A CRITICAL INQUIRY INTO THE GREEK MYTHS IN JOHN KEATS’ 'ENDYMION: BOOK II' (Pages 70-81) by Mr. P. Sundhararajan * and Dr. R. Ganesan** in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

The aim of this paper is to read and closely analyse one of the John Keats’s principal works – the poem Endymion. This poem is considered to be an exceptional work because of the use of classical [mainly Greek] stories and mythology. Therefore the main purpose of this paper is to show how Greek tales, heroes and symbols of ancient Greek gods help to shape the plot, atmosphere and meaning of the second book of the poem ‘The Underworld’. Endymion as a long narrative story depicted in impressive verses is being compared and contrasted to old myths which it makes use of. It also wants to point out Keats’s attempt to make these classical allusions and myths authentically his by a power of re-creation. Maybe it will be difficult for contemporary readers to find out the precious meaning of Keats’s magnificent verses which are full of no longer commonplace names of the gods, ideas and knowledge, but for John Keats and his generation this poem represented a compulsory component of higher education. Let then through the eyes of the handsome shepherd Endymion peep in the poet’s imaginative world and find out whether the main aim of this paper is fulfilled. Key words: stories and mythology, ancient Greek Gods, classical allusions, magnificent verses, imaginative world etc.