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ISSN 2576-5388 (Print) ISSN 2576-5396 (Online) 

Vol. 3, No. 4, 2020 
www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/csm 

76 
 

Original Paper 

Stylistic Analysis of a Poem “ODE ON A GRECIAN URN” 

Written by John Keats 
Naeem Abbas1, Anas1* & Komal Nasir1 

1 Department of English, Sargodha Institute of Language Learning, Sargodha, Pakistan 
* Anas, Department of English, Sargodha Institute of Language Learning, Sargodha, Pakistan 

 

Received: October 17, 2020    Accepted: October 24, 2020    Online Published: November 21, 2020 

doi:10.22158/csm.v3n4p76                       URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/csm.v3n4p76 

 

Abstract 

This research paper aims at investigating the text of the poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” written by John 

Keats. We made a stylistic analysis of this poem at three levels: phonological level, graphological 

level/grammatical level and lexical level. This research paper provides an easy understanding of the 

poem. 

Keywords 

style, stylistics and stylistics analysis 

 

Introduction 

Style is a Latin word that is derived from “stilus” which means the way of expression/the way of doing 

something is known as style. Swift defines style is “proper words in proper places”. According to 

Leech (1969) style leads to the structure, patterns and arrangement of words to form sentences in 

spoken and written form. 

 

Stylistics 

It is a branch of applied linguistics that concerns the study of style in a text. It also studies the formal 

features of a text. Before the 20th century it deals with the literary text. But in the 20th century it also 

studies the non-literary text. Stylistics is used to interpret the writer’s thoughts and tries to find out the 

hidden meanings of a text. The main focus of Stylistics is to study the particular style of a text which 

differentiates one piece of text to another text. According to Tariq (2018), “Stylistics, therefore, 

attempts to study and analyze the deviation in a literary text, a text which does not subscribe to the 

norms and models of linguistic description”. The core aim of stylistics is to unfold a literary text to 

examine the deviation made by writers to get especial expressions. Widdowson takes stylistics as “the 



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study of literary discourse from a linguistic orientation”.  

 

Levels of Stylistics Analysis 

There are four levels of stylistics analysis which are given below. We analyze the text of a poem 

according to these levels. 

1) Phonological level: it deals with the study of the sound pattern of a given language and how 

words are pronounced in a text is understood through the study of Phonological level. 

2) Graphological level: it analyzes the expression of a language which distinguish from other’s 

writings. It also focuses on the physical characteristics of a text. 

3) Grammatical level: in this level, we deal with the internal structure of a sentence and how 

words can be put together. 

4) Lexical level: in this level we study the individual word in a given text. 

 

Introduction of a Poem 

“Ode on a Grecian Urn” is a romantic poem by John Keats, an English poet. In this poem he describes 

the unfaded beauty of urn and its antiquity. He shows his love towards the beauty of an urn because the 

time does not affect the surface of the urn. So, it gives immortal sense to the beautiful urn. 

 

Phonological Level 

“Ode on a Grecian Urn” poem consists of five stanzas. Each stanza carries 10 lines and it is divided 

into two parts; quatrain and sestet. The poet uses iambic pentameter in his poem. 

 

Table 1. 

No. Quatrain Sestet 

Stanza-i A B A B 
 

C D E D C E 
 

Stanza-ii A B A B 
 

C D E C E D 
 

Stanza-iii A B A B 
 

C D E C D E 
 

Stanza-iv A B A B 
 

C D E C D E 
 

Stanza-v A B A B 
 

C D E D C E 
 

 

We find variation in sestet because they vary in their rhyme order. 

When we read this poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” we find some major poetic devices (Alliteration, 

Assonance, Caesura, Chiasmus, Enjambment and Personification). These devices are discussed below. 

 

 



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Alliteration 

It is a repetition of consonants sound at the beginning of words. 

Example 1 

Of marble men and maidens overwrought 

In the second example we can find the repetition of a consonant sound /m/. As we can see in these 

words; marble, men, and maidens. 

Example 2 

   Beauty is truth, truth beauty,-that is all 

In the above example we can see the consonant sound /t/. For example /t/ sound is prominent in a given 

line. Beauty, truth and that are showing alliteration on the above example. 

 

Assonance 

Repetition of a vowel sound in a line of verse. These similar sounds are combined to produce echo and 

resonance. 

Example 1 

Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time 

When we read this line of the verse we may find assonance and we can hear the vowel sound /o/ while 

reading. It shows the repetition of the same vowel sound in the same line. For example; Thou 

foster-child of Silence and slow Time. 

