John Keats Research Paper

Beginning in the late and early 1800’s, Romantic poetry was characterized by its artistic and emotional ideals, which contrasted the logical and reasoning of the Enlightenment era. John Keats was a famous Romantic poet of his time period, devoting his life to bending the power of words to his creative will. His work span from fantasy stories to sorrowful odes, all inspired by events in his life, which is common for most Romantic poets. The death of his family members combined with his philosophy of the human experience curated the work still valued today. Therefore, showcased in his works Endymion and the Odes, John Keat’s work is a reflection of both the bliss and sorrow he felt throughout his short life, connecting his works to his life.

His father, Thomas Keats, was a groom for horses who married his employer’s daughter, Frances Jennings, in 1794. The family expanded, John being the oldest, and his brothers George, Thomas, and his sister Frances to follow. Although the family appeared to be complete, many tragedies would soon follow. John’s father was flung from a horse in 1804 and perished from his injuries, his grandfather died in 1805, and his mother died of tuberculosis, and presumably a broken heart, in 1810. The final blow to the family was the death of the Keats’ grandmother in 1814, whom transferred custody over to a Mr. Richard Abbey, who then proceeded to confiscate all of the children's’ inheritance. John Keats was deeply affected the most among his siblings. A usually rambunctious boy, he stopped picking fights in school and focused on his studies, aiming to one day become a doctor. He and his siblings attended Harrow School, which was headed by John Clarke. His son, Cowden Clarke, also attended the school, and became not only a great friend to John Keats, but also became one of his first mentors and inspirations for writing. Once finished with secondary school and university, John became a medical student. However, upon graduation, John Keats decided to divert his efforts to a more creative outlet (insert quote). John Keats early existence, including the deaths of his family members, inspired many of John’s later works and