NCHS AP English Language

ODE TO A GRECIAN URN BY CAILIN LOYD

ODE TO A GRECIAN URN HOW IT RELATES TO A LIGHT IN AUGUST

"Who are these coming to the sacrifice?
To what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,
And all her silken flanks with garlands drest?
What little town by river or sea-shore, 35
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of its folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul, to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return."

This passage of the poem relates to Lena in a Light in August because it talks about how there are sacrifices being made, liek so with Lena. Also, the lines say that the soul can never return to the town where it has left, where no one is "silent." Lena may never return to her town after her journey.

"When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'" 50

The last two lines relate to the truth of how life is, and there is no negativity or anger in that thought. Lena is the same way, she lives for how she feels in that moment, and none of her thoughts are angered to the father of her baby, and she is not troubled by her journey.


BY CAILIN LOYD

posted by Lisa @ 11:49 AM