Question

In Ode on a Grecian Urn, why does the speaker describe the boughs as "happy"?

• A. Because they never lose their leaves or leave the spring
• B. Because they are decorated with flowers and ribbons
• C. Because they provide shade for lovers
• D. Because they are symbols of fertility and abundance

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Because they never lose their leaves or leave the spring

• In Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats, the speaker describes the boughs (branches of trees) as "happy" because they are part of a scene frozen in time on the urn.

• These boughs will never lose their leaves and will never have to say goodbye to spring, which is typically associated with youth, beauty, and renewal.

• Unlike real trees that go through seasonal changes—budding in spring, shedding leaves in autumn—these painted or sculpted boughs are eternally in spring, full of life and beauty.

• This timeless perfection makes them "happy" in the speaker's eyes, as they are untouched by decay or the passage of time.