Explain how the poem conveys the idea that art can both move with its beauty and disturb by its tendency to remind us of our own mortality.
The elgin marbles inspired keats to write.
Elgin and his marbles.
Examples of great beauty and art also caused keats to ponder mortality as in on seeing the elgin marbles 1817.
On seeing the elgin marbles by john keats about this poet john keats was born in london on 31 october 1795 the eldest of thomas and frances jennings keats s four children.
Soon after his visit to the british museum john keats wrote the poem on seeing the elgin marbles to share his experiences.
John keats 1795 1821 wrote lyric poems such as ode to a nightingale and ode on a grecian urn that are notable for their vivid imagery and philosophical aspirations.
For those of you who don t know the elgin marbles that inspired keats to write the poem above are a set of friezes and sculptures from the parthenon which lord elgin the british ambassador at constantinople at the turn of the 18 19th century removed from the acropolis of athens and brought to england.
The marbles have immense beauty and grandeur but they used to be part of the frieze on the parthenon in athens.
Although he died at the age of twenty five keats had perhaps the most remarkable career of any english poet.
Keats s poetry became influential after his death and was recognized in the 20th century for its technical and intellectual achievement.
As a writer keats hoped he would live long enough to achieve his poetic dream of becoming as great as shakespeare or john milton.
Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures.
Upon seeing the elgin marbles keats is overcome by a sense of his own mortality.
From the observer s perspective keats experienced an overwhelming sense of his own mortality and appreciation for the classical artwork.
Now the sculptures are in fragments and in london no longer a living part of religion but exhibits in a museum.
The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas.
In sleep and poetry 1817 keats outlined a plan of poetic achievement that required him.
My spirit is too weak.
Investigating themes in on seeing the elgin marbles.
Through his awareness of other writings in this field and his first hand acquaintance with the elgin marbles keats perceived the idealism and representation of greek virtues in classical greek art and his poem draws upon these insights.
The classic collection of marble sculptures from parthenon at the british museum commonly known as the elgin marbles has been a vexed source of doubt appreciation enthusiasm disapproval and.
