Keats: Dream World and Reality Anonymous 12th Grade

“He lived in mythology and a fairyland”: this sentiment expressed by Hopkins demonstrates how Keats could easily be perceived as fully immersing himself in an imaginative dream world, yet fails to encompass the notion that he does attempt to play a full and responsible part in the world of painful reality. This is evident through the idea that he frequently explores a realm within his imagination but does this in a way that allows him to convey a meaningful message to some degree.

This is undoubtably evident in his “Ode on Melancholy”, whereby he attempts to provide the reader with instructions in regards to how to deal with melancholic feelings and how to lift themselves out of a pensive mindset. He does this through an impersonal and instructional tone, with his inclusion of imperative verbs and active commands proving that he is attempting to be a full and responsible part of the world of painful reality. This is demonstrated in the first line: “No, no, go not to Lethe, Neither twist wolf’s bane, tight tooted for its poisonous wine”.

=Keats’ use of imperative verbs proves how he is attempting to deter potentially suicidal behavior and the in media res provides a sense of urgency, thus conveying the idea that Keats...