ON FIRST LOOKING INTO CHAPMAN'S HOMER

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On First Looking into Chapman's Homer "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" is a sonnet by English Romantic poet John Keats (1795–1821) written in October 1816. It tells of the author's astonishment at reading the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer as freely translated by the Elizabethan playwright Chapman

The poem has become an often-quoted classic, cited to demonstrate the emotional power of a great work of art, and the ability of great art to create an epiphany in its beholder.

Background information

Keats' generation was familiar enough with the polished literary translations of John Dryden and Alexander Pope, which gave Homer an urbane gloss akin to Virgil, but expressed in blank verse or heroic couplets. Chapman's vigorous and earthy paraphrase (1616) was put before Keats by Charles Cowden Clarke, a friend from his days as a pupil at a boarding school in Enfield Town.[1] They sat up together till daylight to read it: "Keats shouting with delight as some passage of especial energy struck his imagination. At ten o'clock the next morning, Mr. Clarke found the sonnet on his breakfast-table."

Of the many islands of the Aegean, the one which bards most in fealty owe to Apollo, leader of the inspiring Muses, is Delos, the sacred island that was Apollo's birthplace. The island-dotted Aegean lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean; thus when Keats refers to the "western islands" of his own experience, he tacitly contrasts them with the East Indies, the goal that drew adventurers like doughty Cortés and Balboa to the New World, an example of submerged imagery behind the text, which is typical of Keats' technique.

The second quatrain introduces "one wide expanse" that was ruled by Homer, but which was "heard of" rather than known to Keats at first-hand, for Homer wrote in Greek, and Keats, like most Englishmen of his time, was at ease only in Latin. The "wide expanse" might have been a horizon of land or sea, but in Keats' breathing its "pure serene", we now sense that it encompasses the whole atmosphere, and in it Chapman's voice rings out. This sense of fresh discovery brings the reader to the volta.

The "new planet" was Uranus, discovered in 1781 by Sir William Herschel, Astronomer Royal to George III, the first planet unknown to astronomers of Antiquity. It was a new world in the heavens. However, it was Vasco Núñez de Balboa who first saw the Pacific, not Hernán Cortés. Keats had been reading William Robertson's History of America and apparently confused two scenes there described: Balboa's discovery of the Pacific and Cortés's first view of the Valley of Mexico. The Balboa passage: "At length the Indians assured them, that from the top of the next mountain they should discover the ocean which was the object of their wishes. When, with infinite toil, they had climbed up the greater part of the steep ascent, Balboa commanded his men to halt, and advanced alone to the summit, that he might be the first who should enjoy a spectacle which he had so long desired. As soon as he beheld the South Sea stretching in endless prospect below him, he fell on his knees, and lifting up his hands to Heaven, returned thanks to God, who had conducted him to a discovery so beneficial to his country, and so honourable to himself. His followers, observing his transports of joy, rushed forward to join in his wonder, exultation, and gratitude" (Vol. III). John Keats simply remembered the image, rather than the actual historical facts.

Clarke noticed the error immediately, but Keats chose to leave it in, presumably because historical accuracy would have necessitated an unwanted extra syllable in the line.

In retrospect, Homer's "pure serene" has prepared the reader for the Pacific, and so the analogy now expressed in the simile that identifies the wide expanse of Homer's demesne with the vast Pacific, which stuns its discoverers into silence, is felt to be the more just.

Keats altered "wondr'ing eyes" (in the original manuscript) to "eagle eyes", and "Yet could I never judge what Men could mean" (which was the seventh line even in the first publication in The Examiner) to "Yet did I never breathe its pure serene".[2]

Structure

This poem is a Petrarchan sonnet, divided into an octave and a sestet, with a rhyme scheme of a-b-b-a-a-b-b-a-c-d-c-d-c-d. After the main idea has been introduced and the image played upon in the octave, the poem undergoes a volta, a change in the persona's train of thought. The volta, typical of Italian sonnets, is put very effectively to use by Keats as he refines his previous idea. While the octave offers the poet as a literary explorer, the volta brings in the discovery of Chapman's Homer, the subject of which is further expanded through the use of imagery and comparisons which convey the poet's sense of awe at the discovery.

