John Keats & the Poetry of 'fine excess' | Midsummer Lecture

On February 27, 1818, John Keats wrote to his friend John Taylor the following passage:
"In Poetry I have a few Axioms, and you will see how far I am from their Centre. 1st I think Poetry should surprise by a fine excess and not by Singularity-it should strike the Reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts, and appear almost a Remembrance--"
But what does Keats mean when he says that “Poetry should surprise by a fine excess”? This lecture answers this question by looking carefully at some instances of fine excess in some of his Odes. The period from 1818 to 1819 was particularly productive for Keats. It was during this time that he composed his famous odes, a series of poems that are now considered some of the finest works in English literature. The odes were written in a burst of creative energy." These poems-"Ode to Psyche," "Ode on Melancholy," "Ode on Indolence," and "Ode on a Grecian Urn"-are characterized by their rich imagery, emotional intensity, and exploration of beauty and transience.
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[@Khatoon170]

Thank you for your wonderful cultural literary channel. As always iam gathering main information about topics you mentioned briefly here it’s John Keats ( 1795- 1821) he was English poet of second generation of romantic poets , along with lord Byron , Percy bysse Shelley. His poems had been publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculosis at age 25 . They were indifferently received in his lifetime, but they fame grew rapidly after his death . By end of century, he was placed in canon of English literature, strangely influencing many writers of preraphaelite brotherhood, encyclopedia Britannica. 1888 called one of ode one of final masterpieces. Mid summer poem he wrote was inspiration of Shakespeare play mid summer night dream .

[@daveg4036]

This reminds me of the Latin phrase memento mori. I meditate on that often. I find it essential to fully embracing existence.

[@thomassimmons1950]

Funny, I remember as a kid, having smoky notions of this thing they called art, it occurred to me that it outa fall like ripe fruit from a tree.
All I knew in those days were movies I went to. But it was enough of a start. Now as an OG tying for a poem, I realize all the good ones come easy.
"Don't Try"
Bukowski.

[@Khatoon170]

Ode definition is acrostic poem can be full of lines or single words , only requirement to form word using first letter of each line . Ode derived from Roman poet horiain , it’s typically features one or multiple stanzas with consistent meter , rhyme scheme , they focus on themes of love , friend ships , simple pleasures, characteristics of ode are simplicity, elegnce . Ode is Greek word means to sing or to chant . Keats style heavily loaded with sensualities . He wrote six poems known as great odes . Such as ode to nightingale, to autumn. Central concept of Keats poetry is beauty . Before Keats two years death he wrote to nightingale in 1918 explores themes of morality, transcends . Ode themes of Keats poems are romantic concerns beauty of nature , relationship between imagination and creativity, response to passion to beauty and suffering, transience of human life in time . Characteristics of Keats odes each new three strophe pattern repeats meter and rhymes scheme of first set . I hope you like my research. As I mentioned before I am going to be English teacher , I passed written exam , just few errors, remains oral interview to be officially employed. Best wishes for you your dearest ones .