Presenter/Discussion Leader – James Johnson

Recorder – Samantha McDonald 

"On First Looking into Chapman's Homer"
by John Keats

Much have I travelled in the realms of gold,
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne;
Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He stared at the Pacific -and all his men
Looked at each other with a wild surmise -
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.                      (1816) 1817

At the age of twenty one, John Keats read George Chapman’s translation of Homer for the first time and was inspired to write a sonnet about the works of exploration literature that he had read.  The genre of the sonnet provides a significant contrast with our other literature of exploration readings or even with other types of poetry.  The brevity of the sonnet does not really allow for its impact to be conveyed through detailed descriptions.  I found it remarkable that such a short work of poetry was able to readily convey the sense of excitement and wonder that Keats felt relative to exploration.  When I first read the poem I did not know if Keats’ fascination with exploration was based totally on books that he had read or if personal travels had also been a significant contributor.  

In order to get a better sense of what Keats’ sonnet conveyed to his contemporaries, I thought it was important to provide at least a brief historical reference to the period when the sonnet was written.  In the early nineteenth century (1816) exploration followed by colonial expansion and trade are expanding the British Empire and increasing British influence, wealth and power in Europe and throughout the world.  With exploration so directly linked to British prestige, the literature of exploration available at the time would probably have been preferred reading and a great source of entertainment for the average Englishman.   Because of the national political importance of exploration during that period, literature of exploration would probably have been considered essential reading for any Englishman with the ambition to acquire wealth and power.

When I first read Keats’ sonnet, some questions were immediately raised in my mind.  What were the “realms of gold” that he alluded to in the sonnet?  Were these places that Keats had actually visited?   Since the questions regarding the “realms of gold” readily came to my mind when I first read the sonnet, I thought that might be a good place to start my efforts to stimulate some class discussion.  With that in mind my first question to the class after I finished reading the sonnet was:  “What are the realms of gold referred to by Keats’ sonnet?”  Marion Carpenter was the first to respond and suggested that possibly the reference was to the Golden Age of Greece and its associated stories of exploration and valor such as The Odyssey.  John Granahan next suggested that Keats might be referring to the gold discovered during the conquest of the Americas.  Dr. White took this idea one step further by mentioning Cortez’ quest for gold during his conquests in the Americas and the direct reference to Cortez in the sonnet.   John Eberhart and Tara Gray indicated that although they had previously read this sonnet, reading it again as literature of exploration added a new dimension to the work.  At this point I added that due to my lack of knowledge of Keats, I had done some basic research in the Encyclopedia Britannica and found that Keats had no personal world travel experience.   This had led me to believe the “realms of gold” identified in the sonnet were all of the places Keats felt he had been transported to via the literary works that he had read.  Dr. White then pointed out that this ties directly to the audience issues objective.  More specifically, exploration is seen while uncovering and investigating the details in a book; much the same way as traveling through an unknown land.

My second discussion question was:  “What does this sonnet communicate to the reader about the literature of space and exploration?”  This second discussion question was my attempt to get everyone in the class to assess the sonnet from the exploration literature perspective.  Kelly Tumy was the first to respond.  She indicates exploration can be mental not just physical and the different types of exploration are wide-ranging with unlimited potential for discovery in almost any area.  Dr. White contributes the thought that exploration can be a metaphor for mental exercise.   Tara Gray indicates the inclusion of the part of the sonnet relating to the discovery of a new planet (Uranus had been discovered in 1781) ties the sonnet to the science of that period.  Dr. White comments that this ties into the third course objective – period issues.  John Eberhart questions the location of Darien and I reply that Darien is in the isthmus of Panama.  John then mentions that the reference to Cortez in the sonnet probably should have been a reference to Balboa because Balboa was the first to see the Pacific.  At this point I added that I found it rather amazing that a piece of writing as short as a sonnet was able to convey so effectively the sense of adventure and knowledge to be found in literary works on exploration.

My third discussion question was: “In the absence of detail, how is this communication accomplished?”  The third question was meant to provoke a discussion of the devices that Keats used in the sonnet to communicate to the reader.  John Eberhart starts the discussion by suggesting that Keats’ sonnet was intended for a small, close group of people in his own class.  In this group, much of what Keats referred to in the sonnet would have been common knowledge.  John also points out that Keats compares ancient texts of exploration to more recent exploration and scientific discovery; essentially equating old literature with the newest discoveries.  At this point I indicated that I felt Keats was using the emotion his contemporaries would commonly share from recent exploration and discovery events, to illustrate his feelings about Chapman’s translation of Homer.  Kelly Tumy, Barbara Sharp, and Tara Gray all commented on the obvious awe Keats expressed relative to new discoveries.  Tara Gray refers to this as the “Holy Cow” moment.  The Cortez versus Balboa issue comes up again and Dr. White points out that it doesn’t really matter that Keats referred to the wrong explorer.  Keats successfully communicates the feeling he wanted to convey.  He shows the audience the extent of his amazement by connecting with events they can all relate to, such as being able to simultaneously view the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as Cortez was able to do.  This also demonstrates the use of the sublime in literature of space and exploration.  Aaron Van Baalen points out that the sublime element would probably have occurred as a part of hindsight.  During the experience, what is later seen as sublime, may in fact have been perceived as something horrible - the “What there’s more water.” concept.

 Dr. White concludes the discussion by pointing out that a sonnet of exploration is very unique and he does not know of another.  Sonnets are usually associated with more intimate personal material.

CLASS HANDOUT                                     

LITR 5738 - Poetry  Presentation

On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer

Poem by John Keats

 Presenter/Discussion Leader – James Johnson

Recorder – Samantha McDonald

January 22, 2002

The Setting

·       It is the early 19^th century (1816).

·       It is a time in the nations of Europe when exploration followed by colonial expansion and trade is fueling their competing interests for global influence, wealth and power.

·       The literature of exploration available at the time would have been a great source of entertainment for the average reader and would probably have been important reading for people with the ambition to acquire wealth and power.

·       John Keats, a 21 year old Englishman, reads George Chapman’s translation of Homer for the first time and writes a sonnet about that experience.

Other Things to Consider

·       The genre of poetry, more specifically a sonnet, provides a contrast with the other assigned readings or even with other types of poetry.

·       The brevity of the sonnet does not really allow for it’s impact to be conveyed through detailed descriptions

Poem Reading

Copies provided in presentation handout

Questions for Discussion

• What are the realms of gold referred to by Keats’ sonnet?
• What does this sonnet communicate to the reader about the literature of space and exploration?
• In the absence of detail, how is this communication accomplished?