the literature

When discussing “Anecdote of a Jar,” Professor Janet Beer says that the poem provokes a discussion of wilderness and civilization. In fact, each of the readings from this unit could provoke an interesting discussion about two seemingly opposite ideas. For this discussion post, choose two poems from this unit’s readings and identify the opposite ideas or tensions that you find in them — something like the relationship between wilderness and civilization. Then, explain how you know that the tension really exists within the poem.Your initial post must be 75-100 words.

ANSWER

Beauty of Nature versus Chaos of Urbanization

A close comparison of “Anecdote of a Jar” and “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by Wallace Stevens and John Keats reveals a contest of ideas between the chaos of urbanization and the beauty of nature. In the “Anecdote of the Jar” the poet uses the symbol of the jar as a representation of the disruption caused by the establishment of human structures in areas that previously featured the tranquility of nature. What the poet means is that the previous natural beauty of Tennessee was eventually destroyed as the human developments began to take shape around the area in a way that meant that vegetation had to be destroyed. The denaturing effect urbanization is aptly captured in this line; “And sprawled around, no longer wild,” (Stevens). The outstanding impression is that the wilderness had lost its natural appeal.

On the other hand, “Ode on a Grecian Urn” celebrates natural beauty as unaffected by the schemed of human civilization. The poet portrays nature as eminent and glorious. Keats captured the profundity of nature’s elegance in the first line; “Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness,” (Keats). The general view is that the beauty of nature, as the speaker in the poem remarks, has not been affected by human activities. While Steven’s poem bemoans the love of natural beauty, Keats poem celebrates the spirit of nature as portrayed in its most unadulterated sense. The poem effectively uplifts the prominence of nature in its all its attractiveness. Steven brings out the artificiality of urbanization as a destructive force that establishes chaos in a place that was once filled with the raw beauty of nature.

References

Keats, J. (2020). Ode of the Grecian Urn. Poetry Foundation https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/145240/john-keats-ode-on-a-grecian-urn

Stevens, W. (2020). Anecdote of the Jar. Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/14575/anecdote-of-the-jar