How Are Art & Life Contrasted in the Poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn"?

John Keats questions the nature of art and life in his poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn." He imagines the identity of the people depicted on the vase and ponders if they are enviable because they are forever young and in love. He contrasts this ideal with the cold stagnant nature of being fro!en in time in a created scene.

Style
Keats" poem is an ode a lyrical style of poetry often written in celebration of a person place thing or idea. #n fact his ode celebrates a thing$ specifically an ob%ect that leads him to a revelation. He ponders a Grecian urn on which a scene of love and revelry ta&es place. 'ecause the ob%ect about which he writes is a wor& of art Keats" poem ta&es on the e&phrastic style meaning a poem vividly describing a scene or wor& of art. 'y using art as a catalyst to contemplate life Keats already contrasts the two.

Paradox
John Keats reflects on the identity of the lovers on the urn questioning who they are what they are doing and how they are feeling. He observes the parado( that though fro!en in time they appear to perpetually move$ dancing and playing music. #n the second and third stan!as the parado( becomes more apparent. He notes the permanence of love and music fro!en forever on the urn. However he advises the reader not to grieve for the couple and observes that their passion can never be consummated. Keats shows that though seemingly ideal life on the urn is static and therefore no life at all.

Poet and Reader

Keats guesses at the feelings of the couple thus moving beyond a mere e&phrastic description of the scene. He includes his own thoughts on the nature of art and life. 'y involving himself in the contemplation his e(perience of observing the urn becomes an important aspect of the poem. Keats also describes a scene not portrayed on the urn$ the perpetual emptiness of the village from which the urn"s characters come. )ith this further imagining he invites the reader to %oin in his speculation. He therefore involves himself and his readers in comparing art and life in the poem.

Contro ersy
Keats ends his poem with a controversial quotation$ "'eauty is truth truth beauty ** that is all+ ,e &now on earth and all ye need to &now." -steemed poet and critic ../. -liot actually questioned his own understanding of the lines ultimately declaring them a blight on an otherwise beautiful poem. 'ecause that ending couplet is published with quotation mar&s scholars question who is spea&er and audience at the end$ poet to reader urn to reader poet to urn or poet to figures on the urn. 'y ending the poem with a controversial set of lines Keats leaves the reader questioning the nature of art and life and if one can e(ist without the other.