Ode to a Grecian Urn

PART 1: My reaction to this poem is similar to the Keats poem we read in class. He is vaguely touching on the power of the unseen- especially in lines 11-14. A trend in this poetry is the obvious stimuli of the known world. With all it's grandeur and "in-your-face" imagery, this world seems to disappoint Keats, and he is consistently fantasizing about the veiled beauty and deep immensity of the surreal. It is almost like Keats is a hopeless romantic that is forever chasing the unseen, a realm that seems to always be playing hard to get.

PART 2: The last stanza of this poem is expressing the eternal life and importance of truth. The urn could represent spiritual endeavor, something which most people find themselves struggling with in life. The act of seeking truth, and aligning oneself with the ever-elusive spiritual realm, fosters a sense of detachment from the temptations and distractions of this world, and will always remain a challenge to men. This is what is conveyed in lines "When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe." I believe this is referring to the constant pursuit of truth, and also implies the almost always inevitable short-comings.