Hellenistic and Pictorial Imagery
John Keats wrote 'Ode to the Grecian Urn' in 1819. The ode presents the images of rural/primitive life of ancient Greece.
The urn has witnessed rural scenes from a long past and thus the imagery/ scenes that can be depicted from it's angle shall be different than any other person's view because of the short life span of man.
The poet portrays a depiction inscribed on urn that tells of two lovers in a pastoral setting trying to consummate their love but they couldn't. The meaning implied here is "Beauty is truth...truth beauty", that is all human beings need to know here on Earth. These two words are complementing each other's meaning and that's why appear similar too.
The fact that urn has survived from antiquity, it is " sylvan historian" telling us several stories from Greek mythology or past. Unlike the lovers, trees on Urn are happy because they won't lose their leaves.
The poet expresses that even the musicians are merry as they shall be playing songs. The sense of forever associated with trees and musicians is the cause of fulfillment and happiness here, where as lovers not able to consummate their love is not a happy imagery.
Keats adds addressing the urn that fair Urn has figures of men, trees, grass and musicians, this leads to a continuous thinking of what they are actually meaning. It is compared to a meditation on eternity. The poet says, even after the death or passing away of one generation this Urn shall be able to pass this beauty to the next generation.
The ode conveys that Urn means Art shall remain forever unlike mortal human and that's why it shall be passed on to next generation.
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