Ode+on+a+Grecian+Urn+--+Yeats

Here is the John Yeats poem that Emily Dickinson references in her poem "I died for Beauty -- but was scarce":

By John Keats
Thou still unravished bride of quietness, Thou foster child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape Of deities or mortals, or of both, In Tempe or the dales of Arcady? What men or gods are these? What maidens loath? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endeared, Pipe to the spirit dities of no tone. Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, Though winning near the goal---yet, do not grieve; She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss Forever wilt thou love, and she be fair! Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; And, happy melodist, unweari-ed, Forever piping songs forever new; More happy love! more happy, happy love! Forever warm and still to be enjoyed, Forever panting, and forever young; All breathing human passion far above, That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloyed, A burning forehead, and a parching tongue. Who are these coming to the sacrifice? To what green altar, O mysterious priest, Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, And all her silken flanks with garlands dressed? What little town by river or sea shore, Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn? And, little town, thy streets for evermore Will silent be; and not a soul to tell Why thou art desolate, can e'er return. O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede Of marble men and maidens overwrought, With forest branches and the trodden weed; Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought As doth eternity. Cold Pastoral! When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty"---that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

I know its long, but I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on how it relates to Emily Dickinson's poem. While Dickinson makes comparisons to death and references his last line, the majority of the poem is based on this Grecian urn, that does not change throughout the ages. I find though that it is hard for me to totally grasp this poem because it makes references to things I don't know about and would have to look up. He is definitely making other allusions that I am sure I am not picking up. What does everyone else think about the comparison of these two poems? Should a comparison even be made? 1205466483

I think a comparison //has// to be made considering Dickinson's obvious allusion to Keat's poem. ""Beauty is truth, truth beauty"--that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know." In Dickinson's, she writes, "For Beauty...And...Truth--themself are One." I feel like Keats makes the oneness of truth and beauty a positive thing. It's all we need to know. However, in Dickinson's poem, the fact that beauty and truth are one is a depressing thing. One person can die for truth, and the other for beauty, yet they both are forgotten. The tones in each seem very different to me. Perhaps Dickinson was frustrated by the knowledge that truth and beauty are one thing. She doesn't seem to think it's fair. Are truth and beauty one thing? I have a hard time believing that. Dickinson is saddened by this knowledge, while Keats is excited about it. I guess I'm quite confused in the first place because I don't understand how truth and beauty can be one! Can anyone explain that? 1205468550

These two poems really do fit together even it is just a few lines of Keats poem that is echoed in Dickinson's poem. The both talk about the unity between beauty and truth, but in very different ways. I think that truth and beauty are one because beauty is truthful; it doesn't try to hide anything. It knows that it is beautiful. Also I think that truth is beautiful because it is very admirable to be able to be completely truthful. Like KGa said, the attitudes and tones toward this idea is very different. I think that this is also reflected in the overall beliefs in each poem. AHa said that much of Keats poem talks about how the Grecian urn doesn't change while Dickinson is talking about all of the changes that take place after death. I think that it is very interesting how two poets can take the same idea and turn it in two completely opposite directions. 1205469150

To address the initial question, I think that it is important to go back to Pope for a moment. One of the greatest things about Pope's writing is its quotability. For instance, he discusses truths that are "oft thought, but ne'er so well expressed." This line serves a double purpose. Firstly, it points to the fact that Keats stumbled upon a truth and expressed it in such a beautiful way (ha ha), that Dickinson could never have put them together better, no matter how prolific she was. Secondly, the fact that I can pull a random line out of his poem and use it in my writing is indicative of what Dickinson did with her poem. I hate to say that you wasted your time, but it is my belief that Dickinson simply wanted the very last couplet of the poem - Beauty is truth, truth beauty"---that is all/ Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know - and nothing more. Thus this is the only part we need to pay heed to. The rest is irrelevant for Dickinson.

As to how beauty and truth can be one, I ask you to consider this. Can anyone tell a beautiful lie? Even a silver tongue is often forked. We find no beauty in lies unless we are convinced that they are truths. When we hear real truths, we are touched by their beauty. That is why we appreciate poetry or art; it tells us something true about the world. And this appreciation manifests itself in beauty. Things we know to point to truth are beautiful things. Even gravity is a beautiful concept. And certainly nature is beautiful because it points to the ultimate truth of God. Does that help at all? 1205469910