Poet of 11:59

Much of John Keats’ poetry freezes time so that Keats can reflect upon a single moment in experience. In “Ode on a Grecian Urn” Keats marvels at the scene frozen in his imagination (the urn that the poem is about doesn’t actually exist). He argues that the images depicted on the fictional urn are representations of momentary bliss. The trees will never lose their leaves and the young lovers will never be ravished by age. Just as important are the emotions these artistic figures are supposed to be feeling. The frenzy of a kiss will be preserved forever in the young man’s heart. The expectation of music will not be ruined by a potentially disappointing performance. These emotions, frozen just before a pivotal event occurs, can never be replaced by less satisfactory ones. Keats thus emphasizes the importance of the thrill of the chase over the satisfaction of the kill.