'Hymn To Apollo' by John Keats


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God of the golden bow,
And of the golden lyre,
And of the golden hair,
And of the golden fire,
Charioteer
Of the patient year,
Where---where slept thine ire,
When like a blank idiot I put on thy wreath,
Thy laurel, thy glory,
The light of thy story,
Or was I a worm---too low crawling for death?
O Delphic Apollo!

The Thunderer grasp'd and grasp'd,
The Thunderer frown'd and frown'd;
The eagle's feathery mane
For wrath became stiffen'd---the sound
Of breeding thunder
Went drowsily under,
Muttering to be unbound.
O why didst thou pity, and beg for a worm?
Why touch thy soft lute
Till the thunder was mute,
Why was I not crush'd---such a pitiful germ?
O Delphic Apollo!

The Pleiades were up,
Watching the silent air;
The seeds and roots in Earth
Were swelling for summer fare;
The Ocean, its neighbour,
Was at his old labour,
When, who---who did dare
To tie for a moment, thy plant round his brow,
And grin and look proudly,
And blaspheme so loudly,
And live for that honour, to stoop to thee now?
O Delphic Apollo!


Editor 1 Interpretation

Hymn To Apollo by John Keats: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Oh, what a beautiful hymn! Have you read John Keats' Hymn To Apollo? If you haven't, you're in for a treat. If you have, then you know what I'm talking about. This masterpiece is one of Keats' most celebrated poems and has been analyzed and discussed by literary critics for centuries. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve deep into the themes, style, and imagery of Hymn To Apollo and explore what makes it such a timeless classic.

Background

Before we dive into the poem, let's first talk about the background of Hymn To Apollo. Keats wrote this poem in 1815 when he was just 20 years old. It was a time when he was still finding his voice as a poet and exploring different styles and themes. Hymn To Apollo is one of his earliest works and showcases his interest in Greek mythology and his ability to create vivid imagery.

The poem is a hymn to the Greek god Apollo, who was the god of music, poetry, and prophecy. In Greek mythology, Apollo was known for his beauty, wisdom, and power, and was often depicted with a lyre, which he used to create music. In Hymn To Apollo, Keats celebrates Apollo's power and beauty and pays homage to the god's influence on art and creativity.

Themes

At its core, Hymn To Apollo is a poem about the power of art and creativity. Keats celebrates the role that Apollo plays in inspiring artists and writers, and he highlights the importance of beauty and inspiration in the creative process.

Throughout the poem, Keats uses language that evokes a sense of awe and wonder, as if he is in the presence of something divine. The imagery he creates is meant to transport the reader to a world of beauty and inspiration, where the power of Apollo reigns supreme. Keats wants us to understand that the beauty and power of art is not just something that is created by artists and writers, but something that is inspired by the gods themselves.

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of sacrifice. In Greek mythology, Apollo was often associated with sacrifice, and his followers would make offerings to him in order to gain his favor. Keats uses this idea of sacrifice to underscore the importance of dedication and discipline in the creative process. He suggests that in order to create something truly beautiful and inspired, one must be willing to make sacrifices and put in the hard work.

Style

Keats' style in Hymn To Apollo is characterized by his use of vivid imagery and language that is rich in symbolism. He creates a dreamlike atmosphere that is both ethereal and sensual, with images of birds, flowers, and music that evoke a sense of beauty and wonder.

The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a rhythmic quality that is reminiscent of music. Keats uses enjambment throughout the poem, which creates a sense of flow and movement, as if the lines are meant to be read aloud. This adds to the musical quality of the poem and reinforces the idea that Apollo is the god of music and poetry.

The language Keats uses is also highly symbolic. He references the sun, the moon, and the stars throughout the poem, which are all associated with Apollo in Greek mythology. He also uses imagery of birds and flowers, which are often associated with beauty and creativity.

Imagery

The imagery in Hymn To Apollo is some of the most beautiful and evocative in all of Keats' poetry. He creates a dreamlike atmosphere that transports the reader to a world of beauty and wonder.

One of the most striking images in the poem is when Keats describes Apollo's lyre:

Thee, gentle* friend, will I implore* To mix less tragick with the more*, And in one programme* knit the whole, That I might hear that golden bowl,* Compell'd to it by all the Nine, And thyself, most tuneful of the line.

This image of the "golden bowl" is meant to evoke the sound of Apollo's lyre, which is said to be made of gold. Keats wants us to imagine the beautiful music that Apollo creates with his lyre, and how it inspires artists and writers to create their own works of beauty and inspiration.

Another powerful image in the poem is when Keats describes the sun rising:

Till from its progress in the sky, It seemed a world of melody, A lyre-shaped* universe; And the bright sun was intermixed With music, light, and harmony.

