"On First Looking into Chapman's Homer"

Poetry | John Keats

What does Keats feel after reading Chapman’s Homer?

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What does Keats feel after reading Chapman s Homer In John Keats s - sonnet On First Looking into Chapman s Homer the poet talks about his feelings after reading Chapman s translation of Homer After reading it Keats feels a strange sense of wonder and excitement Just like someone discovering something magical and new He feels as if he has discovered a hidden treasure or is seeing a breathtaking scene for the first time Before reading Chapman s translation Keats knew about Homer s stories like the Iliad and Odyssey but did not fully feel their power Chapman s lively bold translation makes Homer s ancient Greek world come alive for him He feels like switching from a blurry picture to a clear colorful one Discovering a New Planet Keats compares his joy to that of an astronomer discovering a new planet Just as a scientist is amazed when

he sees a new star or planet Keats is astonished by the beauty of Homer s work through Chapman s words Keats describes this feeling in this way Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken Discovering Ocean Keats also imagines himself as an explorer like Cortez a Spanish explorer standing on a mountain peak and seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time Everyone around Cortez stares in silence They are amazed by the vast unknown beauty before them Keats feels exactly the same He is left speechless He feels as if he has discovered a whole new world inside a book Thrill of Adventure For Keats reading Chapman s Homer is not just reading rather it is like traveling to far-off lands It is like meeting heroes and feeling the excitement of adventure It is a moment of pure wonder where words on a page turn into something alive and endless In short Keats feels amazed excited and inspired after reading Chapman s Homer The poem captures that charmed feeling when something we read or see suddenly and fall in love

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from "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer"