John Keats “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer” Essay

On First Looking into Chapmans Homer by John Keats is a meter widely recognised by critics as a pivotal moment in his development as a poet this work is evidence of his complete mastery of the praise year (of which he wrote 64 in total). This poem was a key evolutionary process which would help him construct the development of his own poetic legacy the Great Odes.Keats was enthralled by the sonnet form because it presented a challenge to concentrate archetype provoking philosophy concisely enough to fit into fourteen lines. He restlessly experimented with both rhythm and meter, and though he worked with Petrarchan structures he found them to be unsuitable for the English tongue, and began to favour the Shakespearian form instead. Never the less, Keats achieves technical perfection in this Petrarchan structured poem. The first part of a Petrarchan sonnet, the Octet (eight lines), usually serves as a question or presents a problem to be then wined by an closure or a solution in the Sestet (six lines).However, Keats subverts this traditional structure to instead aid a before and after response in this case the Octet ponders his travels and knowledge before Chapmans Homer, piece the Sestet then telephone circuits his enlightening visualise of finally reading it. This poem is a brilliant recommendation of the profound effect of poetry on Keats it was composed in a vivid, ephemeral moment of polar inspiration during the ardent elation he experienced straight after reading Chapmans Homer, and so powerful was this stimulation that the whole poem was finished in day.Keats establishes his utter admiration for Chapman and Homer in the opening linesMuch give way I travelld in the regions of gold,And umteen goodly states and kingdoms seenRound many western islands have I beenThe initial exclamatory statement asserts gallantly that he is a educatee of high art and literature. He immediately introduces the central and recurring metaphors of exploration and baring the idea of travel and clusterof locations travelld, realms, states, kingdoms, islands all emphasise the diversity of experiences brought by the power of art and imagination. The phrase Realms of Gold symbolises the valet of imagination. Keats believes that art can open the mind to young human beingss and experiences.The word choice of gold shows just how flush and rargon these experiences are, and also alludes to the search for gold of the Spanish conquistadors, linking to his reference to Cortez in the Sestet. This also reflects his hunger to be exposed to more and greater works. The repetition of the l sounds in travelled, realms, and gold emphasises the idea and ties the quarrel together. The frequent and insistent use of first person narrative also fortifys the termination of Keats own person-to-person knowledge how well travelled and widely versed he is, and therefore we understand his epiphany upon reading Chapmans Homer is well in organize and trusdeucerthy .The fourth line moves away from those who enjoy art, to those who actually create it Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. The high, even sacred function that poets fulfil is indicated by their being the servants of a god, Apollo, and having sworn to follow him (with the suggestion that they have consecrated their lives to him). Fealty indicates their dedication to Apollo and consequently their concern the creation of poetry.Keats continues on to fan out on those who create art earlier than those who appreciate it, narrowing down to one special(prenominal) poet who rules the realm of poetry, and who was his main inspiration to rise above other dedicated poetsOft of one wide field had I been toldThat deep-browd Homer ruled his demesneYet never did I breathe its splendid sereneAgain, the metaphor of travel and discovery is expanded. Keats is reinforcing the vastness of Homers legacy and his admiration not only(prenominal) was it rich, but prolific, a trait which he very much wanted to emulate. To emphasise the out numerate of Homers genius and his literary accomplishments, Keats modifies expanse (which means extensive) with an adjective which also meansextensive, wide, to reinforce how limitless his intellect was. Deep-browed also refers to Homers intellect we still use deep as a vulgarism today e.g. deep thoughts deep thinker.To Keats, Homer is majestic as he rules with complete authority over the world of literature. By breathing in the pure serene he shows that art, to him, is a necessity, an crucial part of his life that he cannot live without, equivalent oxygen. He also makes it part of himself absorbing it shows the extent to which he is devoted to art he literally lives and breathes it. His use of an adjective in place of a noun pure serene is evidence that he struggled within the restrictions of our language, which would eventually prompt him to move onto Shakespearian formed sonnets.The line Yet never did I breathe its pure serene also contrasts with following and fail line of the Octet Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold These lines contrast Keatss knowledge of Homers reputation with his experience of the genius of Homers poetry in Chapmans