The connotative analysis of “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats

Phonological level

The quasi-alternate rhyme scheme catches the reader and it makes him concentrate on the poem, as if he were hypnotised. The rhyme scheme is complex. It is not a perfect alternate scheme simply because some lines don't rhyme; but there are also some rimes or some assonances in the middle of the lines or some between a word in the middle of a line and a word at the end of another, for example the assonances dales-these, ditties-trees. However the strongest phonological aspect is the high density of alliterations in the poem: the six consecutive questions starting with “What” at the end of the 1^st stanza, “nor ever, never, never” in lines 16-17, “happy. Happy boughs” in lines 21, “happy love! More happy, happy love” line 25, and so on.

Syntactical level

The present tense is the most used in the poem, sometimes the future (will) is also used. This reveals that despite the poet writes of an old Greek vase his reflections regards the time he is living. The syntax is also complex, many verbs are missed and the line's structure is often radically changed by the need of phonological, rhythmical and semantic coherence.

Semantic level

The language used was rather obsolete even at Keats' time, some examples are the use of “Thou, thy, Grecian”. The obsolete language together with the use of rimes and the complex syntax convey a deep feeling of exoticism to the reader. The semantic fields of feelings, sounds, actions and nature are the most used in the poem. “Happy, love, sweet, sensual, kiss, human passion” refers to feelings, “quietness, silence, heard, melodies, ear, silent” refers to sounds, “escape, kiss, play on, enjoy, heard” refers to actions, “trees, leaves, wild, river, sea shore, mountain” refers to nature. It much simpler now to see the Romantic features of the poem. Feelings and love are very important, the semantics also convey a sexual atmosphere in the poem, for instance “That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloyed. A burning forehead, and a parching tongue”. The field of sounds appeals to music, which is considered the greatest form of art by Romantics. Nature is always present, there's plenty of it in the setting and in the image the poet has about the ancient Greeks, as a society in touch with nature. The actions field reveals the will of doing something, psychologically it may convey the strong will to spread the message or that the poet has the prophet personality.