NCHS AP English Language

Shimarah Mehrotra- extra credit

John Keats's "Ode to the Grecian Urn" relates to Light in August. Lena is, of course, on the long journey to Mississippi to find the father of her soon to be born baby. In the first stanza of the poem it asks "What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?" of the people on the urn. Lena's journey could very easily be described as a "mad pursuit" (meaning the journey could easily be considered insane and she is very fervent about it) in order to escape Doane's Mill, where she does all of the work.

The figures on the urn are there for eternity and are immobile. Although Leana is literally moving, it seems as if she is not getting anywhere. The walk is a long and arduous one (especially since she is very pregnant), no one seems to know about Lucas Burch, and she does not really know where she is going. She does not know what awaits her when, or if, she finds Lucas.
Lena, much like the figures on the urn, is stagnant and seems to be getting nowhere.

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 7:15 PM