John Keats’ Poem, When I Have Fears That I May Cease To

John Keats’ poem, When I have fears that I may cease to be, is a well-known work that embodies many Romantic principles. The poem, explored in the context of Keats’ suffering from consumption, laments human impermanence while simultaneously exploring philosophical notions. Keats implements the use of the Shakespearean sonnet with each quatrain, beginning with the ambiguous, but time-bound word ‘when,’ manifesting these ideas in unique ways. When I have fears that I may cease to be uses the structure of the sonnet to delineate between the realms of reality and fantasy, while contributing to the overarching concept of eternity and ultimately reaches the conclusion that even lofty ideas that appear eternal ultimately erode. The first line†¦show more content†¦It is this sentiment, in fact, that motivates him to write this very sonnet; ironically, the sonnet in turn laments his inability to write more. However, the impending death that creates the incapacity to write down thoughts does not detract from the complexity of the thoughts. On the contrary, Keats’ comparison of his imagination to harvestable grain shows confident self-recognition of his own ability, highlighting the awareness of â€Å"the poet’s own ripeness in his art† (Grosholz 604). This art â€Å"teems† in his brain and is â€Å"rich,† and these qualities compel him to pour out his feelings into this one sonnet, despite his belief that this will be the last sonnet he writes. However, his fervent but vain desire to express the entirety of his poetic notions â€Å"imparts to [him] the hunger, or poverty, necessary for production, but†¦also dwarfs whatever [he] has already written† (Hecht 116). Accordingly, by longing to write his unspoken wisdom, Keats rejects any greatness associated with his previous works. This untapped potential consequently creates a paradox for Keats as he is both the field of grain and its harvester (Saksono 97). Thus, he alone is capable of cultivating and sharing his work despite his waning health. The prospect of this work is still tantalizing to him, though, as Hecht states that â€Å"‘The high piled books, in charactry’ promise that if they could only be written, meaning would outlive theShow MoreRelatedKeats Poems : Homer, Fears, Nightingale, And Urn 733 Words   |  3 Pages The Power of Keats Poems (An Analysis of Keats Poems called Homer, Fears, Nightingale, and Urn) John Keats was a romantic poet in the early 1800s. He lived from 1975 to 1821, a rather short lived life and died at the young age of just twenty-five. Although Keats died at a young age, the years that he lived he created a huge impact on society with his poems. Keats developed an interest in poetry and reading at a young age, setting him up to become an avid poet. John Keats expressed one majorRead MoreJohn Keats: When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be806 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Keats: When I have Fears that I May Cease to Be John Keats was a famous romantic poet whose work was characterized mainly by his use of diction, tone, and other literary devices to create sensual imagery in his works of poetry. Throughout the Elizabethan sonnet, When I have Fears that I May Cease to Be, one can see that Keats reflected his thoughts on life and death personal real life circumstances; ones he was facing during the time he wrote the poem. By using a combination of variousRead MoreAnalysis Of John Keats1078 Words   |  5 PagesThe Different Perspective (A Discussion on messages in John Keats poems.) John Keats was a poet in the 1800’s who was way ahead of his time. Keats left his indelible mark on literature. Even though Keats lived a hard, short life, it never stopped him from writing good literature. â€Å"He had no advantages of birth, wealth or education; he lost his parents in childhood, watched one brother die of tuberculosis and the other emigrate to America. Poverty kept him from marrying the woman he loved. And heRead More John Keats Essay911 Words   |  4 Pages English Literature Biographical Speech Keats, John (1795-1821) English poet, one of the most gifted and appealing of the 19th century and a seminal figure of the romantic movement. Keats was born in London, October 31, 1795,and was the eldest of four children. His father was a livery-stable owner, however he was killed in a riding accident when Keats was only nine and his mother died six years later of tuberculosis. Keats was educated at the Clarke School, in Enfield, and at the age of 15 wasRead MoreJohn Keats: The Next Shakespeare Essay829 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Keats can easily be ranked as the top British poet to ever live; or at least in the top five ranking mark. His usage of his poems structures has become famous, just as his poems have become famous. Due to the young death of this famous poet, his literary work was cut short. Ever since he knew he was going to die, when he discovered he had contracted tuberculosis, he had thought that he would never be remembered; so much so that according to the web-site â€Å"Poets Graves† which states the inscriptionRead MoreThe And Out Of The Cradle Endlessly Rocking By Walt Whitman942 Words   |  4 Pa gesbut had opposite meanings in â€Å"When I have fears that I may cease to be† by John Keats and â€Å"Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking† by Walt Whitman. Bits and pieces of nature were used to personify mortality. Additional historical context showed that the poems are reflections of their respective authors’ view on mortality. The interpreted meanings of the theme from the poems were greatly different. Despite being written four decades apart, similarities between the poems were rampant. Poets used natureRead MoreHow Does John Keatss Poetry Reflect the Romantic Era Essay781 Words   |  4 Pagespoetry of John Keats reflects the values of Romanticism. The Romantic Era spanned roughly between 1798 and 1832 and its poetry places an emphasis on the imagination, nature and feeling. The Romantic period was associated with imagination as people looked with fresh curiosity into the workings of their own minds, generating ideas that laid a foundation for modern psychology. Romanticism emerged out of the rational thought of the Enlightenment Era into a redemptive and inspiring period. John Keats was bornRead MoreThe Poems Of John Keats989 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough John Keats didn’t live a very long life, he still left a pretty good size mark on literature. This thought only intrigues many writers and readers to wonder what he could have possibly accomplished had he not died at such a young age and been able to continue writing. He was born into the working class and very early in his life developed a reputation for fighting, and it was not until he met one of his close friends that he became interested in poetry. The other two writers in this sectionRead MoreWilliam Blake And John Keats952 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Blake and John Keats are consider one of the most influential and well-known poets of the 1800 Romantic Era. Some scholars refer to Blake as a seminal figure of the Romantic Age; while Keats is referred to a one of the main second generation figures in the Romantic Era. Blake and Keats have both written a plethora of poems in which some share some of the same characteristics and differ in others. Although Blake wasn t well recognized in his time, he was able to write, â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper†Read MoreJohn Keats : The Five Senses, Reality Departures, And Nature1628 Words   |  7 Pagesnot come at all† (biography). John Keats was an English-born poet who was known for his sonnets, romances, and epics. He was a well-known romantic poet who was criticized because of his style of poetry. In his poems, Keats uses frequent themes such as death, the five senses, reality departures, and nature. As a romantic poet, John Keats uses imagery and emotion based themes as way to display his beliefs in his poetry. Born in London, England on October 31, 1795, Keats suffered a tragic childhood