"On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" : Summary

Summary

Background

John Keats loved reading classical (Greek and Roman) writers. But he did not know the Greek or Latin languages. He was first studying to be a doctor, and later he became a poet. So, to read classical literature, he read translations by other writers.

At first, he read Alexander Pope’s translation of Homer, but he didn’t enjoy it much. Later, he found a translation by George Chapman, a poet and translator from the Elizabethan period. Chapman translated Homer’s works into English with deep feeling and energy.

When Keats read Chapman’s translation, he was very impressed and excited. He felt like he had discovered a new world. That’s why he wrote this poem — to praise Chapman’s wonderful translation of Homer.

Summary

Poetic Journey and Earlier Experience: The poet John Keats describes himself as a traveller who has roamed through the “realms of gold.” By “realms of gold,” he refers to the rich and magnificent world of world literature. He has read many works by famous poets who have written poetry with devotion to the Greek god Apollo. In Greek mythology, Apollo is the god of poetry and beauty. Keats wants to convey that he has journeyed through many kingdoms of poetry, read many things, and gained much literary experience.

However, among all these literary travels, there was still one special place he had never stepped into—the poetic world of Homer. He had heard about this world—vast and profound—ruled by “deep-brow’d Homer,” meaning the wise and thoughtful poet. Yet, he had never experienced its true beauty, the “pure serene,” with his own senses.

Chapman’s Translation and the Wonder of Discovery: This gap was fulfilled when Keats read Homer through George Chapman’s translation. Chapman’s translation was bold, lively, and full of passion. It had such a powerful impact on Keats that it surpassed all his previous experiences. He felt like an astronomer who suddenly saw a new planet appear in the sky—an extraordinary and awe-inspiring discovery!

Then he gives another comparison—as if he were the mighty explorer Cortez, who first laid eyes on the Pacific Ocean while standing atop a peak in Darien. Although historically it was Balboa who made that discovery, Keats uses this image to express the speechless joy and astonishment he felt upon discovering Homer through Chapman’s words.

This poem is, at its core, a deep poetic expression of awe and love for literature. It shows that when a true reader discovers a literary gem, the experience feels magical, wondrous, and like entering a new horizon of life itself.