Discuss Keats as a Poet of Sensuousness.

Answer

 Discuss Keats as a poet of sensuousness. 

John Keats (1795-1821), one of the prominent figures of the Romantic era, is celebrated as a poet of sensuousness. A rich and vivid exploration of the senses characterizes his poetry. Keats’ emphasis on sensuousness is evident in various aspects of his work.

Sensuousness: Sensuousness refers to five human senses such as taste, touch, hearing, sight, and smell. Many of Keats’ famous works, such as “Ode to a Nightingale,” “Ode to a Grecian Urn,” and “Ode to Autumn,” are characterized by lush and vivid imagery. He skillfully employed visual and sensory elements to evoke emotions and create a sensory feast for the reader. The vivid descriptions of nature, landscapes, and experiences in his odes contribute to the overall sensuousness of his poetry.

“Ode to a Nightingale”: “Ode to a Nightingale” is one of Keats’ most remarkable poems of sensuousness. It is a poem that contains the passion for eternal beauty. The poem begins with a drawing of the effect of the song of the Nightingale on the human body and mind. In the second stanza of this ode, the poet captures the sensation of drinking wine. There are references to the visual and auditory senses, too. The poet also paints the picture of a drunken whose mouth is purple stained because of the red wine he has drunk:

With beaded bubbles winking at the brim,

And purple-stained mouth.

In the fifth stanza, the poet gives a highly sensuous description of Nightingale’s world that alludes to the senses of sight, touch, and smell. With the evocation of “The coming musk-rose, full of dew wine,” the sense of taste and hearing have also been incorporated.

“Ode on Melancholy”: “Ode on Melancholy” again, we have several sensuous pictures. This poem shows us the fleeting nature of beauty. According to Keats, beauty and joy are the real sources of melancholy. The rain is falling from a cloud above, reviving the drooping flowers below and covering the green hill. He sketches the morning rose, and colors are produced by the rainbow lying on the wet sand and the wealth of “globed peonies.” And then:

Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows,

Emprison her soft hand, and let her rave,

And feed deep, deep upon her peerless eyes.

Keats saw that human life is full of suffering, and he was prey to disease and pain. He feels sad because he can only enjoy the beauty for a short time. Thus, the poet allies Melancholy with beauty.

“Ode on a Grecian”: The “Ode on a Grecian Urn” contains a series of sensual pictures- passionate men and Gods chasing reluctant maidens, the fair youth trying to kiss his beloved, the happy branches of the tree enjoying an everlasting spring, etc.

More happy love! more happy, happy love!

Forever warm and still to be enjoy’d,

Forever painting, and forever young.

In conclusion, Keats always selects the objects of his writings and imagery with a keen eye on their beauteous and sensuous appeal. These qualities are the principal charm of his poetry. His treatment of beauty overcame every other concern. Among all, he is the king poet of beauty and sensuousness.