"Adonais" Characters
A
Adonais
Protagonist
Also known as: John Keats, Adonis
Poetically gifted
Beautiful
Tragically short-lived
Symbolically significant
Adonais is a reference to John Keats, the central figure of the poem. Drawing on the Greek myth of Adonis, Shelley uses this figure to symbolize Keats's beauty and poetic talent. His untimely death is the emotional and thematic core of the poem.
U
Urania
Symbolic
Also known as: Muse of Astronomy
Inspirational
Guiding
Divine
Invoked
Urania is the Muse of Astronomy, invoked at the beginning of the poem as a source of inspiration and guidance for the poet. She represents the higher creative and celestial forces that oversee poetic endeavour.
A
Aphrodite
Symbolic
Also known as: Venus
Loving
Divine
Mythological
Devoted
Aphrodite is the Greek Goddess of love who loved Adonis in mythology. Her presence in the poem reinforces the mythological framework Shelley uses to elevate and romanticize Keats's story.
H
Hyacinthus
Symbolic
Also known as: Hyacinth
Tragic
Beloved
Mythological
Parallel figure
Hyacinthus is a figure from Greek mythology who was loved by Apollo and met a tragic early death. He is alluded to in the poem as a parallel to Keats's own untimely demise.
P
Plato
Symbolic
Wise
Immortal
Philosophical
Knowledgeable
The ancient Greek philosopher Plato is mentioned in the poem as a symbol of immortal wisdom and knowledge. His inclusion elevates the intellectual and philosophical dimensions of the poem's meditation on death and eternity.
TP
The Pilgrim of Eternity
Supporting
Also known as: Lord Byron
Famous
Romantic
Absent
Celebrated
The Pilgrim of Eternity refers to Lord Byron, a famous Romantic poet and friend of both Shelley and Keats. The poem acknowledges Byron's departure from the world of poetry and his physical absence, situating him among the mourners of Adonais.
TI
The Inheritors of Unfulfilled Renown
Minor
Aspiring
Incomplete
Successor-like
Unfulfilled
These characters refer to poets and writers who may follow in Keats's footsteps but will never fully replace him. They represent the broader literary community left in the wake of Keats's death and the gap his loss creates.
M
Melpomene
Supporting
Also known as: Muse of Tragedy
Mournful
Tragic
Divine
Lamenting
Melpomene is one of the Muses of Greek mythology associated with tragedy. In the poem she is depicted as weeping for Adonais, emphasizing the tragic nature of Keats's early death and lending divine weight to the grief expressed.
A
Apollo
Symbolic
Also known as: God of Poetry
Creative
Artistic
Solar
Poetically spirited
Apollo is the Greek god of poetry and the arts, often associated with the sun. In the poem he represents the creative and poetic spirit, connecting Keats's artistry to a divine and timeless source of inspiration.
P
Pan
Symbolic
Also known as: God of Shepherds
Rustic
Musical
Nature-bound
Lamenting
Pan is the Greek god of shepherds and nature, often associated with rustic music. He is mentioned in the poem to lament the loss of Keats's poetic voice, grounding the elegy in the pastoral tradition.