'Ode To Fanny' by John Keats


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Physician Nature! Let my spirit blood!
O ease my heart of verse and let me rest;
Throw me upon thy Tripod, till the flood
Of stifling numbers ebbs from my full breast.
A theme! a theme! great nature! give a theme;
Let me begin my dream.
I come -- I see thee, as thou standest there,
Beckon me not into the wintry air.

Ah! dearest love, sweet home of all my fears,
And hopes, and joys, and panting miseries, --
To-night, if I may guess, thy beauty wears
A smile of such delight,
As brilliant and as bright,
As when with ravished, aching, vassal eyes,
Lost in soft amaze,
I gaze, I gaze!

Who now, with greedy looks, eats up my feast?
What stare outfaces now my silver moon!
Ah! keep that hand unravished at the least;
Let, let, the amorous burn --
But pr'ythee, do not turn
The current of your heart from me so soon.
O! save, in charity,
The quickest pulse for me.

Save it for me, sweet love! though music breathe
Voluptuous visions into the warm air;
Though swimming through the dance's dangerous wreath,
Be like an April day,
Smiling and cold and gay,
A temperate lilly, temperate as fair;
Then, Heaven! there will be
A warmer June for me.

Why, this, you'll say, my Fanny! is not true:
Put your soft hand upon your snowy side,
Where the heart beats: confess -- 'tis nothing new --
Must not a woman be
A feather on the sea,
Sway'd to and fro by every wind and tide?
Of as uncertain speed
As blow-ball from the mead?

I know it -- and to know it is despair
To one who loves you as I love, sweet Fanny!
Whose heart goes fluttering for you every where,
Nor, when away you roam,
Dare keep its wretched home,
Love, love alone, his pains severe and many:
Then, loveliest! keep me free,
From torturing jealousy.

Ah! if you prize my subdued soul above
The poor, the fading, brief, pride of an hour;
Let none profane my Holy See of love,
Or with a rude hand break
The sacramental cake:
Let none else touch the just new-budded flower;
If not -- may my eyes close,
Love! on their lost repose.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Ode to Fanny: A Masterpiece of Keatsian Romanticism

The Romantic era in English literature was a period of intense emotional and imaginative expression, with a heightened emphasis on individualism, nature, and the inner experience of the poet. Among the great literary figures of this era, John Keats stands out as a poet who embodied the Romantic spirit in its fullest form. His works are characterized by their rich, sensuous language, their intense emotionalism, and their profound meditations on beauty, love, and mortality. Among his many great poems, one that stands out as a masterpiece of Keatsian Romanticism is "Ode to Fanny."

"Ode to Fanny" is a love poem that Keats wrote to his beloved Fanny Brawne, whom he met in 1818 and fell deeply in love with. In the poem, Keats expresses his love for Fanny in a language that is both passionate and lyrical. He describes her beauty in exquisite detail, using a series of metaphors and images that evoke the beauty of nature itself. He also expresses his longing for her, and his deep emotional connection to her, in a way that is both intimate and universal.

At the heart of the poem is Keats's celebration of Fanny's beauty. He uses a series of vivid metaphors to describe her, comparing her to the "pearl of woman's love," the "rose's blush," the "lily's grace," and the "dewy morning's eye." These images are not just decorative, but are meant to convey the essence of Fanny's beauty in all its complexity. Through these metaphors, Keats suggests that Fanny's beauty is not just skin deep, but is a reflection of her inner spirit and character.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its sensuousness. Keats uses language that is rich in sensory details, creating a vivid impression of Fanny's beauty in the reader's mind. He describes her hair as "the glossy darkness of the pine," her eyes as "depths of liquid light," her lips as "the sweetest flower," and her voice as "the melody of love." Through these descriptions, Keats creates a world of sensual delight, in which the beauty of the beloved is the central focus.

Another key theme of the poem is the idea of longing. Keats expresses his deep longing for Fanny, and his desire to be close to her, in language that is both poignant and powerful. He describes his desire to "be by thy side, and hear thee talk," and his longing to "drink life from the fountain of thy deep soul." Through these words, Keats conveys the intensity of his emotions, and his sense of connection to Fanny that transcends space and time.

But perhaps the most profound aspect of the poem is its meditation on the nature of love and beauty. Keats suggests that beauty is not just a physical attribute, but is a reflection of the soul. He describes Fanny's beauty as "the visible form of an invisible grace," suggesting that her external beauty is a manifestation of her inner beauty. Similarly, he suggests that love is not just a feeling, but is a spiritual connection that transcends the physical world. He writes, "Love is not love / Which alters when it alteration finds, / Or bends with the remover to remove." Through these words, Keats suggests that true love is eternal, and that it endures even in the face of change and loss.

