John Keats, a Man of Tremendous Sorrow.

John Keats’s major works consist of 54 poems (Concise Vol. 3). Among the most influential of these poems include: “Ode to a Nightingale”, “Bright Star” and “Ode on Melancholy”. In “Ode to a Nightingale” Keats artfully uses nature to describe human suffering and happiness (Hirst). Rich imagery coupled with the inescapable highs and lows of life summarize “Ode to a Nightingale”. In “Bright Star” Keats uses a distant star to express his desire for reunion with his fiancé. Keats also uses Eros and isolation to describe the level of his loneliness and sorrow (Johnson). “Bright Star” is therefore a commentary on the isolated and abated love Keats feels. “Ode on Melancholy” seems somber but expresses positive ways to deal with suffering and heartache. Unlike “Ode to a Nightingale” or “Bright Star” which describe Keats’s emotions, “Ode on Melancholy” “exhorts” and “advises” readers to rise above sadness through a “fervent acceptance of earthly reality” (Hirst). “Ode on Melancholy” is not Keats venting out his own personal stresses as before; it is a poem where Keats promotes healing for melancholy hearts (Hirst).

Hirst, Wolf Z. “John Keats”. Twayne’s Author Series Online. 1999. Thomson Gale. Tarrant County Coll. Lib. Databases. April 9, 2010
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/Twayne/usenwrauth.htm

"John Keats." Concise Dictionary of British Literary Biography. Volume 3. (1992) Biography Resource Center. Thomson Gale. Tarrant County Coll. Lib. Databases. April 16, 2010. http://ezp.tccd.edu:2055/servlet/BioRC

Johnson, Jeannine. "Overview of 'Bright Star! Would I Were Steadfast As Thou Art'." Poetry for Students. Vol. 9 (2000) Literature Resource Center. Thomson Gale. Tarrant County Coll. Lib. Databases. April 16, 2010. http://ezp.tccd.edu:2489/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CH1420031066&v=2.1&u=txshr acd2560&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w