Tuesday, April 23, 2013

In "Ode on a Grecian Urn" what two words does the speaker repeat in the the third stanza?

The two words that are repeated frequently in the third stanza
are "happy" and "forever." Remember that the speaker of the poem is commenting on a scene that he
is seeing painted on a Grecian urn, and thus he is talking about the emotions of the scene he is
looking at and how those involved in the scene will experience those emotions and joys
forever:



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
enjoyed.



The repetition of these two
words could be said to have two purposes. Firstly, it could emphasise the joy that the speaker
has and his enthusiasm for everlasting art, which of course the Grecian urn is a symbol of.
Secondly, it could be seen as an ironic comment on the stasis and unfulfilled passion that the
scene on the vase represents. Throughout the whole poem Keats seems to offer a certain ambiguity
surrounding everlasting art, and this could be said to be captured though the use of repetition
in this third stanza.

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