The_Interplay_of_Accident,_Chance,_and_Fate
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Henry Ford College *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
605
Subject
English
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by ChiefUniverseRam20
1
Name
Professor
Course
Date
The Interplay of Accident, Chance, and Fate in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Richard
Cory"
Introduction
Literature has always explored accident, chance, and fate. This usually contradicts the notion of predetermined destiny. These issues are presented in different views in the works of John Keats and Edwin Arlington Robinson – "Ode on a Greek Urn" and "Richard Cory." This essay will focus on how the poets employ different aspects, such as accident, chance, and fate, to
create profound meanings about life and human beings.
"Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats:
John Keats, a leading Romanticist, analyzes the eternal nature of art and beauty through an examination of a Greek urn. This poem engages readers through the depiction of isolated instances, which seem to go beyond time limits, and they don't belong to the whims of the vicissitudes of life. The urn changes from an object of beauty to become a strong emblem of stability against the frailty and evanescence of humankind. Keat artfully constructs a story that honors immortality in art and provokes reflections on the significance it poses upon human beings' spirits. He raises the Grecian urn to a level of timeless beauty via his use of vibrant
2
images and powerful language, setting it indelibly into the consciousness of the readers and adding to the legacy of Romantic literature.
The opening lines of Keats' "Ode to a Grecian Urn" refer to it as the "unravish'd bride of quietness" and the "foster-child of silence and slow time." (Keats). These phrases create an image of timeless peacefulness and perpetual beauty. The urn is referred to as "the sylvan historian," thus becoming an instrument that surpasses human shortcomings and reveals secrets of gods and people. Keats creates an atmosphere with unanswered questions such as "what mad pursuit? what struggle to escape?" forcing the readers into intense contemplation about the meanings encapsulated in the frozen moments pictured on the urn.
The second stanza explores further the subject of unheard melodies being sweeter than heard ones. Keats emphasizes the strength of imagination and the agelessness of art. Frozen images of the faith youth as well as the brave lover in perpetual chase represent bitter reflections of the everlasting image of beauty forever immortalized in art and the fleeting feelings of passion
of humans. In this way, Keats calls upon his audience to reflect on the role that art has in shaping
human existence as a whole, urging them to think about the paradoxical coexistence between permanency and impermanence inherent in the complex weaving of life.
The final stanzas, with the well-known assertion, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know," (Keats). Summarize the meaning of the poem. Keats thus implies that the immortality of beauty preserved in art is above both the accidents and
uncertainties of human life.
"Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson:
3
Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson turns away from the usual examination of fortunes and success to address notions of accident, chance, and fate. Richard Cory is described in a poem as a character who seems to be endowed with any conceivable blessing. His death, however, takes place in such an unexpected manner.
The opening stanzas are used to paint a beautiful picture of Cory as a symbol of virtue and prosperity for which the townspeople even seem to worship him (``Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him`` (Cory). Cory’s every inch exudes the epitome of success, from his pristine outfit to his obvious wealth. They envy his position of wealth, and they think that their envy is based on fate.
Nevertheless, the poem turns upside-down with the unexpected death of Cory through his
suicide. This shocking plot upsets the traditional storyline, which postulates a cause-effect relationship between external achievements and internal satisfaction. The suddenness and tragedy of Cory's death lead the townspeople who thought they would be like him to bewilderment and deception. The combination of Cory's surface success and tragic death makes you ponder about the nothingness of exterior looks and the changeable character of fate.
Through "Richard Cory," the authors encourage their readers to ponder the juxtaposition of the facet of fortune in external appearance and that of the destiny within. In this way, the audience is left to ponder the irony of life in which it appears that outer triumph does not ensure joyful fulfillment within.
The unpredictability of life is underscored by Robinson in a clever manner through the use of a surprise element. Cory’s fate, as it appears predestined by his external achievements, is eventually at the mercy of the unpredictability of existence. It is a lesson to people that
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
4
appearance can be deceptive; in life, even the most fortunate destiny can be accidentally destroyed.
Conclusion
John Keats and Edwin Arlington Robinson handle the topics of accident, chance, and fate
differently in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Richard Cory." Truth and beauty remain forever, but for how long does Keats's lyric art? Keats celebrates the enduring beauty of art as a sanctuary from the uncertainties of life. On another note, he counters the norms for success and destiny in "Richard Cory," showing how superficial ideal lives can be and the uncertainty of fortune.
The poems prompt readers to consider the puzzling issues surrounding human living, challenging the traditional views of fate and chance. Both poets, Keats and Robinson, use their poetic expression to create a wider dialogue about the complexities of living that challenges readers to think about coincidence, chance, and destiny in their lives.
5
Works Cited
Cory, Richard. "Edwin Arlington Robinson."
The New Poetry; An Anthology
1897: 287.
Keats, John.
Ode on a Grecian urn
. DigiCat, 2022.