A crater on the planet Mercury bears the name, ‘John Keats’. In 1976 the International Astronomical Union approved its name. Keats crater has a diameter of 107.85 km. [1]
Born on 31 October 1795, John Keats became one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era. His profound verses left an indelible mark on English literature. After a difficult childhood Keats was apprenticed to a surgeon, before working in a London hospital from 1814. He displayed an early passion for literature and poetry.
At the age of 20, Keats’ first poem, ‘O Solitude‘, was published in The Examiner, a prominent literary magazine of the day on 5 May 1816, and Keats was launched as a poet of remarkable talent and sensitivity.
‘O Solitude’ is a sonnet that reflects Keats’ yearning for solace amidst the tumult of life. Keats personifies solitude as a comforting companion, and extols its virtues, portraying solitude as a serene sanctuary where one can find peace away from the cares and worries of society. Keats employs rich imagery and language to convey the profound emotional and spiritual experience of solitude. He paints vivid pictures of natural landscapes, invoking the sights, sounds, and sensations of the countryside. Keats grapples with the tension between the desire for solitude and the need for human connection, acknowledging that while solitude may offer temporary solace, ultimately, it cannot fully satisfy the longing for companionship and love.
Keats’ first volume of poetry was published in March 1817, by which time he had decided to leave his medical work and earn his living by poetry. Poems, by John Keats contained 30 poems and culminated with his autobiographical poem ‘Sleep and Poetry‘ in which he looks ahead to a ‘nobler life’ of imaginative achievement.
John Keats went on to produce a body of work that continues to inspire and enchant readers to this day. Sadly, his poems had been in publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25.
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