Example 2 

   Ah, happy, happy boughs! That cannot shed 

In the above example we can find the repetition of a vowel sound which is /i/and it is felt in the word 

Happy /happi/. 

 

Caesura 

It is a pause in a line of verse which is usually caused by punctuation in a short or medium line. It 

breaks the natural flow of verse in poetry and verse of poetry becomes more complex. 

Semi-colon and commas are used to break the natural flow of poetry. 

Example 1 

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard 

Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; 

Not the sensual ear, but more endear’d, 

Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: 

Caesura is used to avoid the poem from monotonous because old English writers try to avoid the same 

tone of a poem. Sometimes caesura is used to emphasize the line of a verse through using a pause. As 



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we can see above that shows the importance and contrariness of a poem. Here Keats shows that 

unheard things are more attractive and sweet as compared to heard things. 

 

Chiasmus  

It is a literary device in which clauses are combined in a reverse order to produce a literary effect in a 

line of poetry. 

Example 1 

Beauty is truth, truth beauty 

Here the above verse is the best example that shows the reverse order in a sentence and it produces a 

literary effect in the poem and it also captures the reader’s attention. This line describes that every 

beautiful thing is considered as truth because it is universal and it can never be changed in any 

circumstance. So that’s why beauty is equal to truth. 

 

Enjambment 

When a line is not punctuated and runs on to the next line is known as enjambment. 

It is a thought or sense, phrase or clause which does not come to an end at the line breaks. It runs to the 

next line without any punctuation marks. 

Example 1 

Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed 

Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; 

There is no punctuation mark in the first line it runs to the next line because the first line thought is not 

completed and it is connected to the next line through the sense of same thought which is completed in 

the second line. 

 

Personification 

Personification is a literary device in which human attributes are given to inanimate objects. 

Example 1 

Thou still unravished bride of quietness; 

Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time, 

Sylvan historian, who canst thus express 

Here we can see that the writer uses personification at different instances because he wants to 

immortalize the beauty of an Urn. He compares unravished bride of quietness to the urn because it is 

as quiet as a ravished bride. It does not tell who they are (the men, gods and mortal)? He also compares 

that urn looks like a foster child because time is slow down in the moment of no shelter. Sylvan 

Historian knows history and Urn portraits the best history of rural life that had happened in the past. 



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All these expressions are used to show the immortal beauty of an urn which can never be faded. 

 

Graphological Level 

1) This poem is divided into five stanzas. 

2) We can easily see the usual capitalization in a poem. 

3) We can also find different punctuation marks in the poem. 

“It deals with the study of the expression of the writer’s style: how the writer portraits his thought by 

using different choices of words. It describes the way of writing which particularly belongs to a writer’s 

personality. 

 

Contraction 

It is a process in which some sounds/alphabets are omitted. Contractions are used to maintain the 

amount of syllables in a line of poetry. 

Example 

Unravish’d Endear’d Enjoy’d Cloy’d 

Lead’st E’er Say’st  

 

Contractions are used in poetry to maintain/lower the number of syllables in a line. Through this we 

can maintain the meter also. It helps us to make a proper rhythm in a poem. 

 

Colons 

A colon is used to introduce the material that explains, amplifies and summarizes what has preceded it. 

Keats uses colon three times in his poem. 

Example 1 

A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: 

What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape 

Of deities or mortals, or of both, 

As we can analyze the colon is used in the first line and the second line describes what has already 

done in the previous line. Here we can say that the writer describes the eternity of urn and it is a better 

mode of describing the rural life rather than poetry. Through this beautiful urn we can get immense 

interpretation and it shows that urn becomes immortal and it works beyond the language because of 

language changes gradually. So the urn is free from any boundary and it shows a universal message to 

the rest of all world. 

 

 



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Semi-colon 

A semi-colon is used to combine or join two or more independent clauses with each other to make a 

sentence. 

It creates a connection between two ideas and thoughts in one sentence. 

Example 1 

Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness; 

Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time, 

These two lines are connected through semi-colon. In which the writer gives the human characteristics 

to the urn. In these lines he tries to show the eternity of urn by giving human qualities. 

Example 2 

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard 

Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; 

These beautiful expressions are all about urn which describes the immortality of urn. In these lines, the 

writer uses a paradox which increases the beauty of an urn. Heard melodies are sweet but unheard are 

sweeter. This music is ever new for us which we get from the surface of the urn. It is more attractive 

than real music which is produced by different musical instruments. Because we never heard the music 

of urn so it is sweeter than anyone heard music. 

