Ode to Nightengale

Ode to Nightingale Many aspects go into understanding the deeper meaning behind a romantic poem; figurative language and diction contribute to the underlying story that life seems immoral until death actually occurs or is caused. In the romantic poem, “Ode to Nightingale,” by John Keats the use of figurative language adds to the readers’ comprehension of the poem. It allows readers to open their minds to what Keats is really trying to get across in his poem. In life some people have the desire to “fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget” their own personal memories and life (Keats 21). People seem to take for granted their own life here on Earth until their life is ended and they pass away. The figurative language that Keats provides allows readers to imagine the actual memories dissolving into nothing and being physically and mentally forgotten by the person. People considered their life to be so horrid that they even have been, “half in love with death…now more than ever seems it rich to die” until they notice what they are going to miss (Keats 51-55). Imagining that someone could have a longing and desire for death is a vile feeling because this also means they are taking their precious life for granted. Allowing readers to imagine through the description of love and calling upon death allows readers to open their mind up to the sadness and corruption the world has led people to feel, until they realize what they miss after death. Keats does not only use the literary device of figurative language to get the message that life is better than it seems across. He also uses diction, which is a necessary tool in the romantic poem. Diction provides readers with a clearer understanding and adds more emotion into the text. Readers are reminded that, “thou was not born for death, immortal bird” and instead people of the world are supposed to live their life with freedom and happiness (Keats 61). God did not create the world for people to wish for death but instead he created it for all people to live their life to the fullest and never die but live immortally. The word immortal serves as a reminder to appreciate every moment on earth and not regret your personal life. All people are so fortunate with the blessings God provides. Striving to have death is a major regret once people realize their fortunes and then they will want to be, “toll back from thee to my sole self” and relive their already passed life (Keats 72). People are constantly reminded to live life with absolutely no regrets, which supplies hope to never regret death. People appear to take their life not as a blessing but just as something they deserve and once it passes wanting to have their life back cannot happen, that is why Keats diction supplies readers to comprehend the emotions behind the text. The use of figurative language and diction supplies readers of Keats’ romantic poem to understand the underlying message that life appears as bad until it is loss or deprived by request.