Ode on a Grecian Urn by J.Keats

Ex. 1)Keats addresses the Ode to an urn.

Ex.2a)The three words which are synonyms are bride, foster-child and Sylvan historian.

Ex.2b)The contradiction is clear: history cannot be silent.

Ex.2c)The words "flowery" and "wild" are connected with Sylvan; they are used because they underline an idea of exotic language.

Ex.2d)From questions of the second part of the first stanza, we can learn :

•·                               - where the urn is (it is in Tempe of Arcady);

•·                               -what is overwrought of (it is overwrought of men and gods, lovers and musicians).

Ex.3a)The paradox of the second stanza is about heard and unheard melodies (songs with no tone). It can seem impossible that unheard melodies could express concepts better than heard ones.

Ex.3b)

1. •1.   Scenes are about a young man who cannot stop singing and a bold lover who cannot kiss the girl beloved.
2. •2.   Both scenes cannot change because they are fixed on the urn.
3. •3.   If they cannot changing, the two lovers will be always wishing to kiss each other; on one hand it can be exciting to think they will always live the emotion to be in the point of kissing, but on the other it is surely frustrating  not to manage to.

Ex.4a)

1. •1.   "Happy" refers to the characters and it is often used; "Ever/Forever" refers to characters' actions.
2. •2.   Boughs have to be happy because they will never say goodbye to Spring; the melodist has to be happy because he will pipe songs which will be always new; finally the lovers have to be happy because they will enjoy forever for their love, they will be young and beauty forever.
3. •3.   I believe positive connotations.

Ex.4b)I believe it is in a bit of contradiction because in the second stanza it seems it is a pity that the two lovers cannot kiss each other, while in the third stanza the poet says that their love will be immortal, they will be young and beauty, and they will always live deep emotions because of their position.

Ex.5a)In the fourth stanza is described a sacrifice; the poet makes some questions, it seems to be a priest.

Ex.5b)The dominant atmosphere is melancholy because the scene is about a sacrifice.

Ex.6a)

•·                             -Brede, overwrought, dost tease us out of thought, beauty is Truth.

•·                             - From first stanza: Attic shape, forest branches.

•·                              -The function of art is to send messages. The ode is about how art can do it.

Ex.6b)The paradox is about silent form  to say things.

Ex.6c)Cold can mean "without words".

Ex.7a)The final message is summed up in the last line, that is Beauty is Truth.

Ex.7b)Art is beautiful and true because it renders the essential elements of human experience.