Keats' Thoughts on Poetry in On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer

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Keats' Thoughts on Poetry in On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer

Its difficult to determine whether "On first looking into Chapman's

Homer" precisely mirrors Keats thoughts on poetry , unless you are

able to understand his view point. To gain an insight into his mind

and his thoughts on poetry, it is necessary to examine some of Keats

letters , many of which are written to his friends and family. As well

as everyday events, he uses his letters to express his thinking. In a

letter written by Keats on 22 November 1817, he outlines his thoughts

on poetry ' I am certain of nothing, but the holiness of the Heart's

affections and the truth of the Imagination - What the Imagination

seizes as Beauty must be truth - whether it existed before or not.

Also in a letter to his brother George, written on 31/12/1818 , he

states that "a work of art should not seek to supply all the details

but give enough to stimulate the readers imagination and omit enough

to allow that imagination fill in the gaps".

The Chapman's Homer , that's is referred to in the title of the poem,

relates to a translation , of Homers Greek poetry by the Elizabethan

writer, George Chapman , and was introduced to Keats by his good

friend John Clarke. Keats was moved by intense feelings after reading

Chapman's interpretation of Homer, and wrote the sonnet in his head

the following morning whilst walking home. The poem is an example of

how Keats inspires the reader to use his or her imagination to move

and clearly understand the passion that he feels as he writes it, the

use of imagination is one of the characteristics of the work of the

Romantic poets which includes Keats.

Keats uses metaphors to awaken the readers imagination 'much have I

travelled in the realms have gold' should not be read literally , as

throughout his short life Keats did not travel extensively. Keats is

actually speaking metaphorically and the 'realms of gold' that he

speaks of could refer to the many great works of literature that he

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