The The Analysis of Ode to a Nightingale is provided below by first giving a brief description on the background followed by the poem structure and its meaning.
John Keats came up with unique odes in 1819 when he devoted the rest of his life to poetry. “Ode to a Nightingale” is one of best odes he wrote. Keats was inspired to write the ode when a nightingale built its nest near his house. The bird sang every now and then. The songs inspired Keats to write the poem in one single day. Keats also wrote other odes such as Ode on a Grecian Urn, Ode on Indolence, Ode to Psyche and Ode on Melancholy.
Keats uses a combination of elements from Shakespearean sonnets and Petrarchan sonnets in writing the poem. He also used a combination of short and long vowels all through the poem. There are 8 stanzas in the poem. Each of them is loaded with meanings. Keats took time to express his perceptions and thoughts about the human nature all through the poem.
The Meaning and Analysis
The Poem Ode to a Nightingale describes John Keats’s thoughts about the conflicted nature of the human life. He tries to examine the connection between pain and joy, life and death, mortal and immortal, numbness and feelings as well as other conflicts. From the ode, the reader is expected to draw conclusion from the concrete emotions and sensations exhibited by the poet.
The poem also describes Keats’s adventure into the state of Negative Capability. It explores themes that relate to nature, mortality, transience and human life.
Towards its ending part, the poem portrays that pleasure doesn’t last in life. It also agrees that death is an inevitable part of human life. Hence, everyone must be ready to face it squarely. Through the various stanzas of the poem, one can discover the several natural conflicts that characterize human life. Keats paints a clear picture of such conflicts all through the poem.
Latest posts by A. Garg (see all)
- Analysis of Dahl’s “Hot and Cold” - April 3, 2014
- Analysis of the The Pig by Roald Dahl - April 3, 2014
- Analysis of Somebody blew up America by Amiri Baraka - March 5, 2014