Student Question
Describe the decoration on the urn in Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn."
Quick answer:
The urn in Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" depicts several scenes: a Dionysian celebration, lovers about to kiss, a pastoral piper, and a religious procession with a sacrificial heifer. The speaker reflects on the eternal nature of these images, noting how the piper's unheard melodies and the lovers' unfulfilled kiss remain forever perfect and unchanging, unlike transient real-life experiences.
In "Ode on a Grecian Urn," the urn was likely a product of Keats' mind, based on images of vases, sculptures and paintings. The scenes depicted are a Dionysian celebration, lovers about to consummate, a pastoral piper and a procession having some religious purpose. The speaker is also unsure if the people are deities or mortals.
In the second stanza, the speaker refers to the piper, noting that melodies "unheard are sweeter" because the piper on the urn is of course immobile, just a picture. The melodies unheard are sweeter because this image endures longer than a transient note and the one looking upon the urn can always imagine the notes being more beautiful in reflection.
Also in the second stanza, "Bold lover, never, never canst thou kiss," refers to the man never able to consummate his love with the woman. In the third stanza, this is more...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
apparent as the lovers are described as "panting." The third stanza mentions some trees or foliage which can never shed their leaves.
The fourth stanza describes the religious procession, some ritual sacrifice.
In the fifth stanza, the speaker mentions how these images cover the urn in an interwoven ("overwrought") style similar to overlapping branches and foliage which refers to the pastoral or forest (Sylvan) scene in which these images are set.
Describe the decorations on a Grecian urn in Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn".
There are several pictures painted on the urn's sides. Read each stanza to get more out of this poem and to visualize the pictures described: The first stanza addresses the urn asking questions of the stories it holds in its pictures: It is a historian, leaf-fringed (the border along the urn, probably) that tells a story of gods, mortals, maidens, etc.
Stanza two:
Heardmelodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Some one playing a horn of some type--we can't hear it but imagine the sound, so it is sweet to our ears as we imagine music we would enjoy.
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss
There is also a young couple under some trees just about to kiss, but will always be trapped in that exciting moment--never to kiss, but never to grow old, and always in love and just on the verge of bliss.
Stanza 3:
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; And, happy melodist, unwearied, For ever piping songs for ever new;
The trees are happy since they will always be in their prime, in Spring, full of leaves and there is a young person (happy melodist, probably male) who will happily play forever.
Stanza 4:
Who are these coming to the sacrifice? To what green altar, O mysterious priest, Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, And all her silken flanks with garlands dressed? What little town by river or sea shore, Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
Here is a picture of a priest leading the cow to sacrifice, and she is all decorated with flower garlands. The town is empty, and by the water and there are mountains in the background. He questions where the people are--at a celebration, perhaps, never to be seen or to return since they are not pictured here.
Stanza 5:
The urn is again addressed as a "cold pastoral"--something which can not answer his questions yet displays the depictions of daily life on its side in a quiet, silent, historical manner. It has survived all this time to stand quietly in beauty.