As is typical of sonnets in English, the meter is iambic pentameter, though not all of the lines scan perfectly (line 12 has an extra syllable, for example). General Comments Keats was so moved by the power and aliveness of Chapman's translation of Homer that he wrote this sonnet--after spending all night reading Homer with a friend. The poem expresses the intensity of Keats's experience; it also reveals how passionately he cared about poetry. To communicate how profoundly the revelation of Homer's genius affected him, Keats uses imagery of exploration and discovery. In a sense, the reading experience itself becomes a Homeric voyage, both for the poet and the reader.

Written in October 1816, this is the first entirely successful (surviving) poem he wrote. John Middleton Murry called it "one of the finest sonnets in the English laThe lines of the sonnet appear in the left column; those lines are explained in the right column. Words in purple are explained in the right column.

Analysis

As a Petrarchan or Italian sonnet, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" falls into two parts--an octet (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The octet describes Keats's reading experience before reading Chapman's translation and the sestet contrasts his experience of reading it.

The octet stresses Keats's wide reading experience; for example he says "MUCH have I TRAVELED," meaning that he has read a great deal. What other words/phrases in the octet also indicate his extensive traveling (reading) experience? Note he has traveled both on land and sea.

The Octet (lines 1-8)

Much have I traveled in the realms of gold

The phrase "realms of gold" functions in a number of ways. "Realms" starts the image cluster of locations--"states," "kingdoms" "demesnes." These words, as well as "in fealty," suggest political organization. The phrase also symbolizes the world of literature or, if you prefer, imagination. What is Keats saying about the value of this world., i.e., why describe it as realms of gold, rather than of lead or brass, for instance? Why does he use the plural "realmS," rather than the singular "realm"?

Finally, "realms of gold" anticipates the references in the sestet to the Spanish Conquistadores in the New World, for whom the lust for gold was a primary motive. The repetition of "l" sounds in "travelled," "realms," and "gold" emphasizes the idea and ties the words together.

And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;

Round many western islands have I been

Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.

The high, even holy function that poets fulfill is indicated by their being the servants of a god, Apollo, and having sworn to follow him (with the suggestion of their having consecrated their lives to him). "Fealty," in addition, indicates their dedication to Apollo and, by extension, to their calling, the writing of poetry.

With the reference to poets, Keats moves from those who read (or who experience through poets' imaginations) to those who create poetry (or who express their own imaginations). Then the poem narrows to one particular poet who rules the realm of poetry, i.e., whose genius and inspired poetry raise him above even dedicated poets.

Oft of one wide expanse had I been told

To emphasize the extent of Homer's genius and his literary accomplishments, Keats modifies "expanse" (which means "extensive") with an adjective which also means "extensive," i.e., the adjective "wide."

That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne;

"Deep-browed" refers to Homer's intellect. (We use the adjective "deep" colloquially with a similar meaning today, in such phrases as "a deep thought" or "she's a deep thinker.")



Yet did I never breathe its pure serene

By breathing in the "pure serene," he makes it a part of himself; would the same effect be achieved if he walked or ran through Homer's demesne (his poetry)? What is Keats saying about the necessity of poetry (how important is breathing)?

This line and the next line contrast Keats's knowledge of Homer's reputation and his experiencing the genius of Homer's poetry in Chapman's translation. What are your assocations with the words "pure" and "serene"-- positive, negative, neutral? Note that these words apply to both the poetry of Homer and the translation by Chapman.

Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold;



The Sestet (lines 9-14)

Then felt I like some watcher of the skies

"Then" moves the poem to a new idea, to the consequences or the results of reading Chapman's translation. At the same time, "then" connects the sestet to the octet and so provides a smooth transition from one section of the poem to the other. In this line and the next line, reading Chapman's translation has revealed a new dimension or world to Keats, which he expresses by extending the world to include the heavens.

