Shelley and Keats were virtual admirers. Shelley was already in voluntary exile in Italy when Keats sailed over for his health.
Upon learning of Keats's illness, Shelley graciously asked him to stay with his family in Italy. The poet politely refused. Shelley wrote the beautiful elegy Adonais in Spring 1821 upon Keats's death. Adonais was first published in July 1821. The next year, Shelley himself drowned; a volume of Keats's poetry was found in his pocket. So Shelley obviously was an admirer of Keats' poetry.
Adonais was composed as a pastoral elegy, in the tradition of Milton's 'Lycidas'. Like most of Keats's friends, Shelley believed the poet died because of the harsh and negative reviews of his poetry, specifically those of the Quarterly Review. His friends supposed that Keats suffered a rupture in his lungs because he was so angered by the attacks; they were wrong, but the idea persisted well into the 19th century.
Upon learning of Keats's illness, Shelley graciously asked him to stay with his family in Italy. The poet politely refused. Shelley wrote the beautiful elegy Adonais in Spring 1821 upon Keats's death. Adonais was first published in July 1821. The next year, Shelley himself drowned; a volume of Keats's poetry was found in his pocket. So Shelley obviously was an admirer of Keats' poetry.
Adonais was composed as a pastoral elegy, in the tradition of Milton's 'Lycidas'. Like most of Keats's friends, Shelley believed the poet died because of the harsh and negative reviews of his poetry, specifically those of the Quarterly Review. His friends supposed that Keats suffered a rupture in his lungs because he was so angered by the attacks; they were wrong, but the idea persisted well into the 19th century.
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