TO THE NILE - John Keats
To the Nile is a sonnet written in Petrarchan style by John Keats. It contains
fourteen lines, in which the first eight lines are called the Octave and the next
six lines are called the Sestet. The ninth line is the changing point which is
called the Volta. In the first part Keats daydreams about the myths about the
Nile the longest river which was the cradle to one of the ancient civilizations
and that very while he awakes from his daydreams questioning its fruitfulness
as it flows through a desert. In the second part he gives up analyzing this
knowing his limitation of knowledge regarding things beyond himself and starts
seeing the river as a natural element which is always fruitful and wonderful.
“Son of the old Moon-mountains African!”
Personification - introduces the Nile as the son of old Moon mountains. It
refers to the Ruwenzori mountains in East Africa. Poet addresses the river not
by its name, but does it in a glorified manner, as if talking to a god or a king.
“Chief of the Pyramid and Crocodile!”
personification/hyperbole - The river is again introduced as the chief of the
ancient pyramids and crocodile. They may be referring to living and non-living
which are great in size. As history reveals, the large stone bricks were
transported through the river to build the pyramids and the river is abundant
with the world's largest crocodiles.
“We call thee fruitful, and that very while
A desert fills our seeing's inward span:”
Poet starts doubting the fruitfulness of the river as it flows through a vast
desert of Sudan and Egypt. Poet contrasts fruitfulness with barrenness to show
his confusion. If the river is so fruitful, how can there be deserts besides its
banks? may be the question that troubles his mind.
“Nurse of swart nations since the world began,”
Personification – The Nile is introduced as a caretaker of Swart Nations. Swart
nations refers to the African people. Since the beginning of civilization, The
Nile has been the source of life for people. It nourished people by giving them
food and the means of life.
“Art thou so fruitful? or dost thou beguile
Such men to honour thee, who, worn with toil,
Rest for a space 'twixt Cairo and Decan?”
Having been introduced as the nurse of swart nations, the poet questions the
river about its fruitfulness. He further questions whether its powers are real
or not?
(He may be referring to the myths related to The Nile - Keats may be referring to temples
dedicated to Osiris which are scattered along the banks of the River. According to the legends,
Isis, the wife of Osiris, built those temples to enshrine various parts of his slain body scattered
along the Nile by his brother Seth who murdered [Link] Nile River is also steeped in mythology
with Hapi being its chief God who is associated with flooding, thus bringing fertility and
fruitfulness.)
He seems to be questioning the fact that people who lead a life of hard work,
turn towards this natural god to seek consolation and share their grievances’
because of the powerful myths fabricated around it.
Rest for a space may be referring to the area which it covers between the two
ends of the river, Cairo and Decan which covers about five countries.
O may dark fancies err! They surely do;
'Tis ignorance that makes a barren waste
Of all beyond itself…
This is the beginning of the second part called Sestet. The 9th line is called
Volta which means the change of perspective. The poet suddenly shakes off his
day dreaming and comes to reality. He introduces his doubts as ‘dark fancies’
which can be erroneous. He accepts that the myths and gods are far beyond his
level of understanding and further accepts that doubting those things can show
one’s ignorance rather than wisdom.
… Thou dost bedew
Green rushes like our rivers, and dost taste
The pleasant sunrise. Green isles hast thou too,
And to the sea as happily dost haste.
In the last three and half lines, the poet goes on praising the river Nile
whether it is fruitful and venerable or not. He praises the river for being like
other rivers, beautiful with green water reeds, and small greenish islands, and
for flowing happily down to the sea.
The use of beautiful visual images appeals to readers’ eyes. The river also
tastes ‘pleasant sunrise’. This is a blend of gustatory and visual images. The
river also consists of “green isles”. The poet repeatedly uses ‘green’ to bring
about an effect of lush greenery which is quite contrary to the repeated term
of ‘desert’ in the octave.
The poem has the characteristics of a river itself. It represents a flow of ideas
which may twist somewhere in the middle and ends with a smooth flow of words.
The twists and turns make a river beautiful as the flow of ideas makes the
poem much enchanting to the reader.
Questions about "To the Nile" by John Keats could focus on various aspects of the
poem. Here are some common ones:
1. Theme and Message: What does Keats express about the Nile as a symbol
of nature and history?
2. Imagery and Description: How does Keats use imagery to depict the Nile
and its surroundings?
3. Personification: How does Keats personify the Nile, and what is the effect
of this literary device?
4. Tone and Mood: What tone does Keats adopt in addressing the Nile?
5. Romantic Characteristics: How does the poem reflect Romantic ideals, such
as a connection to nature or a fascination with the past?
6. Cultural Significance: How does Keats highlight the historical and cultural
importance of the Nile?
7. Contrast and Paradox: How does Keats contrast the mythical and real
aspects of the Nile?
8. Structure and Form: How does the structure of the poem contribute to its
meaning?
These questions encourage a deeper analysis of the poem's content, style, and
cultural context.