 

Comma 

It is a punctuation mark that is used to make a pause in speech. 

Example 1 

That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy’d, 

A burning forehead, and a parching tongue. 

In poetry most of the time comma is used to tell the reader where to pause. We also used a comma to 

maintain the rhythm of a poem. Sometimes we use it to avoid the confusion about things. It clarifies the 

idea by separating words through commas. 

 

Question Mark 

It is used to indicate a question. We use it to express doubt or uncertainty about something. 

As we can see that Keats poses some questions in his poem. 

Example 1 

In Tempe or the dales of Arcady? 

What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? 

What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? 

What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? 



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In the first stanza of the poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” poet raises some questions about the legends, 

deities, and mortals. He is not sure who they are and what the stories are related to them. Sometimes 

questions are the source of mystery and it creates pleasure in the mind of a reader. It is a way of 

capturing attention from readers. 

 

Exclamation 

It is used to express a sudden outcry, excitement, finality or just add emphasis. 

Example 1 

For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! 

In this example we find permanence of emotion in which the writer describes that the lady will be loyal 

to you in every situation because the art on the surface of the urn will show that it will never fade and 

love remains the same among two lovers. 

Example 2 

Ah, happy, happy boughs! That cannot shed 

In this verse we can examine that a tree that is drawn at the side of the urn will show us that it is 

immortal because leaves will never shed down due to the permanent effect of sculpturing. So here we 

can say that urn is as beautiful as truth. 

 

Quotation Mark 

The primary function of the quotation mark is to represent the exact language that has come from 

somebody else. 

Example 1 

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty” 

It is a conclusion line of a poem and it is considered as the last words of the urn which sum up the 

whole idea in five words. It is written by using a quotation mark to highlight the last message of the 

urn. 

 

Table 2. Lexical Level 

Nouns Pronouns Verb Adjectives Adverb 

Bride 

Quietness 

Foster-child 

Sylvan historian 

Legend 

Leaf-fringed 

Thou 

Who 

What 

Thy 

Those 

Ye 

Enjoyed 

Cloyed 

Drest (dress) 

Built 

Emptied 

Will 

Still 

Slow 

Flowery 

More 

Loath 

Mad 

Thus 

Sweetly 

Therefore 

Endeared 

Never 

Yet 



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Deities 

Mortal 

Tempe 

Arcady 

Men 

Gods 

Maidens 

Pursuit 

Timbrels 

Winning 

Boughs 

Spring 

Melodist 

Adieu 

Heifer 

Priest 

Attic shape 

Citadel 

Garland 

Seashore 

Eternity 

Pastoral 

Beauty 

Truth 

She 

That 

Your 

Us 

Other 

Whom 

Ye(you) 

Be 

Tell 

Desolate 

Return 

Trodden 

Doth(does) 

Waste 

Shalt(shall) 

Say’st(say) 

Know 

Need 

Unravished 

Canst(can) 

Haunts 

Escape 

Leave 

Hast(have) 

Be 

Shed 

Grieve 

Fade 

Bare 

Kiss 

 

Wild 

Sweet 

Heard 

Sweeter 

Soft 

Sensual 

Fair 

Bold 

Happy 

Unwearied 

Piping 

New 

Warm 

Human 

High 

Panting 

Young 

Sorrowful 

Burning 

Parching 

Green 

Mysterious 

Silken 

Little 

Peaceful 

Pious 

Attic 

Trodden 

Forever 

Evermore 

Ever 

Out of 

 

 

Conclusion 

“Ode on a Grecian Urn” shows the mastery of Keats in using different kinds of poetic devices to create 

charming sound effect. It seems that he was fully aware of using different types of lexicons and has 

skill in constructing sentences according to the need of versification. Indeed the poem is the 

masterpiece of linguistic expression. 

 



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References 

Leech, N. G. (1969). A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry. London: Paperback, English Language 

Series, Print. 

Tariq, M. (2018). Style, stylistics and stylistic analysis: A re-evaluation of the modern-day rhetorics of 

literary discourse. International Journal of English Research, 4(2), 46-50. 

Widdowson, H. G. (1977). Stylistics and Teaching of Literature. London: Longman, Print. Retrieved 

from http://googleweblight.com/i?uhttp://www.bathleby.com/344/67html&grgid=hiw 

092AW&I=en IN 


