An Extempore by John Keats (1816)
The narrative unfolds in a faery court where a princess, accompanied by her peculiar entourage—a dwarf, an ape, and a fool—finds the court deserted. Frustrated by the absence of faeries to admire her beauty and possessions, she expresses her discontent. The dwarf, trembling, recounts the three grave offenses in faeryland: misusing a faery's wand, snoring during a faery ball, and intruding when faeries are absent. Each of her companions reveals their past as princes who fell from grace due to these transgressions. Despite the dwarf's warning, the princess, driven by vanity, decides to enter the faery court. She dismisses the potential consequences, believing her beauty will charm the faeries. The ape, fearing for his own fate, reluctantly provides her with a picklock to gain entry. As she enters the court, the door closes behind her, leaving her companions outside. Meanwhile, the princess's mule, now alone, revels in his newfound freedom from the princess's control. He reflects on his royal lineage and devises a plan to rid himself of his bridle by pretending to sleep, hoping that mischievous monkeys will come to his aid. The monkeys, thinking they are causing trouble, remove the bridle, allowing the mule to escape. The story explores themes of vanity, the consequences of one's actions, and the folly of underestimating the faery realm. The princess's desire for admiration leads her into a situation where she risks losing her identity, while the mule's cleverness highlights the contrast between human folly and animal instinct. The narrative ultimately serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of pride and the unpredictable nature of faeryland.
By John Keats · First published 1816 · Genre: Fantasy, Poetry, Allegory · 1,123 words
First lines
Canto the XII
When they were come into the Faery's Court They rang -- no one at home -- all gone to sport And dance and kiss and love as faeries do For Faeries be as humans lovers true.
What this Textopian page supports
An Extempore is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Keats, dated 1816 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Keats
- Date: 1816 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Poetry, Allegory, Romance, Satire
- Length: 1,123 words
- Structure: 1 section, 39 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for An Extempore by John Keats
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Extempore?
- How does this poem by John Keats fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Stanzas by John Keats
- Lines by John Keats
- The Beautiful Night by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- A Rose by Emily Dickinson
- Sleep And Poetry by John Keats
- Stanzas Could Love For Ever by Lord Byron
Genres
- Fantasy — The poem features faeries, magical elements, and a fantastical setting, central to the narrative.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure typical of poetry.
- Allegory — The characters and events symbolize deeper moral and social themes, reflecting on human nature and societal norms.
- Romance — Themes of love and beauty are explored through the interactions of the characters, particularly the Princess.
Tags
Poetry · Romanticism · Nature · Beauty · Imagination · Sensuality · Love · Death · Mortality · Transience · Ephemerality · Fleeting Nature