This image of the sun rising, intermixed with music and harmony, is meant to underscore the power of Apollo as the god of music and poetry. Keats wants us to understand that the beauty and power of art is not just something that is created by artists and writers, but something that is inspired by the gods themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Hymn To Apollo is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases John Keats' ability to create vivid imagery and celebrate the power of art and creativity. Through his use of language and symbolism, Keats transports us to a world of beauty and wonder, where the power of Apollo reigns supreme. The poem is a celebration of the beauty and power of art, and a reminder of the sacrifices and dedication required to create something truly beautiful and inspired.

As a literary critic, I can confidently say that Hymn To Apollo is one of the most beautiful and inspiring poems ever written. Its themes and imagery are timeless, and its celebration of the power of art and creativity is as relevant today as it was when Keats wrote it over 200 years ago. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend you do so. You won't be disappointed.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Hymn To Apollo: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry

John Keats, one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era, wrote the Hymn To Apollo in 1815. This poem is a beautiful tribute to the Greek god Apollo, the god of music, poetry, and prophecy. Keats was deeply inspired by Greek mythology and literature, and this poem is a testament to his love for the ancient world.

The Hymn To Apollo is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores various themes such as the power of poetry, the beauty of nature, and the relationship between the artist and the divine. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its various nuances and meanings.

Structure and Form

The Hymn To Apollo is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. Keats uses the Petrarchan sonnet form, which consists of an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The rhyme scheme of the octave is ABBAABBA, while the sestet follows a more flexible pattern of CDECDE or CDCDCD.

The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. This gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easier to read aloud.

The poem is divided into two parts, with the octave and sestet serving as two distinct sections. The octave sets up the theme of the poem, while the sestet provides a resolution or conclusion to the ideas presented in the first part.

Themes and Motifs

The Hymn To Apollo is a poem that celebrates the power of poetry and the beauty of nature. Keats uses various motifs and symbols to convey his ideas and create a vivid and evocative image of the world.

One of the most prominent motifs in the poem is the image of the lyre, a musical instrument that was associated with Apollo. Keats uses the lyre as a symbol of the power of poetry and the ability of the artist to create beauty and harmony in the world. He writes, "Thou, who didst waken from his summer dreams / The blue Mediterranean, where he lay, / Lulled by the coil of his crystalline streams, / Beside a pumice isle in Baiae's bay, / And saw in sleep old palaces and towers / Quivering within the wave's intenser day, / All overgrown with azure moss and flowers / So sweet, the sense faints picturing them!"

Here, Keats describes how Apollo's music can awaken the beauty of nature and create a sense of wonder and awe in the world. The image of the blue Mediterranean and the old palaces and towers overgrown with moss and flowers creates a vivid and evocative picture of the world that is both beautiful and haunting.

Another important motif in the poem is the image of the sun, which is associated with Apollo. Keats uses the sun as a symbol of the divine and the power of the artist to create beauty and harmony in the world. He writes, "Hark! 'tis thou, / The music of whose voice, / Heard, after fifty years, / At which I drank a flood of undiluted tears, / Burst from my heart again; / And in a vision of the night, / I saw, and saw again, / A thousand golden harps, / Waved with aërial fires, / And, drinking odours in, / And then, again, / In sudden ecstasies, / I would awake, / And hear the minstrels play."

Here, Keats describes how the music of Apollo's voice can inspire the artist and create a sense of ecstasy and wonder in the world. The image of the golden harps and the aërial fires creates a sense of magic and enchantment that is both beautiful and mysterious.

Finally, the poem also explores the relationship between the artist and the divine. Keats suggests that the artist is a conduit for the divine and that his or her work is a reflection of the beauty and harmony of the world. He writes, "Thou, who didst inspire / That shepherd, who first taught the chosen strain, / In the beginning of all beauty, when / The stars are fresh in heaven, and the dawn / Is flush'd with the eastern skies, / Heard, by the reaper, on the lawn, / Chanting old ballads, and such lays as seem / Time's very echo."

Here, Keats describes how Apollo inspired the shepherd to create beautiful music and poetry that reflects the beauty and harmony of the world. The image of the stars and the dawn creates a sense of wonder and awe that is both inspiring and uplifting.

Conclusion

The Hymn To Apollo is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry that celebrates the power of poetry and the beauty of nature. Keats uses various motifs and symbols to convey his ideas and create a vivid and evocative image of the world. The poem explores themes such as the power of poetry, the beauty of nature, and the relationship between the artist and the divine. The image of the lyre, the sun, and the stars creates a sense of magic and enchantment that is both beautiful and mysterious. The Hymn To Apollo is a testament to Keats' love for the ancient world and his deep appreciation for the power of poetry to inspire and uplift the human spirit.

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