Ode to a Greyson Perry Urn

Question 1

what is the simple stanza structure?

Answer 1

• conforms to the same layout as ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’
• has five stanzas each made up of ten lines.
• iambic pentameter

Question 2

what are the similarities between this poem and ‘ode to a grecian urn’?

Answer 2

-shares a very similar rhyme scheme

ABAB pattern, with the first three then continuing to CDEDCE and the last two to CDECDE

Question 3

(neon line) ‘in the gift of the beholder’

Answer 3

• further emphasis of the phrase ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’
• the notion of beauty is subjective and updates the keatsian view of the world
• noun gift is used to change the meaning of saying
• as people usually believe beauty is unchanging and absolute.

Question 4

(neon line) “when all context is lost”

Answer 4

• The poem’s final stanza returns to consideration of the urn itself rather than what it depicts, with the narrator focussing how future generations may interpret and understand the piece of art.
• seen as linking back to a literal ‘Grecian Urn’ and how today we have to guess about what these ancient pieces are communicating, just as future generations may
• It is particularly interesting to consider the idea of “context” being “lost” – some readers may interpret this as Turnbull contemplating whether the negative behaviour in the poem will one day be looked on positively.