Ode To Psyche

Question 1

About

Answer 1

The power of the imagination

Through presenting psyche as beautiful yet neglected and positioning himself as her ‘priest’ , Keats uses the poem to restore value to imagination and emotion in a rational modern world

Important to Keats as he believed that reason alone cannot explain suffering, beauty, or human experience and that imagination rather than logic is better suited to explore suffering bc it can do what reason cannot - holding contradictions without solving them

Question 2

‘Tuneless’

Answer 2

Speaker initially modest about their poetry
Poetry needs imagination, speaker hasn’t yet discovered psyche in order to fully harness the powers of imagination.

Keats might consider it as a positive quality bc things dont have to be perfect, can be uncertain, he doesn’t believe that structure should govern good poetry

Question 3

‘Wandered in a forest thoughtlessly’

Answer 3

Links to NC, not an instruction about telling people where to go, figure it out for themselves, dont tell peope what to think, purely seeking to enter endless imagination and thoughts, ‘wander’ doesn’t mean you arrive anywhere.

Question 4

Speaker is initially confused about seeing psyche ‘surely i dreamt to day….’

Answer 4

Confusion, NC, doesn’t want settled answers

Question 5

Speaker say they have ‘awakened eyes’ even though they r presumably closed

Answer 5

Recognising that imagination is what really lets u see, awakens you spiritually

Question 6

Describes Psyche’s ears as ‘soft-conched’ - makes imaginative connections rather than literal observations

Answer 6

Mystical, respect, not bound to human form, Keats wants to celebrate her- also what he wants for his poetry.

Question 7

Rhyme scheme becomes irregular in line 11

Answer 7

Changes when he sees psyche, imagination is not ordered , supposed to be messy, spontaneous and responsive -surprise and joy after seeing psyche!

Question 8

Synaesthesia ‘whispering roof’

Answer 8

Imagination brings life to description

Question 9

‘Their lips touched not’ dovetail Keats aims?

Answer 9

Their lips touched not’ dovetail Keats aims?
. Doesn’t want a resolution / certainty - instead he wants a moment of uncertainty, suspends them in a
moment of irresolution

Question 10

Switches to rhyming couplets when realising it psyche/eros. Rhyme scheme celebrate the imagination?

Answer 10

Shows the imagination’s power to create structure/order, they r a couple, demonstrates their togetherness, love, connection, harmony, the rhyming lines draw nearer to symbolise the couple embracing

Question 11

Epizeuxis ‘happy, happy dove’ a celebration of the imagination

Answer 11

Emotional intensity and uncontainable excitement

Question 12

Shift to iambic dimeter ‘his psyche true!’ A celebration of the imagination?

Answer 12

Shortened line, excited at seeing psyche, speechless, breathless, simple joy, almost a resolution.

Question 13

Keats contrasts the’ fading hierarchy’ of Greek Gods w/ psyche being surrounded by vivid colours in stanza 2 a celebration of what the imagination can do?

Answer 13

Faded= fleeting colour, drained of colour, imagination preserves artistry and breed something new that reality can’t grapple with

Question 14

Emphasis that psyche has no ‘temple’ ‘altar’ ‘virgin choir’ and repetition of ‘no’ highlight about the modern world?

Answer 14

Something is lacking in the modern world, rejection of spirituality for enlightenment/ rationality, no physical alter suggests that the imagination can take on this role, elevating the mind to divine status.

Question 15

‘Pale-mouthed prophet dreaming’

Answer 15

U should worship intensely, imagination should overwhelm us, rationalism is a bit cold/sterile

Question 16

‘I see and sing by my own eyes inspired’ redefine where meaning comes from?

Answer 16

Comes from your own subjective experience, not from rules, /tradition/ institutions.

Question 17

What does the speaker mean when they offer to be psyche’s ‘choir’

Answer 17

Loud, impactful, more than just a single voice , restore her importance, form of worship

Question 18

‘Moan’ rather than sing their praise of psyche

Answer 18

Projection of intense emotions, singing is when u r happy/excited.

Question 19

‘Untrodden’

Answer 19

Imagination is faraway from chaos, untouched, immune to corruption.

Question 20

Oxymoron ‘pleasant pain’

Answer 20

Through suffering, Keats writes about beauty, uncertainties and irresolutions

Question 21

Image of ‘wreathed trellis of a working brain’

Answer 21

Flowers symbolise thoughts, something that grow and intertwine, the trellis is the mind, once u embrace the mind, your thoughts and imagination grow more, nurtures thoughts

Question 22

‘Casement open at night’

Answer 22

We should embrace our imagination, not a retreat/escape

Question 23

Stanzas expand across the poem

Answer 23

Mind expanding and thought can’t be contained