Critical Appreciation of the Poem “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer.” 

Answer

Write a critical appreciation of the poem “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer.” 

“On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer” is a sonnet by John Keats (1795 – 1821) in 1816. The poem is a tribute to the 16th-century translator George Chapman, who made an English translation of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Here is a critical appreciation of the poem:

Structure: The poem follows the traditional structure of a sonnet, with fourteen lines in iambic pentameter and a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. However, the poem has a slightly irregular meter, which adds to its musicality.

Theme: The poem is about the transformative power of literature and the experience of discovering a new world of knowledge and beauty. The speaker compares his experience of reading Chapman’s translation of Homer to that of the Spanish explorer Cortez, who discovered the Pacific Ocean. Keats says,

Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes

He star’d at the Pacific.

Tone: The tone of the poem is respectful and awe-struck. The speaker expresses his admiration for Chapman’s translation and the beauty of Homer’s epic poetry. He uses elevated language to convey his sense of wonder and amazement.

Imagery: The poem contains rich and vivid imagery that captures the speaker’s sense of discovery and wonder. For example, the speaker compares his experience of reading Chapman’s translation to that of a star-gazer who discovers a new planet or a sailor who sees a new land. Keats says,

Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:

Then felt I like some watcher of the skies

When a new planet swims into his ken;

Allusions: The poem contains several allusions to classical literature and mythology. For example, the speaker mentions the “realms of gold” mentioned in a poem by Spanish poet Luis de Camões and the “wide-domed” universe mentioned in a passage from Keats’s own Endymion.

Language: The language of the poem is ornate and elevated, with a number of poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, and personification. The poem contains several memorable lines, such as:

Then felt I like some watcher of the skies

When a new planet swims into his ken

and

Yet did I never breathe its pure serene

Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold.

Historical Context: The poem was written during a time when there was a renewed interest in the classics and a revival of interest in Homer’s epic poetry. Keats was part of a literary circle that included Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron, who were also interested in classical literature and mythology.

Literary Influence: The poem has been influential in the history of English literature and has been praised for its musicality, imagery, and sense of wonder. The poem has been studied by scholars and has been an inspiration to poets such as T.S. Eliot.

Summary: The poem is about Keats’ first experience reading a translation of Homer’s epic poems by George Chapman. The poem describes Keats’s excitement and awe upon discovering the beauty and power of Homer’s works through Chapman’s translation. Keats compares the experience to that of explorers discovering new lands or stargazers discovering new constellations in the sky. In termination, “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer” is a beautiful and inspiring poem that captures the transformative power of literature. The poem has a rich and complex language that captures the speaker’s sense of wonder and amazement, and it has been influential in the history of English literature.