When a new planet swims into his ken;

To get a sense of Keats' excitement and joy at the discovery of Homer via Chapman, imagine the moment of looking up into the sky and seeing a planet--which has been unknown till that moment. Also imagine the moment of struggling up a mountain, reaching the top and beholding--not land, as you expected--but an expanse of ocean, reaching to the horizon and beyond. What would that moment of discovery, that moment of revelation of a new world, that moment of enlarging the world you knew, feel like?

The planet "swims" into view. Though the astronomer is actively looking (as Keats actively read), yet the planet, which has always been there, comes into his view. The image of swimming is part of the water imagery, starting with the voyages of line 3 to the Pacific Ocean in the ending.

Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes

Since the discovery of the Pacific is a visual experience, Keats emphasizes Cortez's eyes. What kind of eyesight does an eagle have (is it different from that of an owl or a bat, for instance)?

He stared at the Pacific--and all his men

Why does Cortez "stare," rather than just look at or glance at the Pacific? Does Keats's error in identifying Cortez as discovering the ocean detract significantly from this poem?

Look'd at each other with a wild surmise--

What is the impact of this discovery on Cortez's men? Why are they silent? Why do they look at each other with "WILD surmise"? What does the adjective "wild" suggest about their feelings on seeing the Pacific, about the impact of that discovery on them?

Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

The image of Cortez and his men standing overwhelmed is sharply presented. Note the contrast of Chapman's "loud and bold voice" in the last line of the octet and the "silence" of Cortez and his men in the last line of the poem.







On First Looking into Chapman's Homer



1Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold,

2 And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;

3 Round many western islands have I been

4Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.

5Oft of one wide expanse had I been told

6 That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne;

7 Yet did I never breathe its pure serene

8Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:

9Then felt I like some watcher of the skies

10 When a new planet swims into his ken;

11Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes

12 He star'd at the Pacific--and all his men

13Look'd at each other with a wild surmise--

14 Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

Notes

1] Keats knew very little Greek, and read Homer only in translation.

7] pure serene. This phrase is to be found in Coleridge'sHymn before Sun-rise, in the Vale of Chamouni, 72, and also in Cary's translation of Dante's Paradiso, XV, 11.

9-10] Keats perhaps had in mind Sir William Herschel's discovery of Uranus in 1781.

11] Cortez. Actually it was Balboa, not Cortez, who first crossed the isthmus to the Pacific. Keats had read Robertson's History of America and apparently confused two scenes there described: Balboa's discovery of the Pacific and Cortez' first view of Mexico City. The two passages read as follows: "At length the Indians assured them, that from the top of the next mountain they should discover the ocean which was the object of their wishes. When, with infinite toil, they had climbed up the greater part of the steep ascent, Balboa commanded his men to halt, and advanced alone to the summit, that he might be the first who should enjoy a spectacle which he had so long desired. As soon as he beheld the South Sea stretching in endless prospect below him, he fell on his knees, and lifting up his hands to Heaven, returned thanks to God, who had conducted him to a discovery so beneficial to his country, and so honourable to himself. His followers, observing his transports of joy, rushed forward to join in his wonder, exultation, and gratitude" (Bk. III). "In descending from the mountains of Chalco, across which the road lay, the vast plain of Mexico opened gradually to their view. When they first beheld this prospect, one of the most striking and beautiful on the face of the earth; when they observed fertile and cultivated fields, stretching farther than the eye could reach; when they saw a lake resembling the sea in extent, encompassed with large towns, and discovered the capital city rising upon an island in the middle, adorned with its temples and turrets; the scene so far exceeded their imagination, that some believed the fanciful descriptions of romance were realized, and that its enchanted palaces and gilded domes were presented to their sight; others could hardly persuade themselves that this wonderful spectacle was any thing more than a dream. As they advanced, their doubts were removed, but their amazement increased. They were now fully satisfied that the country was rich beyond any conception which they had formed of it" (Bk. V

