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Introduction
Book’s Name - A Thing Of Beauty
Author’s Name - John Keats
Genre - Endymion ( A poetic romance written using rhyming couplets or heroic couplets in iambic pentameter)
Language - English
Synopsis - Spoiler alert!
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‘A thing of beauty’ are the opening lines of Endymion. In this beautiful poem, Keats beauty’s effect on the soul stating that ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’. In addition to providing one with instant pleasure, beauty counteracts the misery caused by life’s dark and gloomy experiences.
Beauty is just not confined to nature, such as trees, flowers, oceans , but also in other forms of art such as legends and sagas.
The poet believes that nature has the power to replenish one’s soul and write about nature in two ways. He explains the beauty in nature and the joy and relief associated with it, and loves nature for its own sake and for the glory and loveliness which he finds in it.
He believes that nature holds the power that keeps us from being weighed down by worldly concerns giving us immense pleasure that helps us to escape from the harsher realities of life.
The sun, the moon, daffodils, and the trees are embodiment of beauty. Not only this but to him, beauty also lies in the magnificence of the heroic tales that inspire us hence, giving us a pleasure like an eternal fountain that is bestowed to us by heaven.
About the Poet
John Keats (1795-1821) is known as one of the greatest poets of England. He was the key element in the Romantic Movement. He is especially known for his love of the country and sensuous description of the beauty of nature.
John Keats is well known for a unique way of writing poems which resonates with deep philosophical questions. In 1818, Keats published Endymion beginning famously with the line ‘A thing of beauty is a joy for ever’. This was Keats first long poem that dedicates four thousand lines in celebration of the love of the moon goddess Cynthia for the young shepherd Endymion.
Some of his famous works include ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, ‘To Autumn’, ‘Ode on melancholy’, ‘Lamia’, ‘Hyperion’ which gave him a lot of fame before he died of Tuberculosis in 1821.
About the Poetry
The poetry is an excerpt from the ‘Endymion’, Keats’ first long poem comprising four thousand lines. The poem is written in rhyming couplets or heroic couplets in iambic pentameter.
The poem begins with the poet emphasizing that beautiful things are a source of everlasting pleasure. He primarily talks about the beauty of nature in the poem and also provides a different perspective of beauty by depicting it in the magnificence of heroic tales.
The lines of the poem have a multilayered meaning embedded in them. It shows beauty, power and healing attributes of everything with which mankind is surrounded.
Themes Involved
For the author, the world of beauty was an escape from the dreary and painful life. He escaped from the political and social problems of the world into the realm of imagination.
Poetry, for him, existed not as an instrument of social revolt, nor of philosophical doctrine, but for the expression of beauty. He aimed at expressing beauty for its own sake.
Keats believed a beautiful thing is a source of perennial joy and happiness. It left an indelible mark on people’s mind and provided one with eternal happiness whenever one thought about it. Joy increases. With the passing time, as one recalls a thing of beauty.
The various themes of beauty, love and inspiration that the poet celebrates through his poem contribute to the pleasure; he calls these divine influences that, like an eternal fountain, is bestowed upon man.
Mood of the Poem
Picture Credit: Adventure Journal
The poem is set in the romantic satire that beautifies the existing attributes of human life. He refers to the sun, the moon, daffodils, and trees, stating that beauty gives life meaning and significance.
Even when the beauty of nature grows fainter, we always look forward to its resurrection. It can elevate our mood. Beauty is immortal, timeless and with us to stay forever.
The Bottom line
The poem is a beautiful piece of art that is capable of soothing you. It will really calm you from within and will give you a whole new horizon to look at the ordinary things in a beautiful way.
Especially in the wake of the recent pandemic, when we all have been cut off from nature and imprisoned within the four walls, this poem will take you on a fictional, imaginary yet beautiful trip where you will find yourself amidst nature and will feel all the love and relief from this monotonous life.
After being a human machine for the past few months, give this poem a read to feel alive again.
My Ratings for the book - 5/5
You can buy a copy from Amazon right away - A Thing Of Beauty
Written By - Palak Chauhan
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