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English Literature / Unit 13   ENL 1222 short lesson, about 20 seconds

"Ode on a Grecian Urn"

Captions available

The idea

"Ode on a Grecian Urn," of May eighteen nineteen, addresses an urn as a "still unravish'd bride of quietness." Its painted figures are frozen forever before fulfilment: "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard / Are sweeter." Art is permanent but cold, life warm but passing.

In practice

Frozen lovers, unheard music.

Where people slip

Permanence costs life.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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