nner worship in Ode to Psyche.
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In “Ode to Psyche” (1820), John Keats (1795-1821) shows a new kind of worship. He does not pray in temples or use rituals. Instead, he worships with his imagination. His heart and mind become the temple of the goddess Psyche.
Worship through Imagination: Psyche is the goddess of the soul. She has no temples or songs. So, Keats feels sorry for Psyche. He promises to worship her, saying,
“Yes, I will be thy priest, and build a fane
In some untrodden region of my mind.”
Here, “fane” means temple. The poet decides to worship her inside his own mind. His imagination becomes a holy space.
Worship through Love and Beauty: The poet believes that real worship is loving and feeling beauty deeply. He fills his inner temple with,
“Buds, and bells, and stars without a name.”
These are symbols of creative thoughts and emotions. He prays not with words, but with love and peace. This shows that worship is a feeling of beauty and harmony, not a ritual.
Worship as a Spiritual Act: Keats’s worship of Psyche is spiritual, not religious. He says he will be her “priest.” This means he will serve truth, love, and imagination. His temple is made of dreams, thoughts, and nature’s calm. His soul becomes the place where beauty and faith live together.
Keats’s idea of inner worship in “Ode to Psyche” is very romantic and personal. It teaches that true devotion comes from the heart, not from outer temples. To Keats, imagination is the highest form of prayer.
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