Using an example from the poem covered in class and linked HERE, explain how it shows one of the Romantic traits we discussed.

Answer 1

The example from the poem "Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats that showcases one of the Romantic traits is the intense emotion and longing for an idealized world. In the poem, Keats expresses his desire to escape the reality of his own existence and immerse himself in the world of the nightingale's song.

Keats writes, "Away! away! for I will fly to thee, / Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards, / But on the viewless wings of Poesy" (lines 29-31). Here, the speaker is yearning to transcend his mortal state and connect with the nightingale's ethereal realm. He seeks refuge from the pains and limitations of human existence through the power of poetry. This longing for an idealized world beyond the confines of reality is a quintessential Romantic trait.

Throughout the poem, Keats explores themes of escapism, imagination, and the pursuit of an idealized existence. This aligns with the Romantic belief in the importance of emotions, imagination, and the sublime. The speaker's intense yearning to leave behind the mundane and experience the transcendent beauty of the nightingale's song reflects the Romantic emphasis on the individual's quest for heightened emotions and spiritual connection with the natural world.

In this way, Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale" exemplifies the Romantic trait of seeking an escape from reality in pursuit of an idealized world of beauty and emotion.