Account of the concluding stanzas of Adonais

“Adonais” by P.B. Shelley is a pastoral elegy. It is considered to be one of the best elegies in the English literature. Shelley wrote this elegy mourning the death of John Keats. The entire elegy can be divided into two parts. In the first 37 stanzas, Shelley mourns Keats’ death. He then talks about nature mourning Keats’ death, and how human emotions, thoughts, ideas and dead poets come to see the dead Keats. He attacks the critics whom he believed to have caused Keats’ early death. He says that this world is a cruel place for talented men like Keats and himself. However, in the last 17 stanzas, he gives readers hope and says that Keats did not die but joined the greatest poets. He will remain in this earth, in nature and among the people.

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In the last 17 stanzas, Shelley gives hope to his readers. He tells them not to mourn the death of Keats for he has gone to a place where savage critics will not be able to attack him. He has joined the great poets who joined the illustrious dead. Keats body will be consumed by earth but his pure spirit will be part of the divine spirit. The divine spirit is eternal and do not change with time. Keats spirit will join this eternal divine spirit and the critics who attacked him will die in shame.

Shelley further says that Keats’ life in this world was not a life but a sleep; a dream. After his death, Keats or Adonais has woken up from that dream. It is the ordinary people who lead a meaningless life on this earth by fighting meaningless illusions. Keats has gone to a place where there is no jealousy, slander, hate and pain.

Once again Shelley personifies the nature and tells it not to mourn Adonais or Keats’ death. He tells “Young Dawn” to turn all his dew into something glittering and glorious. A great spirit like that of Keats can never die. It is death who has died.

Finally, Shelley declares-

“He is made one with Nature. There is heard

 His voice in all her music, from the moan

 Of thunder to the song of night's sweet bird.

 He is a presence to be felt and known

 In darkness and in light, from herb and stone”

Shelley believes in Pantheism. He believes that Keats has now become one with the nature. He has not died. His voice can be heard in all the sounds of nature- thunder’s moan and birds’ music. He has become part of the Spirit of beauty to which he once contributed to during his life on earth.

Shelley says that great poets are like stars. Their lights may dim but never extinguishes. Many great poets, including Shelley himself, who did not find fame in their lifetime but eventually they became famous. Their thoughts and ideas always inspire the young minds and lift them from their earthly thoughts. All the great poets, who died young age, have risen up to greet Keats or Adonais. Shelley visualizes that Thomas Chatterton, Sir Philip Sydney, Lucan, the Roman poet, all rose up in Keats’ honor.

Keats again scolds readers for mourning Keats’ death. Shelley tells him to conceive the greatness of the vast space and then shrink back to his daily life. He tells the mourner not to be afraid of death but to lead a cheerful life by accepting death.

Shelley then tells the readers to go to Rome, which contains tombs of many great kings of the world who conquered and caused untold misery and death on earth. Keats is lying there in cemetery. People like Keats do not need glory but they lend glory to other people. In the same manner, Keats’ burial has given Rome a splendor. Kings and conquerors perish and sink in oblivion but great poets and intellectuals who stood up and fought against the decay of their time will never be forgotten.

Shelley then talks about the ruins of Rome which is lying bare for many years. As a result, grass and flowers have grown over them. The ruins are big and calm and quiet. Going there one would have strange feelings. Shelley refers this as the “Spirit of the spot”. The tomb of Caius Cestius is located nearby. It is a pyramid made of stone. Beating the decaying force of time, the pyramid is standing there in a majestic manner. The spirit will guide the readers through the place and would lead him to a cemetery filled with green grass. Along with the grasses there are flowers grown over the graves. These flowers would look like laughing infants. It is there Keats is being buried. The reader should stand there for a moment. The surrounding graves are the graves of people who died recently.

In the end, Shelley once again feels the presence of the Eternal spirit and accepts his death. He feels that he has no hope or desire to live in this world. He finds no attraction in this world. Even the people he loved gives him trouble. He feels like the sky is smiling upon him and airs are whispering in his ears. He felt like Keats is telling Shelley to join with him. Shelley is not afraid of death but thinking that life is keeping him away from Keats or Adonais.