A Study of How Keats Uses Seasonal Imagery to Merge the Sublime (Decay, Death, Eternity)

English Literature

Abstract : John Keats' poetry is deeply infused with seasonal imagery, which he uses as a philosophical and aesthetic tool to explore the interplay between the sublime (decay, death, eternity) and the pastoral (abundance, renewal, fertility). While Keats' pastoral landscapes are rich with sensory pleasures and natural beauty, his sublime elements introduce themes of impermanence, mortality, and transcendence. This study will examine how seasonal imagery in Keats’ poetry serves as a bridge between these contrasting elements, reflecting his meditation on time, existence, and artistic immortality. By focusing specifically on autumn as a season of transition, this research will analyze how Keats employs the imagery of autumnal ripeness and decay to symbolize both fulfillment and inevitable decline. Through a close reading of "To Autumn," "Ode to a Nightingale," and "Ode on a Grecian Urn," this study will investigate: • How autumnal imagery embodies the paradox of growth and decay, celebrating abundance while foreshadowing death. • How the shifting mood in Keats' seasonal descriptions reflects his engagement with the sublime and the pastoral. • How autumn, as a poetic symbol, encapsulates Keats’ contemplation of time, impermanence, and artistic legacy. By focusing on autumn as a single parameter, this study will provide a detailed analysis of Keats’ seasonal philosophy, offering insights into his Romantic vision of nature and its relationship with human experience.

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