John Keats

…. had perhaps the most remarkable career of any English poet.

October 31 1795 – February 23, 1821

Early Life

John Keats was born in London England on October 31,1795.

He was the eldest of Thomas and Frances Jennings Keats's four children.

He was born in his grandmother’s stable.

Childhood

At the age of eight, Keats began attending Enfield Academy in England.

He was described as “a youth who made friends easily and fought passionately for their defense.”

At school Keats befriended the 15 year old son of the headmaster.

They would later become his family after the passing of his parents.

Childhood

On April 15th, 1804 Keat’s father died after falling off his horse.

Keats mother then would later die in 1809 due to tuberculosis.

Left as the oldest person in his house, Keats became the leader of the home.

After these events, he looked to his headmaster as a father figure whenever he needed guidance.

Teenage Years

These two events are said to be what led Keats to become a poet.

He began reading more and writing more due to the advice of his headmaster.

Despite this around the age of 17-18 he became a doctor but still kept a veracious passion for reading and writing.

Keats did not really realize his gift of writing until the age of eighteen in which he read Faerie Queen by Edmund Spencer. He then became enthralled by poetry and was inspired to start writing.

Adulthood

Keats would later drop his job as a surgeon and become a poet. He wrote mainly romantic poems.

His poetry was inspired by Leigh Hunts’ style.

In his poetry career, Keats wrote poems but did not make a great deal of money. This lead to issues in his love life since he was barely able to provide for himself.

Career

His career never really took off in poetry.

It is only now that he is recognized for being a great poet.

In 1819 he gave up on poetry.

Some of his best known poems are: "I cry your mercy-pity-love! -aye, love!”; "The day

is gone, and all its sweets are gone!”; "This living hand, now warm and capable”; and “Bright Star”

Death

Keats left for Rome in November 1820, after living in England for most of his life, accompanied by Joseph Severn, a young painter who was also Keats best friend.

Alone in a new country, he nursed Keats and managed his affairs daily until his death.

On the night of February, 23 1821, Keats died, peacefully, in Severn’s arms. His last words were to comfort Severn: “Severn—lift me up—I am dying—I shall die easy—don’t be frightened—be firm, and thank God it has come!”

When I Have Fears that I May Cease To Be

When I have fears that I may cease to beBefore my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,

Before high-piled books, in charactery,Hold like rich garners the full ripen'd grain;

When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,And think that I may never live to trace

Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,That I shall never look upon thee more,

Never have relish in the faery powerOf unreflecting love;--then on the shore

Of the wide world I stand alone, and thinkTill love and fame to nothingness do sink.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O_lFmTkj5s

Analysis

The speaker of the poem is thinking about love, and success.

Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain;

When I behold, upon the night’s starred face,

Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,

Analysis

The speaker of the poem thinks that he will die long before he will be able to achieve any of these dreams, and can do nothing but try until the dreams die with him.

And think that I may never live to trace

Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;

And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,

That I shall never look upon thee more,

Never have relish in the faery power

Of unreflecting love…

Analysis

The speaker of the poem is afraid that he will not be able to finish his works. That this is only the beggining

Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,

Before high-piled books, in charactery,

Work Cited

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/john-keats