Trace the Romantic Elements in “Adonais.”

Answer

Trace the romantic elements in “Adonais.”

“Adonais” (1821) is a fantastic poem composed by the revolutionary poet P. B. Shelley (1792-1822). Shelley is a well-known romantic poet. His poems contain a lot of romantic elements. Let us scan the poem “Adonais” for the romantic elements.

Love for Nature: Shelley portrays natural images from Stanza 15 to Stanza 20. He presents nature as it is mourning for the death of Keats. The Romantics think that God is present in nature. For this, at the end of “Adonais,” he mentions that Keats did not die but has become mixed with nature. That means he goes close to God and becomes immortal. Shelley says,

He is a presence to be felt and known 

In darkness and in light, from herb and stone

Strong Senses, Emotions, and Feelings: Strong senses, emotions, and feelings are also elements of romanticism. In this poem, we get the attachment with the mentioned elements. Shelley mourns the premature death of Keats. His mourning has no bounds. He presents the procession of mourners in stanza 13.

References from Classical Mythology: The name of the poem “Adonais” references Greek mythology.  Adonais is a beautiful mortal youth beloved by the goddesses Aphrodite and Proserpine. Here, we find another element reference from classical mythology.

High imagination: High imagination is a romantic element used in Romantic poems. Here, Shelley uses this term to develop the poem. He thinks that Keats is in the eternal world. He presents the mourners in such a way that it is present in the audience. It comes from the power of managing high imagination. Shelley states,

The soul of Adonais, like a star, 

Beacons from the abode where the Eternal are.

In termination, we may say that the poem is developed with the elements of romantic poetry. Shelley is successful in his attempt to create this poem.