"Adonais" : Themes
"Adonais" is a notable literary work by Percy Bysshe Shelley. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of "Adonais".
Themes
Mortality: The poem reflects on the transient nature of human life and the inevitability of death. It uses the mythological figure of Adonis to symbolize the premature death of Keats.
Grief and Mourning: Shelley expresses deep grief and sorrow over Keats’ death. He uses vivid and melancholic imagery to convey the sense of loss.
Immortality of Art: Shelley believes that poetry and art have the power to transcend mortality. He suggests that Keats’ poetry will live on and immortalize him even though his physical life has ended.
Mythological and Classical References: Shelley references Greek mythology and classical literature throughout the poem, drawing parallels between Keats and figures from the past.
Nature and the Sublime: Shelley often draws upon the beauty of nature and the concept of the sublime in his poetry. In “Adonais,” he uses vivid natural imagery to convey the grandeur of Keats’s poetic genius.