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Kathy OBrien AP Humanities 11 B/C March 1st, 2011 Somber at the Stem John Keats wrote a series of six lyrical odes including Ode on Melancholy in 1819, two years before he died of tuberculosis. Though he only lived a short life of 25 years, his writing was avantgarde, and he paved the way for writers of later generations. This composition differs from others in the series because beauty and sorrow are interwoven instead of separate. In Ode on Melancholy, Keats implores us to avoid easy solutions from ephemeral emotions, exhibits that sadness hides in beauty and beauty in sadness, and exercises visual imagery and contrast to elaborate further on his theme. The first stanza begins with Keats urging the reader to abstain from taking comfort in death, but instead, rejoice in the hardships we endure. The poet advises us to resist those comforting wiles of deathly aides and poison such as the ruby grape of Proserpine (4). With this grape, the artist alludes to the Roman God, Proserpine (Greek Persephone), who was kidnapped by Pluto and taken down to the underworld to be Queen. Keats claims shade to shade will come too drowsily,/ and drown the wakeful anguish of the soul (9-10). Shapes representing depression mask the pleasure of the soul. The poet implies it is better to have a soul than to give it up for the easy comfort of death. It may seem like the best option in a time of tragedy or sorrow, but the good around the corner is always yet to come. In the second stanza, the poet proposes suffering and beauty are heart breaking at the time of the feeling, but they are overall ephemeral. Keats uses short-lived visual imagery such as the sorrow [of rain] on a morning rose (15) and a rainbow of the salt-sand wave (16) as examples of transience. After pointing out the beauty of small, fleeting things of the world, the

Googins2 writer invites us to look into Proserpines eyes to look and see the beauty even there in her horrible misery. In the final stanza, the artist illustrates that the two opposites intertwine like a molecule, creating this haven of the poems theme: Melancholy. He relates his disillusion when joy keeps Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips (24). Even in his utmost elation, all the poet finds is a sour taste in his mouthwaiting for him. And then, in the midst of utter despair, Joys grape only burst against his palate fine (28). The poet finally understands that Melancholy is at the base of everything. It is the root, the stem, and the flower. It is in joy, in sorrow, and in the slowly receding tide. The main instances of poetic devices in Ode to Melancholy are that of visual imagery (especially color), and audible device. Keats imagery is elaborate and fantasticalusing several personifications to singularize mundane objects. The artist uses a significant amount of discernible detail in his scenes, including odd things along with the ordinarylike a downy owl (6). Visual imagery helps the reader create the story in his head with his own imaginationlike a movie adaptation personalized to each brain. Keats uses metonymy several times within the first few lines. The beetle is associated with burial since the Egyptians used the scarab in the embalmment of bodies. Yew berries are associated with mourning, and the death moth with the human skull. Even in the main idea of the poem, Proserpine is usually associated with sadness and bitterness. Personifications are often used in the poem, usually ascribing human traits to an emotion, state of being, or Psyche (6) such as Joy bidding adieu (22-23) and Veild Melancholy [in] her Sovran shrine (25). In this opus, the poet uses personification to humanize Melancholy and Joy. The elements of feelings become people with eyes and hands and facial expressions. Keats uses this type of figurative language to create a vision in our heads of real people and things that relate to, instead of a confusing abstract thought process. Sound devices enhance the audible aesthetic of the poem.

Googins3 The writer uses assonance in the composition on both long and short os and short es in order to create uniformity, fluidity, and ease of reading. Keats also employs color as a vital concept. The use of contrast is disposed throughout the poem. In the first stanza, the artist mentions the pale forehead to be kist/ By nightshade (3-4). Emphasis on color continues throughout alluding to the poem. In the second stanza, Keats describes the green hill in an April shroud (14) then mentions Proserpines peerless eyes (20) a few lines later. Keats relates heaven as a weeping cloud (12) possibly Gods sadness when his people die, while his (heavens) tears give human traits to him. The use of color intensifies the visual imagery in our heads, and makes it more appealing through use of balance in art. The tone of the poem is not solely Melancholy as the title suggests. Rather, Keats writes with a half beat of happiness in every measure of mourning. Keats ends the composition when Joy shall taste the sadness of her might,/ And be among her cloudy trophies hung (29-30). Keats writes with a rather doleful opinion of the world. He tells his story with the vague acceptance of truth in every situation. Keats bids his readers to be as the wind is, accepting the truth as it comes, enjoying the shortlived lives they have by portraying the randomness of Joy and the wrath of Melancholy. Our souls will always taste the sadness of her might (29). They will always turn to poison while the beemouth sips (24). Nevertheless, one should rejoice in the littlest blessing because of the fact that he has happiness in the first place. The poet only wishes to share his epiphany and give us the truth. We can do with it what we will. The theme of the poem alleges woe to be the cloud in every rain. There is a joy beneath every instance of despondence. Keep digging, and one will find another layer of dejection. By seeking truth, Keats opens the eyes of his readers to their own reality.

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Works Cited Keats, John, and Horace Elisha Scudder. The Complete Poetical Works and Letters of John Keats. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and, 1899. Print.