2.The speaker is saying he's traveled a lot, including "western islands" which may be referring to any number of places in the western hemisphere, but because he includes how bards (writers) in fealty (loyal bonds) to Apollo hold them, it probably refers to Greek islands, since Apollo would have been one of the main mythological gods of that area. He said he had even traveled to the place where Homer had lived, according to historic tradition, but he didn't really appreciate that ("Yet did I never breathe its pure serene") until, as the first answerer said, he read how Chapman translated it in a way the speaker could understand. This was a life-changing event for him, for then the speaker says he feels as if he had made an amazing discovery, "like some watcher of the skies" discovering a new planet in his land, or like the Spanish explorer Cortez when they first stood and were about to explore Darien in Panama (had to look that one up). I kind of think this poem is sort of dedicated to someone who made learning about history understandable and amazing for the speaker.

As for techniques, the rhyme scheme is almost but not quite abba, abba, cdedce and with a 14-line format I recognized it as a Petrarchan sonnet in iambic pentameter (except for a few syllables which don't quite fit - so the Romantic poets may or may not adhere to Classical poetry forms). See link below if needed. The syntax looks like it's 19th century style, and it reminds me of Walt Whitman's "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" because of the theme itself, and the way that certain words are abbreviated, like "travell'd" and "deep-brow'd" and "look'd" where the e before the last d is taken out. You can tell it's a British poet because "travell'd" (really "travelled") is spelled with 2 l's instead of just 1, like we Americans do. The syntax also has a tendency to reverse the order of verbs and subjects, like "felt I" instead of "I felt" or "did I never breathe" instead of "I did never breathe" - which is an old-fashioned way of speaking and which modern poets usually avoid as much as possible. As far as diction goes, it would probably help to hear someone from England read it aloud, but you can tell it was written by an educated, well-read man, since there are words in it that we as Americans hardly use, like "demesne." The word "fealty" is very European, referring to vassals and their master. There is some alliteration, say with "surmise-Silent" where the "s" sound is repeated in two words by each other. I guess the poet used personification to say a planet would "swim" as a planet would not literally be able to swim. Hope this helps.

Analysis Of Keat's "On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer" And "On See

Analysis of Keat's "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" and "On Seeing the

Elgin Marbles"





John Keat's poems, On First Looking into Chapman's Homer, and On Seeing the

Elgin Marbles for the First Time, express an irresistible, poetical imagination.

They convey a sense of atmosphere to the reader. In comparison they exemplify

his intense love of beauty. The connection between these two poems is not so

much in subject, but the feeling of awe. Both these poems show more emotion and

amazement in the experience of discovering something new. Keats looked with

eyes of wonder at new adventures and expressed them verbally with delicacy and

reserve.



In the poem On First Looking into Chapman's Homer, the description of his

experiences overflows with youth and excitement. But as the poem continues the

writing is toned down to convey the most important and meaningful experience.

Keats describes how after traveling in lands of gold, and seeing many great

states and kingdoms, he never truly realized the wonders of these things until

reading Chapman's translation of Homer. Crossing many western islands bards

have sung about, he never was able to comprehend their true serene nature until

reading man's wondrous words. This narration explains that though these were

sights well visited , their beauty and Keats imagination kept them alive.

Having read Chapman's translation til dawn with his teacher, he was so moved he

wrote this his first great poem and mailed it by ten A.M. that day.



In On Seeing the Elgin Marbles for the First Time, the description of his

experiences overflows with depression and experience. As the poem continues

you see his sad point of view has faded . It gives it a familiarity that hides

its true serene character. He describes how his spirit is weak (mortality) and

his wonderful memories have faded in his mind due to worries and unrest at his

coming death. It should be said death does play a key role in this poem

4. This paper describes the meaning and construction of John Keats' sonnet "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" and explains that it was written as an immediate response to the revelation experienced by Keats on first reading George Chapman's classic translation of Homer's epic the "Odyssey". The paper further relates that Keats' poem expresses his excitement about what he has just discovered in reading Chapman's work, which leads him to want to make more discoveries about himself and about the world, especially the world of ancient times.

