Thinking Activity on John Keats

        Finding out approaches to death in                                 literature 

First, very problematic thing is that the word, " Death " is unacceptable by human being. The question is Why ? If we throws light on our mythology and some historical character, death was ignored by them. For example some historical character like Ravana, from " The Ramayana "

He received blessing of Lord Shiva that nobody will kill him, till in this modern age death is unaccepted by people. But the persepctive of the poet and common people looking on death is totally different. The way of poet is far different than other. Death is the lovable topic for the poet. We can find out Death as a main characteristic for many poet, especially in The Romantic age. For example John Donne, John Keats etc. Now let us discuss what are the views of John Keats about the death and the views of other poet in the history. 

☆ Brief Introduction about John Keats  :-

             " Shed no tear - O, shed no tear !

      The flowers will bloom another year.

     Weep no more - O, weep no more !

     Young buds sleep in the root's white core. "

           Born :- 31st October 1795

           Death :- 23rd February 1821

John Keats was an English poet in Romantic age. He was counting in second generation poets in Romantic age along with Lord Byron and P. B. Shelley. He was died at the age of 25 because of tuberculosis. His most of the poems were reputed after his death. His poetry are characterised by Sensual Imagery, most notably in the series of odes. He wrote poetry on the theme of,

               ¤ the effect of time

               ¤ Change

               ¤Life v/s Death

               ¤ The mortality of human life 

               ¤ Suffering and beauty etc.

While reading his poems we comes to know that mostly he described the theme of life and death through the elements of nature. For example his most famous ode, " ode on Nightingale." Let us discuss how he used the element of death in this ode. Here I would like to put the video of whole ode. So we can understand easily. 

This is ode by John Keats written in Spaniards Inn, London.  According to Keats' Friend Charles Armitage Brown, he had written this ode under a Plum tree in the Garden. It is poem about the state of negative capability of Keats. In this poem the Nightingale described experiences a type of death but does not actually die. The poem ends with an acceptance that pleasure cannot last and that death is an inevitable part of life. 

☆ Approach of death used by other poet in history  :-

John Donne is the metaphysical poet, who used the theme of Death in his own concept. Metaphysical poets was the group who used Far Fetched images in their poetry. They did not followed the themes or elements that was followed by other Renaissance writer. But they brought out their own new style. John Donne was the pioneer of the Metaphysical poetry. If we can turn on his theme of death then we can find out new concept about death. Now, let us discuss which are the views of John Donne about the Death.

                   
                         ( 22nd January 1572 
                          31st March 1631 )
                         
We can find out " Death " is a common theme in the Donne's poetry. According to him, Death is not fearful, threatening experience and it's bringing out gloomy and darkness in human life but death is transition of soul from one to another. If we can trying to see Death according to concept of the poem by John Donne, " The Flea " the concept of woman's killing of the Flea means that Donne trying to prove that their union would not have any greater effect then the loss of the blood. In his other poem, " A Valediction : Forbidding Mourning " Donne refers to his absence from his wife as a form of Death suggesting that his separation from her is a form of emotional obliteration. Now, let us see other poem of Donne on the theme of Death.

                        Death be not proud
                                     By
                              John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

The main theme of the poem is " Powerlessness of death."

According to John Donne, it is not mighty and dreadful.  Death be not proud is a beautiful poem that directly address to the death. Donne says that people don't really die ehen death. According to Donne Death is more pleasurable and and also it is controlled by Fate and luck. It is also associated with poison, war and illness. The death is nothing but it is rest and sleeping between the people's earthly life and eternal life after the death. 

This is all about death, the main theme used by Metaphysical poet John Donne and his point of view about the death.

Thank you......