ODE TO A NIGHTINGALE

JOHN KEATZ

• Father died from riding accident
• Mother dies from tuberculosis
• Began working for a surgeon at 18
• He overexerted himself on a walking tour and became ill
• He became a heavy drinker and died of tuberculosis

TONE

• The tone is very depressing and gloomy
• He basically says that life is not supposed to end by sorrowful death like his

SUMMARY

• He compares his mental state to being intoxicated or poisoned
• Leathe River in the underworld
• So happy because of the Nightingale song that he cant focus

2ND & 3RD STANZA

• He talks about wanting to drink more
• Imagery: Describes the different textures and the "coolness" of the wine
• He the speaks of an urge to leave the living world
• "Nightingale has never known the sorrows of disease and death"
• Bacchus, the Roman god of wine

Untitled Slide

• By alluding to mythical figures, he emphasizes the gloomy physical world
• And the spiritual world
• His vision fails him but sense of smell is stronger
• Smells of the forest (grass, fruit trees, and flowers)
• He then wishes for an "easeful death"

"Darkling I listen: and, for many a time I have been half in love with easeful death."