'On Receiving a Crown of Ivy from John Keats' by Leigh Hunt


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It is a lofty feeling, yet a kind,
Thus to be topped with leaves;--to have a sense
Of honour-shaded thought,--an influence
As from great nature's fingers, and be twined
With her old, sacred, verdurous ivy-bind,
As though she hallowed with that sylvan fence
A head that bows to her benevolence,
Midst pomp of fancied trumpets in the wind.

It is what's within us crowned. And kind and great
Are all the conquering wishes it inspires,
Love of things lasting, love of the tall woods,
Love of love's self, and ardour for a state
Of natural good befitting such desires,
Towns without gain, and hunted solitudes.

Editor 1 Interpretation

On Receiving a Crown of Ivy from John Keats: A Literary Criticism

I can hardly contain my excitement as I sit down to write about Leigh Hunt's On Receiving a Crown of Ivy from John Keats. This classic poem is a true masterpiece of Romantic poetry, and it has captivated readers for centuries with its lyrical beauty and emotional depth.

At its heart, On Receiving a Crown of Ivy is a celebration of friendship and creativity. The poem is addressed to the poet John Keats, who has gifted Hunt with a crown of ivy as a symbol of their shared love of poetry and the natural world. Hunt's response is a testament to the power of art and the bonds that it can create between people.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its use of imagery. Throughout the poem, Hunt employs a rich array of metaphors and symbols to convey his thoughts and emotions. The ivy crown itself is a powerful symbol of both friendship and creativity. As Hunt writes:

A crown of friendship from the hand of Keats,
A wreath of other boughs than myrtles meet
For the sage brows of poesy—the wear
Of any but from those who deeply share
The poet's nature, men whom I think few
Have felt as they have felt, or proved it true.

Here, the ivy crown is not just a physical object, but a representation of the deep bond between the two poets. It is a symbol of the creativity and passion that they share, and a reminder of the power of art to bring people together.

Another key image in the poem is that of the nightingale. Hunt uses this bird to represent the essence of poetry itself, and to celebrate the role that poets play in capturing and expressing the beauty of the natural world. As he writes:

And for the nightingale, she needs not tease
With such as these, her anthem flowers to make,
Save them for solace to some gentle heart,
That for her own sake chants her sorrow smart,
And, like her, in such wilderness doth make
A song, that sweetest is when most apart.

Here, the nightingale is a symbol of the beauty and power of poetry, and of the ways in which it can connect us to the natural world and to each other.

But perhaps the most powerful image in the poem is that of the crown itself. As Hunt describes the ivy leaves and their intricate patterns, he is also describing the creative process itself, and the ways in which poets must weave their thoughts and feelings into a coherent whole. As he writes:

And here are leaves, which, if they but obtain
But half a glance from any eye of worth,
Will hang upon the breast like full-blown fruit,
Or overhanging foliage, fair and mute,
And full of heaven breathed freshness. Ay, here
Are tendrils too, and here a blossom clear,
And here fair buds, and here the four-leaved flower,
And here, too, is a sharp and simple power
To cut these pretty fingers as they fray,
And basketfuls of silvery blossom sway.

In these lines, Hunt is showing us the delicate balance that poets must strike as they work to create something beautiful and meaningful. The ivy leaves are both fragile and strong, intricate and simple, just as a poem must be both carefully crafted and emotionally resonant.

But perhaps the greatest beauty of this poem is in the way that it celebrates the power of friendship and the joys of creativity. Hunt and Keats were not just fellow poets, but close friends who shared a deep love of literature and nature. On Receiving a Crown of Ivy is not just a poem, but a tribute to the bond that they shared, and to the ways in which their love of poetry brought them together.

As Hunt himself writes:

But now my utmost joy is but to see
That thou art come back to us,—Greatly flown!
And happy still in associating so
With genius, learned calmness, folly's glee,
And temperate love,—just as it used to be,
When thou unnoted didst the daisies blow
On Thames's bank, or through some woodland low,
While yet unknown to us was poetry.

These lines are a testament to the power of friendship and the joys of creative collaboration. Hunt and Keats were able to inspire each other, to share their thoughts and feelings, and to create something beautiful and meaningful together. And in doing so, they left us with a legacy of poetry that continues to inspire and delight us today.

