Frozen Moments and Fleeting Seasons: An Ecocritical and Phonetic Study of Temporality in Keats’s Major Odes

Abstract

This paper analyzes the Keatsean notion of temporality in his two major odes, “Ode on a Grecian Urn” and “Ode to Autumn.” By examining the diction, imagery, sound patterns, and other phonetic qualities of the odes, it investigates how John Keats employs stylistic elements to give diverse perspectives on the perception of time. The investigation focuses on how “Ode on a Grecian Urn” depicts time as a timeless and frozen moment, highlighting an image of eternal stillness and permanent tranquility. “Ode to Autumn,” in contrast, portrays time as a constant and flowing cycle, shown through seasonal changes and transformations of nature. The analysis explores Keats’s choice of words and structure of language to understand how these elements enhance the themes and underlying concerns in both odes. The opposing and divergent interpretations of time in these poems echo Keats’s complex approach toward the passage of time and its impression on human experience. Future research could further explore how Keats’s stylistic choices influence the reader’s perception of temporality in other works, potentially extending the analysis to his broader body of poetry. Additionally, examining how these temporal themes resonate with or differ from those in the works of Keats’s contemporaries could provide deeper insights into the Romantic period’s treatment of time.