John Keats was an English Romantic poet known for his vivid imagery. Born in 1795 in London, England, to a livery-stable keeper, Keats received little formal education. Though he initially studied medicine and became a licensed apothecary in 1816, he never practiced his profession, choosing to devote himself to poetry instead.
In the same year, Keats met Leigh Hunt, an influential English essayist, poet, and editor of the intellectual journal The Examiner, who agreed to publish a few of his sonnets, such as “O Solitude.” The editor also introduced him to a circle of literary men, which included the poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and William Wordsworth. Through the group’s influence,
he published his first volume of poetry in 1817.
Keats fell in love with a woman named Fanny Brawne in 1818. He wrote some of his best poetry then, including the epic poem “Hyperion” based on the Titanomachy. Unfortunately, he contracted tuberculosis around this time.
In 1820, he published his third book of poetry, Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems. Many consider this to be his best volume. Its poems deal with many ancient, medieval, and Renaissance myths and are rich in imagery and phrasing.
Keats died in 1821 in Rome at the age of 25.
Hannah Kim For The Teen Times teen/1728632350/1613367679
1. What profession did John Keats initially train for before devoting himself to poetry?
2. Who introduced Keats to the circle of literary men that included Shelley and Wordsworth?
3. Which sonnet was one of the first poems Keats had published in The Examiner?
4. Which book, published in 1820, is considered by many to be Keats’ best volume of poetry?
1. How might Keats' decision to abandon medicine for poetry reflect the values of the Romantic era?
2. Do you think Keats’ personal experiences, such as his illness or love for Fanny Brawne, influenced his poetry?
3. How did Keats’ association with poets like Shelley and Wordsworth shape his poetic style or themes?
4. How does Keats’ work reflect the broader themes of Romanticism, such as a fascination with ancient myths and nature?
John Keats was an English Romantic poet known for his vivid imagery. Born in 1795 in London, England, to a livery-stable keeper, Keats received little formal education. Though he initially studied medicine and became a licensed apothecary in 1816, he never practiced his profession, choosing to devote himself to poetry instead.