translation. Out loud and bold reinforces the vitality of the epiphany achieved and is contradictory to the previous calm serene mood that Keats was previously in.We associate the words pure and serene with well-nighthing neutral, peaceful and relaxing these words apply both to the headmaster poetry of Homer and the translation by Chapman. Serene also conveys Keats spiritual fulfilment, as previously he was in emotional turmoil and distress. This last line of the Octet Till I heard prepares us for the Volta and brings the Octet to a swelling crescendo until this moment, he has felt excluded from entry to a new world of enlightenment and truth.The Sestet begins with Then, seamlessly transitioning from the Volta and preparing us for the impact of reading Chapmans H omer.There is also particular emphasis in all things visual in this sectionThen I felt like some watcher of the skiesWhen a new artificial satellite swims into his kenOr like stout Cortez when with shoot eyesHe stard at the Pacific and all his menThe emphasis on all things visual watcher, eagle eyes, stard reinforces the power and strength of Keatss imagination and devotion to his poetry he is easily able to relate his epiphany to the experience of discovering uncharted waters, or being the first to spy a new planet.The relentless excitement and pure surprise-inspiring experience that Keats is undergoing is only comparable to discovering something fresh, new, and undiscovered, just as he feels he has discovered a whole new world of knowledge so vast that it includes the heavens new planet. The use of the two fragmentise metaphors is interesting, as Keats appears to favour the explorer metaphor over the astronomy metaphor. I felt like some watcher of the skiesWhen a new plant swims into his kenThis metaphor alludes to the fairly recent discovery of the planet Uranus, which is a wholly visual experience and seemingly perfect for the elation Keats is trying to convey. Swims alludes to the upcoming naval metaphor. However, to Keats, this outer space knowledge has not been acquired actively enough, and he quickly abandons the astronomy metaphor in favour of the explorer metaphor. This is more satisfying, as this discovery was made actively and on earth rather than in space the discovery of a new planet will never be in truth satisfying as it will always be out of reach and therefore we will only ever have basic, rudimentary knowledge. like stout Cortez when with eagle eyesHe stard at the PacificThis is also a very visual experience, and Keats emphasises Cortezs eyes by calling them eagle eyes. This suggests that Cortezs eyes are keen, observing strongly and are paying goal attention to detail, just as Keats thoroughly observed all of Chapmans Homer, so m uch so that he felt as though he was breathing it in and literally surviving though it.The fact that Cortez is said to Stare also reinforces how entrancing and enthralling the sight of the ocean was for him, just as Keats was hypnotisedby Chapmans Homer. By deliberately choosing the discovery of an ocean over a planet, Keats emphases his descry point that we only have access to a finite, limited bank of knowledge. The sea is also a method of transportation, just as Chapmans Homer is the vehicle for Keatss own discovery.The last two lines reflect the shock and awe of Cortez and his men upon discovering the ocean, similar to Keatss current amazementLookd at each other with a wild surmiseSilent, upon a peak in Darien.The discovery of the ocean is so surprising and unexpected that Cortezs men, as well as himself, as shock into silence and dumb-stuck speechless. Surmise implies that they were confused, unsure, but alongside wild Keats word choice conveys that their shock was excitement induced, their reactions are feral, natural and almost untamed in nature. The imagery of Cortez and his men standing silent and in awe is a stark contrast to the previous booming, loud and bold voice in the Volta which prompted Keatss epiphany.This represents the come down from the white hot excitement upon first reading Chapmans Homer, to the quiet, pensive, yet still dumb-stuck speechlessness Keats would by and by on experience. Again, Keats is conveying that the English language is limiting and reluctant to allow you to fully express and cash in ones chips the impact of profound moments such as this. This shows frustration with Keats medium of choice.Keats has created an uplifting and thought provoking sonnet which encourages and inspires us to seek beyond the knowledge we have already gained, and to always aspire for more. This sonnet is so technically praised because not only is the content inspiring, but his appreciation of verse form and meter have been demonstrated faultle ssly through out to create a satisfying piece of art in a mere fourteen lines.The error Keats made in mentioning Cortez as the discoverer of the Pacific maritime indeed does not detract from the overall meaning of the poem names are almost irrelevant, it is the actions and accomplishments that are so potent in his work. What is important ishuman truth, not historical accuracy, and Keats has once again created a work of enormous ambition that reflects the importance of knowledge and discovery, no matter how big or small.