Hellenism in keats poetry

1. Hellenism
The word 'Hellenism' is derived from the word
'Hellene' which means ‘Greek’. 'Hellenism' therefore
stands for Greek culture and fine arts (poetry, music,
painting, sculpture and architecture) as developed by
Greek cities in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. KEATS'
Hellenism is represented by his different kinds
of interest in his poetry.

2. Keats study of Greek Classics and
Sculpture
KEATS was the Englishman. KEATS did not know
the Greek language and therefore, he had no
opportunity of reading Greek literature of knowing
anything about Greek customs and ways of life. Still
KEATS was Greek in temper and spirit. The Greek
influence came to him through his reading of.
 Translation of Greek Classics.
 Lempriere's Classical Dictionary
 Through Greek Sculpture

3. Keats study of Greek Classics and
Sculpture
But more important than these three sources was his
own tendency and nature. One of his friends lent him
a copy of Chapman's Translation of Homer .
He was attracted by the new world of wonder and
KEATS described its effect upon him in the famous
sonnet, On First looking into Chapman's Homer'. He
felt as he had discovered a new planet

4. Keats study of Greek Classics and
Sculpture
His study of Lempriere's Classical Dictionary fully
acquainted him with the Greek mythology and he loved
every bit of it and freely used it in his poetry ‘The stories
of Endymion’, ‘Lamia and Hyperion’, are based on Greek
legends.
It is admitted that the subjects of 'Ode to Psyche' and
`Ode on a Grecian Urn' are Greek.
 The poet while expressing his passion for beauty
transports himself in his imagination to the days of
ancient Greeks.

5. Hellenism feature in Keats Poetry
1. Greek instinct
2. Love for Greek culture & literature
3. Love with Greek sculpture & art
4. Love for beauty
5. Greek temperament
6. Touch for fatalism & tragedy
7. Use of myths & legends
8. Influence of homer in poetry
9. Melancholy attitude
10. Combined romanticism with Greek

6. Hellenism In the 1st Stanza
Keats shares the Greek literature by addressing Urn
with reference to the time and silence. The Urn is a
bride wedded to the spirit of silence. Keats personifies
the Urn like a adopted child:
“thou still unravish’d bride of quietness
Thou foster-child of silence and slow time
‘Sylvan Historian’ Can-thus expresses
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme.”

7. Hellenism in 1st stanza
In the rest of the stanza, Keats typical attitude of
Greek who attributed human shapes to god and
goddesses.
“What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What to struggle to escape?
What pipes and tumbrels? What wild ecstasy?

8. Hellenism in 2nd stanza
• Keats love is simple for the ancient Greek arts. Keats
love for the ancient Greek Urn’s beauty is conveyed as:
“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…”

9. Hellenism in 3rd stanza
In this stanza, he looks at the trees surrounding the lovers
and feels happy that they will never shed their leaves. He
is happy for the piper because his songs will be forever
and happy that the love of he boy and girl will last
forever unlike mortal love.
“ah, happy, happy boughs! That cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearied,
Forever piping songs forever new;
More happy love! More happy, happy love!
Forever warm and still to be enjoy’d”

10. Hellenism in 4th stanza
Keats’ poetry is a mixture of various allusions to the art,
culture and literature of Greek. In this regard ‘Ode on a
Grecian Urn’ is a perfect instance. The pictures which are
engraved on the Grecian Urn show Keats' love for the
Greek art, culture, and ideals. For instance:
“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 its folk, this pious morn?”

11. Hellenism in 5th stanza
The most important factor in Keats’ Hellenism was his
own Greek temperament of his mind.
“Beauty is truth, truth beauty-that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”
Reader can feel the passion for beauty; beauty is truth. For
Keats, beauty became a very subtle and embracing concept.
Like the Greeks, Keats too adored beauty. He believed in a
close relationship between truth and beauty. However, he did
not attempt to escape from the harshness of human existence
to an ideal world of beauty.

12. Conclusion
• We can conclude that Keats is a visual poet, a
writer of senses and feelings but his poems and
letters bear splendid witness to the quality of his
thoughts. Keats can extremely referred as a pure
poet who has a passion for beauty and truth. His
poetry is for the sake of poetry and nothing else.
His use of Greek Hellenistic ideas in his poems is
praiseworthy.