The treatment of ARTt in both the poems is quite
different.
In ODE ON A GRECIAN URN, the poet has depicted
a frozen moment from the sylvan history of the greek civilization. Remember, the poet
calls the grecian urn "attic shape" and "Fair attitude" adding that it "dost tease us
out of thought/ As doth eternity." The poem explores the possibility of communication
between the two worlds: the temporal and the eternal- reflected in the concept of 'the
now' and 'the then'.
Moreover, the images on the urn
depict a love that is far above "all breathing human passion that leaves a heart
high-sorrowful and cloyed, a burning forehead , and a parching tongue." In the same way,
Keats emphasizes that the trees shall never bid Spring adieu, nor shall the lady ever
lose her beauty.Therefore, art in a way is superior than human life. The theme of the
poem is permanence of art and impermanence of huma
life.
The treatment of art in Tennyson's THE LADY OF
SHALOTT is entirely different. The lady has heard a curse that she must not look down at
Camelot. So she has to live a life of isolation; not to be a part of this human world.
Hence, she weaves a magic web by night and day with colours gay. The shadows of the
world appear before her on the magic mirror, and she continues to rave, imagining the
life she is devoid of. The moment she watches Lancelot, she decides to leave her palace
and moves to be a part of this world. She invites the curse to fall upon her and finally
meets her death.
Many critics see the poem as an allegory
which has deeper meanings. So long as one is sheltered away from the real world and is
able to see the reflections only, it is a beautiful world. But the moment one faces
reality one finds it to be harsh and cruel world. Perhaps, the poet wishes to say that
creative artists should be more in touch with reality. Remember, Tennyson's works need
more attentive reading and one can interpret several
connotations.
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