The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw a flourishing poetic movement in England, dominated by six men whose names will be known to anyone with an interest in literature. The Big Six, as they’ve come to be known, were Wordsworth, Byron, Coleridge, Shelley, Blake and, our subject here, John Keats.

Born on October 31st 1795, in London, Keats lived a brief yet intensely creative life, leaving an indelible mark on the world of poetry.

Keats was born into a modest family, and his early years were marked by tragedy. Losing his father in a horse riding accident and later his mother to tuberculosis, Keats and his siblings faced financial hardship. But his grandmother’s support allowed him to attend Clarke’s Academy in Enfield where he developed a love for literature, particularly poetry.

As a teenager, Keats initially studied medicine with the intention of becoming a surgeon – a profession he reluctantly pursued to secure financial stability. However, his heart was always more inclined towards poetry. His early poems, though influenced by the conventional style of the day, hinted at the burgeoning talent that would later flourish.

THE GROWTH OF ROMANTICISM

Keats’s poetic career falls into three phases. The early poems, influenced by 17th-century writers like Milton, displayed a mastery of form but lacked the emotional depth that would later define his work.

The second phase marked the poet’s immersion into Romanticism, a literary movement that sought to transcend the boundaries of reason and celebrate the sublime in nature and emotions. Keats’s encounter with the works of Wordsworth and Coleridge catalysed this transformation. The 1816 publication of his sonnet ‘O Solitude’ signalled a departure from the rigid structure of his earlier compositions.

However, it was in the third and final phase, between 1818 and 1820, that Keats produced his most celebrated works. ‘Endymion’, an epic poem published in 1818, showcased his maturing poetic voice. Yet, it faced criticism for its perceived extravagance and lack of adherence to poetic conventions.

Undeterred, Keats produced a series of odes that would secure his place among the greatest poets of the Romantic era. The ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, ‘Ode to a Grecian Urn’, and ‘Ode to Autumn’ have become classics that exemplify his ability to intertwine profound philosophical reflections with extraordinary sensory imagery.

In his odes, Keats explored themes of beauty, transience, and the inexorable march of time. The poet’s f ixation on the fleeting nature of life is encapsulated in the famous lines from ‘Ode to a Grecian Urn’: ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.’

PERSONAL STRUGGLES

Keats’s life was not only defined by artistic triumphs but also by personal challenges, particularly his battles with love and loss. In 1818, he fell deeply in love with Fanny Brawne, a relationship that fuelled some of his most poignant and introspective poetry. Despite the intensity of his feelings, Keats’s precarious financial situation and declining health cast a shadow over their love.

Keats’s health deteriorated rapidly, and in 1820, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, the disease that had claimed his mother and brother. Faced with the cruel reality of his impending mortality, Keats continued to write with a renewed fervour that belied his illness.

LEGACY AND INFLUENCE

John Keats succumbed to tuberculosis in Rome on February 23rd 1821 and is buried in the city’s Protestant Cemetary. He was just 25. His untimely death robbed the world of a poet whose potential seemed limitless. Despite his short career, Keats left behind a body of work that would inspire generations of poets and readers.

And his influence extends beyond the realm of literature. His commitment to artistic expression and the pursuit of beauty for its own sake inspired countless artists, musicians, and thinkers. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of 19th-century artists, revered Keats as a guiding spirit, adopting his commitment to bold imagery and emotional intensity.

In the literary world, Keats’s impact endures through the echoes of his verse in the works of subsequent poets. TS Eliot, WB Yeats, and even contemporary poets find inspiration in Keats’s ability to blend the sensual with the philosophical.

The beauty of Keats’s poetry lies not only in its visual richness but also in its profound exploration of the human condition. And his ability to capture the fleeting nature of existence and distill it into verse has cemented his legacy as one of the greats.