Ode on a Grecian Urn Group

Question:

nayems
nayems
Teacher
High School - 11th Grade

Can I have a summary of the metaphors in the poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats?

Please make it broad

Rate question:

Posted by nayems on Sunday October 25, 2009 at 8:46 PM and tagged with controlling metaphor, keats, literature, summary, theme.

Answers:

  1. mwestwood
    mwestwood Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    To understand the metaphor one must find the tension in John Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn." This tension is between the aesthetic ideal and reality.  The images on the urn, that of maidens and fair youths, will forever be beautiful and "For ever wilt thou love," but, as in reality, they will never have the physical pleasure of the culmination of their love.

    Also on the urn is the depiction of "pipes and timbrels" that play in "wild ecstasy," but the viewer can never experience the sound of their music.  

    Thus the art is "desolate," for it "can ne'er return" to life.  "Beauty may be truth," but it is truth in its ideal, not its reality.  The urn can teach its viewer of truth, but only the person can experience real truth and actual beauty.  Only in reality can one learn of passion, only in reality can one enjoy the sensual sounds of the piper.

     

    See the question/response listed below which gives further explanations on this ode.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/ode-grecian
    http://www.enotes.com/ode-grecian/q-and-a/detailed-study-...

    Rate answer:

    Posted by mwestwood on Sunday October 25, 2009 at 10:02 PM