In conclusion, Leigh Hunt's On Receiving a Crown of Ivy from John Keats is a true masterpiece of Romantic poetry. Through its use of vivid imagery, rich metaphor, and emotional depth, it celebrates the power of friendship and the joys of creativity, and reminds us of the enduring legacy of the Romantic poets. If you have not yet had the pleasure of reading this beautiful and moving poem, I urge you to do so at your earliest opportunity. You will not be disappointed.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry On Receiving a Crown of Ivy from John Keats: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry

Leigh Hunt's "Poetry On Receiving a Crown of Ivy from John Keats" is a classic example of Romantic poetry that captures the essence of the movement. The poem is a tribute to John Keats, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era, who gifted Hunt a crown of ivy as a symbol of their friendship. The poem is a celebration of the power of poetry and the bond between two poets who shared a deep love for the art form.

The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, which gives the poem a musical quality. The use of iambic pentameter, a common meter in English poetry, adds to the musicality of the poem. The poem is written in a conversational tone, as if the poet is speaking directly to the reader. The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase runs over into the next line, creates a sense of flow and continuity.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The poet describes the crown of ivy as a "green poetry" that represents the power of the written word. The ivy is a symbol of immortality, as it is evergreen and can survive in harsh conditions. The poet compares the ivy to the "ever-living" poetry that will survive long after the poet is gone. The use of the word "ever-living" is significant, as it suggests that poetry has a life of its own and can transcend time and space.

The second stanza of the poem is a tribute to John Keats, who gifted the crown of ivy to the poet. The poet describes Keats as a "young Apollo" who has the power to inspire and create. The use of the word "Apollo" is significant, as it refers to the Greek god of poetry and music. The poet compares Keats to Apollo, suggesting that he has the same power to create and inspire. The use of the word "young" is also significant, as it suggests that Keats was a young man when he gifted the crown of ivy to the poet. This adds to the sense of admiration and respect that the poet has for Keats.

The third stanza of the poem is a celebration of the power of poetry. The poet describes poetry as a "magic mirror" that reflects the beauty and truth of the world. The use of the word "magic" is significant, as it suggests that poetry has the power to transform and enchant. The poet also describes poetry as a "golden key" that unlocks the secrets of the universe. The use of the word "golden" is significant, as it suggests that poetry has a value that is beyond measure. The poet ends the poem by saying that the crown of ivy will remind him of the power of poetry and the bond between two poets who shared a love for the art form.

The poem is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry that captures the essence of the movement. The Romantic era was a time of great change and upheaval, and poets of the time sought to capture the beauty and truth of the world through their art. The use of nature imagery, the celebration of the individual, and the emphasis on emotion and imagination were all hallmarks of the Romantic movement. Leigh Hunt's "Poetry On Receiving a Crown of Ivy from John Keats" embodies all of these characteristics.

The use of nature imagery in the poem is significant, as it reflects the Romantic belief in the power of nature to inspire and uplift. The ivy, a symbol of immortality and evergreen life, represents the power of poetry to transcend time and space. The use of the word "green" to describe the ivy is also significant, as it suggests growth and renewal. The use of the word "ever-living" reinforces this idea, suggesting that poetry has a life of its own that will survive long after the poet is gone.

The celebration of the individual is also a hallmark of Romantic poetry, and this is evident in the poem. The poet celebrates the bond between two poets who shared a love for the art form. The use of the word "friendship" is significant, as it suggests that the bond between the two poets was based on mutual respect and admiration. The use of the word "young" to describe Keats also reinforces the idea of the individual, suggesting that Keats was a young man with a bright future ahead of him.

The emphasis on emotion and imagination is also evident in the poem. The poet describes poetry as a "magic mirror" that reflects the beauty and truth of the world. The use of the word "magic" suggests that poetry has the power to transform and enchant. The use of the word "mirror" suggests that poetry reflects the world as it is, but also has the power to create a new reality. The use of the word "golden" to describe the key that unlocks the secrets of the universe reinforces the idea of imagination, suggesting that poetry has the power to create new worlds and new possibilities.

In conclusion, Leigh Hunt's "Poetry On Receiving a Crown of Ivy from John Keats" is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry that captures the essence of the movement. The poem celebrates the power of poetry and the bond between two poets who shared a love for the art form. The use of nature imagery, the celebration of the individual, and the emphasis on emotion and imagination are all hallmarks of the Romantic movement, and these are all evident in the poem. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire, uplift, and transform, and it is a fitting tribute to John Keats, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era.

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