Themes In The Poetry Of Keats

Read the passage from "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles." So do these wonders a most dizzy pain, That mingles Grecian grandeur with the rude Wasting of old Time—with a billowy main— A sun—a shadow of a magnitude. Now, read the passage from "Ozymandias," another poem from the romantic period. And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. How do the passages' themes compare? A. Both passages have the theme "time erases everything." B. "Elgin Marbles" has the theme "art outlasts even death," while "Ozymandias" has the theme "death comes to everything." C. Both passages have the theme "nature is cruel." D. "Elgin Marbles" has the theme "decay is inevitable," while "Ozymandias" has the theme "fame survives death."

Read the analysis of a theme from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." One theme in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is that art is an eternal and unchanging truth. Now, read the passage from "Ozymandias," another poem from the romantic period. And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. While the theme of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" focuses on how art is eternal, the theme of "Ozymandias" focuses on how A. Royalty is superior. B. Nature endures. C. Things change. D. Deserts are lonely.

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; And, happy melodist, unwearied, For ever piping songs for ever new What does the speaker say about the main topic of the passage? A. He complains that happiness is hard to find. B. He praises the advantages of being frozen in time. C. He bemoans being stuck playing the same tune forever. D. He admires the way the trees reflect the beauty of nature.

Knowing that art is the _______ , or subject, of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" helps the reader understand the themes in the poem. A. Diction B. Lyric C. Ode D. Topic

Read the excerpt from the poem "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles" by John Keats. Such dim-conceived glories of the brain Bring round the heart an indescribable feud; So do these wonders a most dizzy pain, That mingles Grecian grandeur with the rude Wasting of old Time—with a billowy main— A sun—a shadow of a magnitude. Which theme does this passage support? A. Even the human mind cannot overcome time. B. Even art is affected by the ravages of time. C. Art remains unchanged over time. D. Time and age bring wisdom.

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." 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, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! Which theme does the passage most convey? A. Unrequited love is still timeless. B. Youth is fleeting and fickle. C. Music is the spice of life. D. True beauty is found in nature.

Read the statement from a paper comparing Keats's poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles." While the message in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is that art is an eternal and unchanging truth, the message in "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles" is that art changes over time. The paper is stating the poems' A. Summaries. B. Themes. C. Topics. D. Transitions.

Keats's word choice in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" affects the _______ , or the speaker's attitude toward the topic of the poem. A. Diction B. Ode C. Tone D. Topic

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone Keats uses the phrase "spirit ditties" to describe the A. Music the gods on the urn favor the most. B. Songs the people on the urn appear to be playing. C. Music created by blowing across the top of the urn. D. Songs that were popular at the time the urn was made.

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, Pipe to the spirit ditties 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, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! Based on the word choice, the speaker's overall tone is A. Angry. B. Encouraging. C. Mournful. D. Loving.

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." 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 drest? 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. How does word choice affect the tone in this section of the poem? A. The tone changes from curious to lonely. B. The tone changes from admiring to bored. C. The tone changes from irritated to peaceful. D. The tone changes from unhappy to reassured.

Read the analysis of a theme from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." One theme in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is that art is an eternal and unchanging truth. Now, read the passage from "Solitary Reaper," another poem from the romantic period. Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang As if her song could have no ending; I saw her singing at her work, And o'er the sickle bending;— I listen'd, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more. Which line from "Solitary Reaper" is most thematically similar to the theme of eternal art in "Ode on a Grecian Urn"? A. "Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang" B. "I saw her singing at her work" C. "I listen'd, motionless and still" D. "Long after it was heard no more"

The first step a reader should take to determine a theme in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is to A. Summarize the poem in his or her own words. B. State the poem's message in a single sentence. C. Determine what the poem says about the topic. D. Identify an important topic in the poem.