The Poet of Intellectual Beauty
John Keats writes this poem and keeps unique significance in the domain of English Literature. He comes in he line of Romantics (Romantic Period: 1790-1830) like Wordsworth, Coleridge and Shelley, who gave a totally new turn to English poetry. He appears as a towering figure that mastered Greek literature, poetry, philosophy and linguistics. His intellectual beauty is called “Hellenistic Wisdom” for his academic background. One of the distinctive qualities of his poetry is musical element in his creations. If one can’t understand its language, its moving melody enchants the listener. The listener feels carried away, lifted, transported and moved to ecstasy by the sublime and rhythmical impacts of his poetry, which is coloured with music.
Longevity of Beauty
Lines from Endymion reflect Keats’ fascination of beauty and its longevity. The line “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever” has a touch of class and keeps proverbial importance. Keats opines that ‘beauty’ is immortal and long lasting. Its charm goes on increasing and it never eclipses in the dark covering of nothingness. Beauty is a source of joy and pleasure. The life on earth is full of disturbances and tangles. A glimpse, an idea or a view of beauty opens a new horizon for one’s exertion. The phrase ‘health and quiet breathing’ reflects to the soothing impact of beauty. Thus, we are told that the appreciation of beauty is not a waste of time. It is closely related with everyday living and makes a worthwhile experience.
Beauty, The Replica of Goodness
Beauty is everlasting. Its pleasure never diminishes. It is full of sweet dreams and colourful images. Man never runs in search of ugly objects. He always discovers new beauties on earth from his day-to-day living. The world is full of miseries and pains. There are so many worries and disappointments. These disappointments and frustrations make life miserable and rather difficult. But in spite of these negative elements, we have some shape of beauty to brighten our ways and to make our lives easy and worthliving. They are the sun, the moon, the daffodils, the green tree and the streams. Similarly we catch glimpses of the beauties of the grand places, which stand for the living glory of the mighty dead.
Beauty is Truth and Truth is BeautyThe poet believes that beauty lies not only in natural objects but it exists in various things. The pretty objects are in the world of ideas as well. They comprise truth, justice, philosophy, imagination and thought. So the beauty in form and in spirit proves to be a source of never ceasing joy. The memorials, tombs and the grand places, symbolize the grandeur and glory of those great people who do not exist now, we come to know their great achievements by hearing their stories. They are the fountains of inspiration pouring into our souls from the heaven. That bestows upon man longevity, permanence and immortality.