From the observer s perspective keats experienced an overwhelming sense of his own mortality and appreciation for the classical artwork.
The elgin marbles inspired keats to write.
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.
Upon seeing the elgin marbles keats is overcome by a sense of his own mortality.
He was inspired to write the poem after reading two articles by english artist and writer benjamin haydon.
As a writer keats hoped he would live long enough to achieve his poetic dream of becoming as great as shakespeare or john milton.
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.
Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures.
Investigating themes in on seeing the elgin marbles.
What is keats saying about the worth of human artistry.
The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas.
Elgin and his marbles.
Soon after his visit to the british museum john keats wrote the poem on seeing the elgin marbles to share his experiences.
My spirit is too weak.
Keats s poetry became influential after his death and was recognized in the 20th century for its technical and intellectual achievement.
The marbles have immense beauty and grandeur but they used to be part of the frieze on the parthenon in athens.
Now the sculptures are in fragments and in london no longer a living part of religion but exhibits in a museum.
Examples of great beauty and art also caused keats to ponder mortality as in on seeing the elgin marbles 1817.
In sleep and poetry 1817 keats outlined a plan of poetic achievement that required him.
Although he died at the age of twenty five keats had perhaps the most remarkable career of any english poet.
On seeing the elgin marbles john keats.
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.
