JOHN KEATS

 

JOHN KEATS

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John Keats (31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821) was an English poet of the second generation of Romantic poets, along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. His poems had been in publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25. They were indifferently received in his lifetime, but his fame grew rapidly after his death. By the end of the century, he was placed in the canon of English literature, strongly influencing many writers of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood; the Encyclopædia Britannica of 1888 described his "Ode to a Nightingale" as "one of the final masterpieces".

Keats had a style "heavily loaded with sensualities", notably in the series of odes. Typically of the Romantics, he accentuated extreme emotion through natural imagery. Today his poems and letters remain among the most popular and analysed in English literature – in particular "Ode to a Nightingale", "Ode on a Grecian Urn", "Sleep and Poetry" and the sonnet "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer". Jorge Luis Borges named his first time reading Keats an experience he felt all his life.

John Keats used a variety of literary devices in his poems, including personification, simile, metaphor, imagery, alliteration, and repetition. 

1.     Personification:

  • Brings non-human elements to life, such as autumn and the sun
  • In To Autumn, personification portrays autumn as a benevolent force

2.     Simile:

  • Deepens comparisons, such as comparing autumn to a gleaner 
  • In Sonnet to Sleep, a simile compares "Conscience" to a mole, symbolizing inner turmoil 

3.     Metaphor :

  • Deepens comparisons, such as comparing sleep to an embalmer closing a body's eyes
  • In Sonnet to Sleep, a metaphor suggests tranquility

4.     Imagery: 

  • Juxtaposition is a notable imagery technique
  • Keats used imagery to depict nature as abundant, languid, and melancholic

5.     Repetition :

  • A sound device that Keats excelled at

6.     Alliteration, assonance, and consonance :

  • Sound devices that Keats used in his poems

7.     Rhetorical questions:

  • A question asked just for effect with no answer expected 
  • Keats used rhetorical questions in his poem To the Nile 

 

John Keats' writing style was lyrical, romantic, and imaginative, and he used a variety of poetic devices to create memorable verses. His work is known for its vivid imagery, rich descriptions, and celebration of intense emotions.

Characteristics:

8.     Imagery:

Keats used natural imagery and symbolism to express his feelings and thoughts. He also used personification, metaphors, and similes to create vivid images.

9.     Lyricism:

Keats was a master of lyrical poetry, which uses musical language to express personal emotions. He used rhyme, rhythm, meter, and other poetic devices to create memorable verses.

10.  Sensory language:

Keats used lush, sensory language to create an emotionally engaging experience for the reader.

11.  Classical references:

Keats used classical references to enhance the reader's experience.

12.  Themes:

Keats' work is known for its themes of love, beauty, and the transient nature of beauty.

Examples of Keats' work

13.  Odes: Keats' odes are lyrical stanzas that are often dedicated to someone or something that inspires him. His odes are considered his most distinctive poetic achievement.

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