Good Morning And Thankyou For Tuning Into The Poet s Voice

Good morning and thankyou for tuning into The Poet’s Voice. My name is Meg Cuskelly and it’s that time of the week that we all look forward to, here on the show, where we have the privilege to welcome a guest speaker to discuss a poem, poet and period with us. Today, from The Australian National University in Canberra we have Vivienne White, head lecturer in the literature department. Thankyou for joining us Vivienne. My Pleasure Meg, thankyou for having me on The Poet’s Voice. The pleasure is all ours. Tell us Vivienne, what have you got to share with us today? Well Meg, today I will be sharing with you a poem called â€Å"Ode on Melancholy†, by the British Romantic poet John Keats, who is arguably the most popular romantic poet of his†¦show more content†¦After his three year apprenticeship, Keats became a medical student at Guy’s hospital. With his study taking over, he was losing time to write. He had always had a passion for literature, so he made up his mind to increase the time spent on poetry, and his first poem was published in 1814. Although he received his Apothecary licence in 1816, he decided to follow the path of his inspiration, Lord Byron, and become a poet. Five months before his first book, â€Å"Poems†, was published, Keats was introduced to one of Byron and Shelley’s friends, Hunt, who helped him advance in his writing. His first book was not received to well by the public, neither was the rest of his work. In his lifetime, Keats’ work copped more hate than any other poet of his time. But by the end of the 19th century he was one of the most beloved poets studied. Actually Meg, on his gravestone Keats wanted to write â€Å"Here lies one whose name was writ in water.† He knew he wasn’t appreciated in his time, and he would be washed away by those who read his name, yet he prophesised he would be appreciated in the years that followed. Keats met the love of his life who did love him for many years after his death, Fanny Brawne, in 1818. They started off as close friends, but their friendship soon became intimate and all of Keats’ time and energy was put into her. The majority of his poems reflected his love for her,