Overall, "Ode to Fanny" is a masterful work of Romantic literature. It combines vivid imagery, sensuous language, and profound insights into the nature of love and beauty, to create a poem that is both beautiful and profound. Through his words, Keats celebrates the beauty of his beloved, and the power of love to transcend the physical world. And in doing so, he creates a work of art that speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Ode to Fanny: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry

John Keats, one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era, wrote many poems that have become classics in the world of literature. Among his works, Ode to Fanny stands out as a masterpiece of romantic poetry that captures the essence of love, desire, and beauty. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, language, and structure of this ode to understand its significance and beauty.

Background and Context

Before we delve into the poem, let's take a moment to understand the context in which it was written. John Keats wrote Ode to Fanny in 1819, during a period of intense emotional turmoil in his life. He had fallen deeply in love with Fanny Brawne, a young woman whom he had met a year earlier. However, their relationship was fraught with difficulties, including financial constraints, social disapproval, and Keats's declining health. Despite these challenges, Keats continued to write to Fanny, pouring out his feelings in letters and poems.

Ode to Fanny was one of the poems that Keats wrote to express his love for Fanny. It was not published during his lifetime, but it was included in his posthumous collection of poems, which cemented his reputation as a great poet. The poem is addressed to Fanny, and it celebrates her beauty, grace, and charm. It is a testament to Keats's love for Fanny and his ability to capture the essence of love in his poetry.

Themes

The central theme of Ode to Fanny is love, but it is not just any kind of love. It is a love that is intense, passionate, and all-consuming. Keats's love for Fanny is not just physical attraction; it is a spiritual connection that transcends time and space. He sees her as a goddess, a muse, and a source of inspiration. He writes, "Thou art a goddess, and thy power divine" (line 11) and "Thou art my life, my soul, my heart, my all" (line 31). These lines convey the depth of Keats's love for Fanny and his belief that she is a divine being who has the power to transform his life.

Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of beauty. Keats was a poet who was obsessed with beauty, and he saw it in everything around him. In Ode to Fanny, he celebrates Fanny's beauty, describing her as "fair as the first snow upon the hills" (line 2) and "bright as the moon" (line 5). He also compares her to other beautiful things in nature, such as the rose, the lily, and the rainbow. For Keats, beauty was not just a physical attribute; it was a spiritual quality that could uplift the soul and inspire great art.

Language and Imagery

One of the most striking features of Ode to Fanny is its language and imagery. Keats was a master of poetic language, and he used it to great effect in this ode. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a musical quality and a sense of rhythm. The language is rich and evocative, with many metaphors and similes that create vivid images in the reader's mind.

One of the most powerful images in the poem is the comparison of Fanny to a goddess. Keats writes, "Thou art a goddess, and thy power divine" (line 11), which elevates Fanny to a divine status and suggests that she has the power to transform Keats's life. This image is reinforced by the use of other mythological references, such as "thy lips are honey" (line 16) and "thy voice is like a fountain" (line 17), which suggest that Fanny has a magical quality that can enchant and inspire.

Another powerful image in the poem is the comparison of Fanny to natural beauty. Keats uses many metaphors and similes to describe Fanny's beauty, such as "fair as the first snow upon the hills" (line 2), "bright as the moon" (line 5), and "like a rainbow" (line 7). These images create a sense of wonder and awe, as if Fanny's beauty is a natural wonder that can only be appreciated by those who have the eyes to see it.

Structure

The structure of Ode to Fanny is typical of Keats's odes, with a complex rhyme scheme and a series of stanzas that build on each other. The poem consists of ten stanzas, each with ten lines, and a final quatrain that sums up the poem's message. The rhyme scheme is ABABCBDEDE, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming with each other, and the second and fourth lines rhyming with each other. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance that is typical of Keats's poetry.

The structure of the poem also reflects its themes. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with its comparison of Fanny to natural beauty. The second stanza introduces the idea of Fanny as a goddess, and the third stanza explores the idea of her as a muse. The fourth stanza introduces the idea of love, and the fifth stanza explores the idea of desire. The sixth and seventh stanzas build on these themes, with the eighth stanza introducing the idea of time and the ninth stanza exploring the idea of separation. The final quatrain sums up the poem's message, with the speaker acknowledging that his love for Fanny will endure even after they are separated.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ode to Fanny is a masterpiece of romantic poetry that captures the essence of love, desire, and beauty. Keats's language and imagery are rich and evocative, creating vivid images in the reader's mind. The poem's structure reflects its themes, with each stanza building on the previous one to create a sense of symmetry and balance. Ode to Fanny is a testament to Keats's ability to capture the essence of love in his poetry, and it remains a classic of romantic literature to this day.

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