:ۺاوڈز ےیزاو ۺی ےکۺرتشمکۺروامون ۺ اورۺاجؿۺسٹیک ۺ ای ا

The Similar Romantic Characteristics of Akhtar Shirani and John Keats: Odes

Abstract

It's quite interesting to do a comparative study of two Romantic poets from two different 
languages and literatures and draw similarities and dissimilarities between their thought patterns, 
literary beliefs/schools of thoughts, romantic characteristics, concerns and themes etc... John 
Keats is the most Romantic English poet ever; likewise, Akhtar Shirani is the most Romantic 
poet, Urdu has ever produced. Romantic movement in English literature reached its climax in the 
early nineteenth century; a century before it set forth in Urdu. Still the two Romantic poets have 
striking similarities in the romantic characteristics of their poetry, like fervent imagination, quest 
for beauty, escapism, sensuousness, medievalism, nostalgia, supernaturalism etc. Whilst Fanny 
Brawn's infidelity played havoc with Keats's health and crash landed him on earth from his 
imaginary heavens; Akhtar too could not have his life-long sweetheart Salma by his side, thereby 
splitting the romantic ideals of both Romantic poets to pieces. Whilst Keats's romantic idealism 
embraced realism in the end thus giving birth to his immortal odes; Akhtar Shirani can no longer 
be branded as an all-time drunkard for he reached the culmination of his Realism in his scattered 
thoughts in his later poetry. Both Romantic poets died young, thus depicting striking similarities 
in the life and works of both poets. This aims at a comparative study of Keats Odes and Akhtar’s 
Realism.