# Addressed to Benjamin Robert Haydon explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by John Keats.

## What happens

The speaker celebrates great spirits currently on earth, including Wordsworth and another poet, and praises high-mindedness and steadfast genius against a money-mongering society.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Critique and Mortality

The poem criticizes 'money-mong'ring, pitiable brood' and champions steadfast genius against societal corruption.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who addresses the poem to Benjamin Robert Haydon and praises the great spirits.

## Key lines

> Great spirits now on earth are sojourning; He of the cloud, the cataract, the lake, Who on Helvellyn’s summit, wide awake, Catches his freshness from Archangel’s wing

Great souls are living on earth now; one of them is the poet of nature who, awake on Helvellyn's peak, draws inspiration from an angelic source.

_Likely refers to William Wordsworth, celebrated for his nature poetry._

> A money-mong’ring, pitiable brood.

A contemptible group obsessed with money.

_Critique of mercantile society._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/addressed-to-benjamin-robert-haydon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters