Which poem by John Keats reflects on mortality and the transient nature of beauty?

Prepare for the ETS Major Field Test in British Literature. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Boost your confidence for exam day!

The poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats is renowned for its exploration of mortality and the ephemeral quality of beauty. In this ode, Keats contemplates an ancient Grecian urn that captures moments of beauty in its artwork—scenes of lovers, nature, and celebration—that remain unchanged throughout time. The urn stands as a symbol of art's power to preserve beauty, even as human life is fleeting and impermanent.

Keats contrasts the eternal allure of the images on the urn with the transient experience of life and emotion. For example, while the figures depicted on the urn will never age or endure suffering, real-life experiences are inevitably bound to decay and death. The famous line "Beauty is truth, truth beauty" encapsulates the poem's central theme, positing that while physical beauty may fade, its representation in art offers a form of immortality.

Other poems listed address beauty and mortality in different contexts. "To Autumn" celebrates the beauty of the season, but it is more focused on the richness of that time rather than the transient nature of beauty itself. "La Belle Dame sans Merci" explores themes of love and desire, often through a lens of loss, but it doesn't engage with

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