John Keats' "When I Have Fears"

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the poetic, structural and thematic devices that John Keats uses in his poem "When I have Fears That I May Cease to Be" to show that his desire to write is artistic in nature rather than driven by ulterior motives. Although this poem appears to jar against the fundamental concepts of serenity and peace, the paper suggests that it has an innate tranquility. The realization that this poem served to ease the tensions and conflicting emotions Keats felt about his growing illness and disability, the paper concludes, is ultimately what makes this poem so popular. According to the paper, the poem displays Keats' depth of character.

From the Paper:

"The basic argument he presents within the first nine lines of the sonnet is that his mental faculties will never be fully used because of his inability to write down all of the rich poems he has in his head. The paradox within his imagery and metaphor is also another example of how Keats shows his passion for artistic expression. Keats simultaneously compares himself to the field of grain that is being "glean'd" because it represents both the world around him, and Keats' imagination because it is so rich and fulfilling."

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