From Endymion

From “Endymion”

by John Keats

BOOK I

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read:
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.

Nor do we merely feel these essences
For one short hour; no, even as the trees
That whisper round a temple become soon
Dear as the temple’s self, so does the moon,
The passion poesy, glories infinite,
Haunt us till they become a cheering light
Unto our souls, and bound to us so fast,
That, whether there be shine, or gloom o’ercast;
They always must be with us, or we die.

Therefore, ‘tis with full happiness that I
Will trace the story of Endymion.
The very music of the name has gone
Into my being, and each pleasant scene
Is growing fresh before me as the green
Of our own valleys: so I will begin
Now while I cannot hear the city’s din;
Now while the early budders are just new,
And run in mazes of the youngest hue
About old forests; while the willow trails
Its delicate amber; and the dairy pails
Bring home increase of milk. And, as the year
Grows lush in juicy stalks, I’ll smoothly steer
My little boat, for many quiet hours,
With streams that deepen freshly into bowers.
Many and many a verse I hope to write,
Before the daisies, vermeil rimm’d and white,
Hide in deep herbage; and ere yet the bees
Hum about globes of clover and sweet peas,
I must be near the middle of my story.
O may no wintry season, bare and hoary,
See it half finish’d: but let Autumn bold,
With universal tinge of sober gold,
Be all about me when I make an end.
And now, at once adventuresome, I send
My herald thought into a wilderness:
There let its trumpet blow, and quickly dress
My uncertain path with green, that I may speed
Easily onward, thorough flowers and weed.

Summary of Endymion

  • Popularity of the Poem, Endymion: John Keats, a renowned romantic poet, wrote ‘Endymion’. It is one of the best poems written about beauty. It was first published in 1818. The poem speaks about eternal beauty. It also illustrates how the beauty of nature can turn sorrows away and bring us peace of mind. The poem also talks about eternal and internal peace.
  • “Endymion”, As a Representative of Joy: This poem is about the power of beauty. The speaker believes when we fully understand the concept of beauty, it can positively transform our lives. According to him, if something is beautiful it gives limitless joy and revives our souls. He adds that spending time with beautiful objects changes us. He argues that beauty lifts us in the darker days of our life as it removes unhealthy thoughts. It fills our minds with positive vibes. Also, it serves as a guide during the hard times.
    It makes us walk on a path full of beautiful sights and captivates our minds with healthy imaginations. Moreover, he compares beauty with the elixir. When one drinks the beauty, it enters into his body and never departs. After describing all these aspects of beauty, the speaker announces that he is going to tell the story of Endymion as if he shares a strong connection with the story. He compares his narration with an exciting adventure
  • Major Themes in “Endymion”: Beauty, adventure and life are the major themes of this poem. Throughout the text, the speaker intends to explain the truth of beauty. To him, beauty is eternal. It enlightens our souls and serves as a beacon of hope during our hard times. He believes if one truly understands the nature of beauty, it never leaves him. With all his definitions and beliefs of beauty, he announces that he is going to perform a grand task: narrate the tale of Endymion. He connects this tale with his life and considers it part of himself. Moreover, he knows he is going to express his ideas thoroughly.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Endymion”

literary devices are tools used by writers and poets to convey their emotions, feelings, and ideas to the readers. John Keats has also used various literary devices to express his ideas of beauty to the readers. Some of the major literary devices have been analyzed below.

  1. Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; instead, it continues in the next line. For example,

“There let its trumpet blow, and quickly dress
My uncertain path with green that I may speed
Easily onward, thorough flowers and weed.”

  1. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession such as the sound of /n/ in “Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,” and the sound of /c/ in “That for themselves a cooling covert make”.
  2. Imagery: Imagery is used to make the readers perceive things with their five senses. For example, “My little boat, for many quiet hours”, “There let its trumpet blow, and quickly dress” and “An endless fountain of immortal drink.”
  3. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /i/ in “Its loveliness increases; it will never” and the sound of /o/ in “The passion poesy, glories infinite”.
  4. Anaphora: It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. For example, “Now while” in the third stanza is repeated poem to emphasize the time.

“Now while I cannot hear the city’s din;
Now while the early budders are just new.”

  1. Symbolism: Symbolism is a use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings different from their literal meanings. Beauty symbolizes eternal peace and limitless joy here.
  2. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same lines such as the sound of /n/ in “An endless fountain of immortal drink” and the sounds of /l/ and /s/ in “Grows lush in juicy stalks, I’ll smoothly steer.”
  3. Metaphor: It is a figure of speech used to compare two different objects or persons with another object. For example, In the line “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever” beauty is a metaphor of joy and happiness. “Wreathing a flowery band” is a metaphor for life.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Endymion”

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

  1. Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are three stanzas in this poem, each varies in length.
  2. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows the ABAB rhyme scheme and this pattern continues till the end.
  3. End Rhyme: End rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious. For example, “year/steer”, “write/white”, “soon/moon” and “all/pall.”

Quotes to be Used

The lines stated below are suitable to be used as a quote in a speech when talking about the changes beauty brings into our lives and motivate a person with low self-esteem.

From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake.”