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Essay / The Idea of Romanticism in Hyperion by John Keats
Hyperion, which is the beginning of the old powers for the new, presents ideas on many ideas such as beauty, knowledge, and poetry. The main themes of Hyperion concern the nature of and its relationship to poetry. The tale recounts the progress made by humanity and the gods themselves, primarily toward the idea of enlightenment and the deepening of knowledge as well as images of beauty and purity. Through his depiction of the gods, Keats's commentary on romantic opposites includes the real and the ideal and questions the gray area between a myth and a reality within a myth. From this piece alone one can see how well Keats knew Greek and Roman mythology and how much this, along with his life, influenced his ability to write such a famous piece of poetry, of which he did not never really finished. The theme of truth is also present. Keats had acquired the ability to use his tragedy and misfortune to become an extraordinary poet. Had he lived longer, he would have written much greater and more creative poetry and it would have been poetry imbued with deep thoughts, intense emotions and a representation of the harsh realities of humanity.