5.

John Keat's poems, On First Looking into Chapman's Homer, and On Seeing the

Elgin Marbles for the First Time, express an irresistible, poetical imagination.

They convey a sense of atmosphere to the reader. In comparison they exemplify

his intense love of beauty. The connection between these two poems is not so

much in subject, but the feeling of awe. Both these poems show more emotion and

amazement in the experience of discovering something new. Keats looked with

eyes of wonder at new adventures and expressed them verbally with delicacy and

reserve.



In the poem On First Looking into Chapman's Homer, the description of his

experiences overflows with youth and excitement. But as the poem continues the

writing is toned down to convey the most important and meaningful experience.

Keats describes how after traveling in lands of gold, and seeing many great

states and kingdoms, he never truly realized the wonders of these things until

reading Chapman's translation of Homer. Crossing many western islands bards

have sung about, he never was able to comprehend their true serene nature until

reading man's wondrous words. This narration explains that though these were

sights well visited , their beauty and Keats imagination kept them alive.

Having read Chapman's translation til dawn with his teacher, he was so moved he

wrote this his first great poem and mailed it by ten A.M. that day.



In On Seeing the Elgin Marbles for the First Time, the description of his

experiences overflows with depression and experience. As the poem continues

you see his sad point of view has faded . It gives it a familiarity that hides

its true serene character. He describes how his spirit is weak (mortality) and

his wonderful memories have faded in his mind due to worries and unrest at his

coming death. It should be said death does play a key role in this poem and is

the main reason behind all his dreariness and heavy heart. His self-pity masks

the appreciation that he was granted this length of time to even experience

them. Having viewed these time worn memorials of Grecian skill, in this poem he

expressed the indescribable feelings of wonder .



In comparison Keats expresses similarities in his concreteness of

description in which all the senses combine to give the total comprehension of

an experience (new or old). He writes with an intense delight at the sheer

existence of things outside himself, and seems to lose himself in his own

mortality and the identification of the object he contemplates. His imagination

is unleashed on the works of poetry and art that so amazed him. Keats style of

poetry speaks of truth in beauty. His motto is captured in a line of his own

poetry -"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

8. "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" is a sonnet by English Romantic poet John Keats (1795–1821) tells of the author's astonishment at reading the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer as freely translated by the Elizabethan playwright George Chapman. The poem has become an often-quoted classic, cited to demonstrate the emotional power of a great work of art, and the ability of great art to create an epiphany in its beholder. After the main idea has been introduced and the image played upon in the octave, the poem undergoes a volta, a change in the persona's train of thought. While the octave offers the poet as a literary explorer, the volta brings in the discovery of Chapman's Homer, the subject of which is further expanded through the use of imagery and comparisons which convey the poet's sense of awe at the discovery. General Comments Keats was so moved by the power and aliveness of Chapman's translation of Homer that he wrote this sonnet--after spending all night reading Homer with a friend. The poem expresses the intensity of Keats's experience; it also reveals how passionately he cared about poetry. To communicate how profoundly the revelation of Homer's genius affected him, Keats uses imagery of exploration and discovery. In a sense, the reading experience itself becomes a Homeric voyage, both for the poet and the reader. As a Petrarchan or Italian sonnet, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" falls into two parts--an octet (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The octet describes Keats's reading experience before reading Chapman's translation and the sestet contrasts his experience of reading it. The octet stresses Keats's wide reading experience;

In the poem On First Looking into Chapman's Homer, the description of his

experiences overflows with youth and excitement. But as the poem continues the

writing is toned down to convey the most important and meaningful experience.

Keats describes how after traveling in lands of gold, and seeing many great

states and kingdoms, he never truly realized the wonders of these things until

reading Chapman's translation of Homer. Crossing many western islands bards

have sung about, he never was able to comprehend their true serene nature until

reading man's wondrous words. This narration explains that though these were

sights well visited , their beauty and Keats imagination kept them alive.

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