6. ‘ O for a life of Sensations rather than of Thoughts!’ Negative Capability: ‘that is when man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason.’ (Letter to George and Tom Keats, 1817)
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9. Task Three Look for parallels between ‘Ode on Melancholy’ and other poems we have studied this term, with specific attention to the philosophies espoused by each of the poets.
10. Tasks Argue the case that Keats’ ‘negative capability’ allows him to find a more rich and subtle middle ground in regard to melancholy. This is the world – thus we cannot expect to give way many hours to pleasure – While we are laughing the seed of some trouble is put into the wide arable land of events – while we are laughing it sprouts, grows and suddenly bears a poison fruit which we must pluck. (Correlate with and differ from ‘Ode on Melancholy’) Look for parallels between ‘Ode on Melancholy’ and other poems we have studied this term, with specific attention to the philosophies espoused by each of the poets.
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