Who among the following is celebrated in John Keats’s Lines on the Mermaid Tavern?

Correct option is D

Explanation:

In John Keats’s Lines on the Mermaid Tavern, the speaker celebrates various figures of folklore and myth who are associated with the spirit of freedom and defiance, but among them, Robin Hood is the most prominent.

Robin Hood, the legendary outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor, symbolizes the rebellious spirit and the fight against injustice, which fits well with the themes of the poem.

The lines in the poem evoke the romance of the past, celebrating both the tavern and the figures who embodied its spirit.

In the poem, Keats is reflecting on a time of greater spontaneity and joy, a time when figures like Robin Hood were idealized as champions of the people.

The "Mermaid Tavern" itself, located in London, was historically a gathering place for intellectuals, poets, and actors, including famous individuals such as William Shakespeare.

The poem thus celebrates both the culture of the tavern and the figures associated with it, such as Robin Hood, who represents the ideal of defiance and righteousness.

Information Booster:

Keats wrote Lines on the Mermaid Tavern in 1819, a year of prolific output for the poet, when he was just in his mid-20s.

The poem is a meditation on the joys of youth, drinking, and the camaraderie of poets. It refers to the famous Mermaid Tavern in London, which was frequented by playwrights and poets such as Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and Christopher Marlowe.

Keats reflects on a golden age of creativity, celebrating figures from folklore and legend as embodiments of this creative and liberated spirit.

Robin Hood in Literature:

Robin Hood has been a figure of English folklore for centuries, symbolizing resistance to authority and the corrupt elite.

The figure of Robin Hood was known for his band of Merry Men, particularly his companions like Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian.

His role as a protector of the poor and a challenger of the aristocracy fits well with the themes of the Mermaid Tavern poem, where rebellious and free-spirited figures are idealized.

The Influence of the Mermaid Tavern:

The Mermaid Tavern was a literary hub where some of the greatest minds of Elizabethan England gathered.

It was an essential space for intellectual exchange, and its association with Shakespeare and the wider theatrical community made it a place steeped in creative energy.

Keats, though writing centuries after the tavern’s heyday, still saw it as a symbol of a more vibrant cultural moment.

Keats’s poem does not just celebrate Robin Hood in an historical context but rather the larger idea of resistance, defiance, and the rejection of societal norms. The tavern itself and figures like Robin Hood are celebrated as symbols of freedom from the constraints imposed by society and authority. Keats’s idealization of these figures is a recognition of their role in fostering creativity, rebellion, and a spirit of living without fear of repression.

Additional Knowledge:

Jack, the Ripper
Jack the Ripper was a serial killer in the late 19th century, long after Keats’s time. His association with crime and horror makes him an inappropriate figure for celebration in a poem that evokes freedom and creativity.

Bryson of the Park
IThis character does not appear in Lines on the Mermaid Tavern. Bryson of the Park is not a well-known figure in literary or folk traditions and therefore is not the focus of this poem.

Jack, the Giant-Killer
While Jack, the Giant-Killer is another folklore figure associated with bravery and adventure, he is not the focus of this particular poem. The poem celebrates figures associated with intellectual and social rebellion, and Robin Hood best represents these qualities in the context of the tavern’s historical legacy.