A comparative study on the symbolism of the nightingale in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Keats’ “Ode to a nightingale”
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Abstract
This article conducts a comparative analysis of the nightingale’s symbolism in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale.” Despite differences in genre and historical contexts, both works depict the nightingale as a powerful symbol, exploring its connections to themes such as time, the urgency of love, escapism, and the tension between human suffering and transcendence. Employing the symbolic frameworks of Chevalier and Cirlot, alongside insights from Comparative Literature and Animal Studies, the paper illustrates how the nightingale bridges cultural and literary divides, reaffirming its timeless significance in literature.
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