Ode on Indolence Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. How is the poem an ode? Would you be able to tell that it was an ode even if it wasn't in the title? How?
  2. Which of the "spirits" seems hardest for the speaker to obtain? Which seems the easiest? Why?
  3. What can we infer about the speaker, based on his feelings about the visions?
  4. How does the epigraph relate to the poem? Why do you think Keats chose it?
  5. How does Keats's use of figurative language affect the way you read the poem?
  6. Is the poem really an ode to laziness, or is Keats trying to say something else? How can you tell?