Read the excerpt.

Who are these coming to the sacrifice?

To what green altar, O mysterious priest,

Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,

And all her silken flanks with garlands dressed?

What little town by river or seashore,

Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,

Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?

Why is the little town empty in these lines from Verse IV of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats?

The people have all gone on trips to the seashore or mountains.

The people have all gone to attend a religious ceremony.

The people are all farmers who are tending their cattle in the fields.

The people were sacrificed by priests of conquering armies.

Question

Raphael Foster

History

3 January, 13:26

Read the excerpt.

Who are these coming to the sacrifice?

To what green altar, O mysterious priest,

Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,

And all her silken flanks with garlands dressed?

What little town by river or seashore,

Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,

Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?

Why is the little town empty in these lines from Verse IV of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats?

The people have all gone on trips to the seashore or mountains.

The people have all gone to attend a religious ceremony.

The people are all farmers who are tending their cattle in the fields.

The people were sacrificed by priests of conquering armies.

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Alice Drake · Answer 1

In the fourth stanza of his poem 'Ode on a Grecian Urn', John Keats describes the little town as empty; the streets are 'silent' and it is 'desolate' of people.

Every single person who lives in the town is heading to a sacrifice since it is a holy day, but no one is left in town to inform the protagonist of this.