John Keats: A lyric Poem compared to a narrative one

The poetry of John Keats:

Common themes in "La Belle Dame sans Merci" and "Ode on a Grecian Urn"

Both poems by John Keats "La Belle Dame sans Merci" and "Ode on a Grecian Urn" have a common theme: the transient nature of human desire. The poems reflect common Romantic preoccupations: exotic settings, art, and mysterious powers that serve to underline the limited nature of human love and desire. The ballad romance "La Belle Dame sans Merci" tells the story of a knight who is miserable after being abandoned by his lover, the fabled woman of the title. The "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is written in the poet's own voice as he gazes on the work of classical Greek sculpture. The poet compares how reality is always changing and imperfect while art is eternal, including the static, artistic portrayals...
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