On Oxford - An Analysis

 'On Oxford' is a poem composed by John Keats. (1795- 1821) It first appeared in a letter that John Keats wrote to John Hamilton Reynolds in 1817. 

 In the poem, ‘On Oxford’, John Keats has encapsulated the ambience of the contemporary education system in reference to Oxford University. Yet, this poem cannot be considered as a mere manifestation of the negativity of one particular university as suggested by the title. 

The first part of the poem refers to the architecture of Oxford University including pointed arches, ribbed vaults, buttresses and window tracery and claims those to be gothic and solemn. He extends his argument by referring to the plain ‘Doric’ column and the moldering arch. Further, the first stanza encapsulates the conventional atmosphere which prevailed in the university with reference to the old Bishop and his crosier. 

 Shifting the poetic portrayal from the exterior appearance to the interior atmosphere of Oxford University, Keats voices the dominating and morbid manner in which education is conducted. The subjugation of the chancellor together with the black tassell'd trenchers, which symbolize the teachers, manifest the conventionality of contemporary education. The steeple bells and the chantry boy enhance the fact that education at the poet's time could not be distanced from institutional religion. The common hats and pale faces, which contain a symbolic reference to the students, bring forth the bitter reality of the contemporary educational institutions. Correspondingly, Keats has shed light on the larger picture of all the edification centers by specifically pointing out one of the major institutions. 

 The final stanza provides an overview of the easy-going lifestyle of the parsons. He ridicules the parsons by referring to the benison which is purposely shortened due to their utter greed. Although the sarcasm is not antagonistic or offensive, Keats has artfully brought forth the nudity of corrupted religious leaders to the limelight. 

 Accordingly, the hypocrisy of the institutionalization of sacred domains such as education and religion can be mirrored as the major thematic concerns of the poem. 

The poem 'On Oxford' contains three stanzas through which the thematic motifs are brought out. In order to compose the poem; Keats has imitated the meter of a poem written by the great poet; William Wordsworth. Likewise, the rhyming words such as 'Arch-Larch' and 'Trees-Ease' light up the poetic quality. Further, the third person narration has supported Keats in distancing himself from his observation. From the first to the last stanza, the poem is pregnant with literary devices. For an instance, the symbolic references such as pale faces and trenches escalate the literary quality while the symbol of common hat stands as a metonymy as well. 

There is both visual and auditory imagery which reflect a gothic quality at large. For an instance, 'Plain Doric Column' can be manifested as visual imagery while the sound of the bell does its duty as auditory imagery in an effective manner. The personification of 'Gothic', repetition of 'Plenty of' and the enjambment which runs throughout the poem also immensely contribute the literary quality of the poem. Thus, the poetic devices used in ‘On Oxford’ has successfully proven the mastery of Keatsian writing. 

 References 

1. Ebooks.adelaide.edu.au. (2019). Poems, by John Keats : Lines Rhymed in a Letter From Oxford. [online] Available at: https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/k/keats/john/poems/lines-oxford.html [Accessed 18 Jan. 2019]. 

2. Keats, J. and Keats, L. (2019). Lines Rhymed In A Letter From Oxford Poem by John Keats - Poem Hunter. [online] PoemHunter.com. Available at: https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lines-rhymedin-a-letter-from-oxford/ [Accessed 18 Jan. 2019]. Further Reading 1. Matthews, G. (2009). John Keats. London: Routledge. 2. Keats, J. (2009). Complete poems and selected letters of John Keats. New York: Random House Publishing Group. 

3. MIZUKOSHI, A. (2016). Keats, hunt and the aesthetics of pleasure. [Place of publication not identified]: PALGRAVE MACMILLAN. 

4. O'Neill, J. (1986). Critics on keats. [Place of publication not identified]: Univ Of Miami Pr.

 5. Hobsbaum, P. (2004). Keats's Theory of Poetry. The Keats-Shelley Review, 18(1), pp.38-50