution of self in art. identification between the speaker and the symbol and the knowledge of its (the nightingale’s or the urn’s) limitations “emblem for the tragedy of human experience”.

8. Odes…continued Keats strives for an aesthetic objectivity in his poems: "negative capability,“ Poet’s personality does not intrude into the poem engages some of the same Romantic preoccupations: failure of the imagination, heightened observation of nature innovation of lyrical forms

9. Nightingale - Summary the poet becomes numb to the world escapes to the dark realm of the nightingale’s song hopes he can die at that moment of joy; considers the consequences of death, the eternal life of the nightingale he is called back to his self and the fleeting experience of artistic pleasure.

10. Grecian Urn - Summary poet praises the urn considers its features with inquisitive joy he imagines the idealized and permanent state of each unconsummated passion represented there ecstatic sympathetic identification with the passion considers the sacrifice, the mysterious motives of the pagan ritual poet contemplates the urn objective coldness eternal mentor speaking to the mortal clay.

11. Themes Beauty is the inspiration of the human spirit it is the inevitable nature of things to destroy beauty art is the permanent expression of transient beauty. The nightingale’s song becomes the vehicle for the poet’s imagination, expression, ecstasy; the urn is the timeless historian of human passion, the preserver of idealized song, love, and faith.

12. Journal Question How would you explain the poet’s relationship to the nightingale in the ode? How does it change from the beginning to the end? Evaluate the ending of "Ode to a Nightingale." What is the difference between a vision and a dream? Why theambiguity?

13. “The Eve of St. Agnes” Keats: Part II

14. “Eve…” Background Saint Agnes Patron saint of virgins Feast is on January 21st The “eve” is on the 20th Ritual women could perform to discover their future husband

15. “Eve…” the story Heroine is going to perform this ritual meanwhile., great party is going on in her castle Her love interest, Porphyro endangers himself in an attempt to see her Star-crossed lovers – families are at odds He gets past her family, sees her They consumate their love and escape

16. Themes Religious imagery vs. earthly pleasures Madeline character forsakes immediate pleasure to dream of the future Does this make her vulnerable? What is the basis for this belief? Who is she deceived by? Imagery of heat vs. cold Merlin and the Demon (Vivien perhaps?) Dream and enchantment – waking to a different reality Dreams vs. nightmares Why does the narrator stress how long ago this was?