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In Ode To A Nightingale The Poet Opposes The Narrator's Life To Song's ...

In Ode to a Nightingale the poet opposes the narrator's life to song's immortality (Vandler, 1983), revealing that the real world can be diverted for a short period of time, but it can not be fully dismissed.

In this regard, Keats "moves outwards and upwards; towards life as strongly as it moves downwards towards extinction (Leavis, 1962 p.315). However, this transition from life to death and from youth to old age is rather harmonious, thus the opposites do not come into conflict with each other. Trying to find the balance between these opposites, Keats demonstrates that everything in this world exists on the verge of opposites. On this point, Keats and Chaucer differ in their treatment of youth and age, as Keats provides a balance between the opposites, while Chaucer intensifies the collision of opposites (Robinson, 1972). As Keats demonstrates in The Eve of St. Agnes and Ode to a Nightingale, youth and age are not exclusive opposites, but rather interrelated aspects of life. On the contrary, in Knight's Tale, Miller's and The Wife of Bath Chaucer depicts the inability of two opposites to interrelate, creating a certain distance between youth and age. As the poet shows on the example of his characters, youth can not be persuaded by reason of age, adhering to powerful passions and desires.

The same regards age that can not be persuaded by youth, despite disappointment and self-doubts that come with age. Although Theseus in Knight's Tale is fond of youth and sympathises Arcite and Palomon, he does not regard life as adventure, as is just the case with two young knights who are ready to die for love. As Arcite claims to Emelye Ye sleen me with youre eyen, Emelye! / Ye been the cause wherefore that I dye (1567-1568); Palomon expresses the similar feelings, stating, I was hurt right now thurghout myn ye / Into myn herte, that wol my bane be (1096-1097). In view of such declarations of love, it is clear that neither Arcite nor Palomon wants to hear the voice of reason, contrary to Theseus who is mature enough to understand the consequences of such love. In Miller's Tale John also avoids the voice of reason, marrying a young woman and being unable to satisfy her. In the very beginning Alisoun is portrayed as a person who sprong as a col dooth in the trave / And with hir heed she wryed faste awey (3282), appearing as a victim because of her innocence and youth.

Thus, the conducted analysis and the received findings prove and disapprove the hypothesis of this research, revealing the similarities in Chaucer and Keats' treatment of youth and age as the collision of opposites and, on the other hand, uncovering certain differences between the poets' representations of the discussed antitheses. As the research reveals, John Keats' portrayal of youth and age reflects the poet's contradictory interpretation of these opposites that is based on his philosophical vision and romantic ideals.


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