The title itself, Ode on a Grecian Urn, simply incorporates some significant points that are relevant to the overall understanding of the idea of the self- reflexive. Keats has chosen the preposition ‘on’ instead of ‘to’ as a way of reflecting a connection between the narrator and the pictures the urn depicts. The preposition ‘on’ leads to the idea that the poem is not strictly about the physical object of the urn itself but also the qualities the urn possesses and how they interplay with the narrator himself. This leads into the notion of the subjective and objective. This particular poem beg

The saying ‘to want is better than to have’ is one line that strikes a cord in the two stanzas on desire with the narrator. Desire is the longing for something and there is the element of the unknown. Just as the reader is left not knowing if the two lovers will ever come together is a way in which the narrator is stating this point. Desire too has limitations as it can only be played out to a certain point where the rest must remain unknown and one must fill in the empty gaps for oneself. If desire is fulfilled death is inevitable as the object of ones desire has been realized.

When the narrator speaks of desire there is a sense of excitement and happiness in his voice: “Ah, happy, happy boughs!” ([Ode] 3.21), “More happy love!” ([Ode] 3.25). It seems apparent to state that the narrator is fixated on desire and there is a sense of yearning for desire over death. It seems as though desire is the crescendo leading to a climax of emotions and physical state and again once this desire has been fulfilled it diminishes and ultimately leads to death.

The narrator identifies himself with the potter who has made the urn and has come to the realization that death is inevitable and death is forever. When the narrator says that the urn tells a story “more sweetly than our rhyme” ([Ode] 1.4) this is highly reflexive. The narrator is looking at himself and realizing that once he dies his story and life will be lost forever. The narrator makes no implications that there is life after death as he clearly states in the fourth stanza that once death happens there is no opportunity to reappear.

ins with the objective as the urn exists as a physical object independent from any thoughts, but as the poem continues, the objective leads to the subjective. As this poem is highly self-reflexive, it therefore includes the subjective in the sense that the narrator is including his own feelings and perceptions of how he interprets the pictures on the urn. In turn, objective and subjective work together in this poem and without one would lead to a different analysis.

Ode on a Grecian Urn is a poem that addresses the two major themes of death and desire. These two themes can be treated as two separate entities but are also connected with one another. Through the object of the urn, the reader is taken through the narrator’s account of the pictures depicted on the urn and how he internalizes and self reflects on them. The urn is merely an object; however, it is the basis and means of reflection. Not only does the reader learn of the narrator’s thoughts but can also apply what is said to ones own personal ideas and life. The urn acts as a “mirror” reflecting the observer’s internal perceptions.

Some topics in this essay:
Grecian Urn, Spring Summer, Keats Life, Keats Keats, , John Keats, death desire, Ode Grecian, Jackson Bate, Stephen Coote, stanza narrator, grecian urn, theme death, ode grecian, ode grecian urn, fourth stanza, john keats, narrator beginning, urn reader, leads death, themes death desire, death desire themes, titled john keats, rhyme” ode 14,