On a Picture of Leander by John Keats
The poem presents a tragic narrative centered on the doomed love of Leander and Hero. It opens with an invocation to maidens, emphasizing their purity and innocence, setting a somber tone. The imagery evokes a sense of beauty intertwined with sorrow, as Leander struggles against the sea, symbolizing the challenges of love and desire. Leander is depicted as a passionate yet doomed figure, striving to reach Hero, who represents unattainable beauty. His efforts are portrayed as both heroic and futile, culminating in his eventual demise. The poem captures the tension between love's idealism and the harsh realities of fate, illustrating how desire can lead to destruction. As Leander succumbs to the sea, the poem reflects on the ephemeral nature of life and love. The juxtaposition of beauty and death serves to heighten the emotional impact, leaving a lingering sense of loss. The work ultimately explores themes of longing, sacrifice, and the tragic consequences of unfulfilled love, encapsulating the essence of romantic idealism in the face of inevitable mortality.
By John Keats · First published 1819 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Tragic Poetry · 159 words
First lines
Come hither, all sweet maidens soberly, / Down-looking aye, and with a chasten'd light / Hid in the fringes of your eyelids white, / And meekly let your fair hands joined be, / As if so gentle that ye could not see, / Untouch'd, a victim of your beauty bright, / Sinking away to his young spirit's night, / Sinking bewilder'd 'mid the dreary sea:
'Tis young Leander toiling to his death; / Nigh swooning, he doth purse his weary lips / For Hero's cheek, and smiles against her smile.
O horrid dream! see how his body dips / Dead-heavy; arms and shoulders gleam awhile:
He's gone; up bubbles all his amorous breath!
What this Textopian page supports
On a Picture of Leander is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Keats, dated 1819 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: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Tragic Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Classical Influence
- Length: 159 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for On a Picture of Leander by John Keats
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- Sonnet To Genevra by Lord Byron
- Epistle To Charles Cowden Clarke by John Keats
- When We Two Parted by Lord Byron
- Epitaph On Sir William Williams by Thomas Gray
- To Homer by John Keats
- Remember Thee Remember Thee by Lord Byron
Genres
- Romantic Poetry — The poem embodies themes of love, beauty, and tragedy, characteristic of Romantic literature.
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal emotions and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.
- Tragic Poetry — The narrative centers on the tragic fate of Leander, highlighting themes of loss and despair.
- Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story, depicting the events surrounding Leander and Hero.
Tags
Poem · Ode · Romanticism · Beauty · Art · Mythology · Greek Mythology · Leander and Hero · Love · Longing · Separation · Death