Podcast Summary: The History of Literature - Episode 665: Keats's Great Odes (with Anahid Nersessian)

Host: Jack Wilson
Guest: Anahid Nersessian, Associate Professor of English at UCLA
Release Date: December 30, 2024
Podcast Network: The Podglomerate
Episode Focus: An in-depth exploration of John Keats's great odes through the lens of scholar Anahid Nersessian and her new book, Keats's A Lover's Discourse.

1. Introduction

In this engaging episode of The History of Literature, host Jack Wilson welcomes listeners to a special edition featuring Professor Anahid Nersessian. The episode delves into the enduring legacy of John Keats, focusing on his six great odes, and explores how Nersessian's personal and academic journey intertwines with Keats's poetic masterpieces.

2. Science News Parable: The Spinach Emailer [06:03 - 21:58]

Before diving into the literary discussion, Jack presents a whimsical segment titled "Science News of the Week." He narrates a fictional yet thought-provoking story where scientists have engineered spinach plants capable of sending emails. This allegory serves as a metaphor for communication and the deep emotional connections that literature fosters between readers and texts. The humorous tale culminates in Jack’s emotional confrontation with his own empathetic responses to literature, setting the stage for the forthcoming conversation about Keats.

3. Introducing Anahid Nersessian [22:04 - 22:23]

Jack introduces Anahid Nersessian, highlighting her impressive academic background:

• Education: Ph.D. from the University of Chicago
• Teaching Experience: Columbia University and currently at UCLA
• Publications: Works published by Harvard University Press and the University of Chicago Press

Jack paints a vivid picture of Anahid as both a rigorous academic and a passionate lover of literature, poised to share her insights on Keats’s odes.

4. Anahid’s Background and Connection to Keats [22:30 - 33:57]

Anahid Nersessian shares her personal history, growing up on the Upper East Side of New York City in a culturally rich yet challenging environment. She discusses the duality of her privileged upbringing and the struggles faced due to her Iranian and Armenian heritage. This complex background fostered her deep appreciation for English literature, particularly the works of Keats, Blake, and Shelley.

Notable Quote:

Anahid Nersessian (01:24): "I cry when I read this poem out loud because I hadn't been aware of that at all."

Her early love for canonical English literature was both a source of solace and a means of navigating her identity, paralleling Keats’s own experiences as an outsider striving to find his place in the literary world.

5. Keats's A Lover's Discourse: Exploring the Book [39:20 - 43:59]

Anahid delves into her book, Keats's A Lover's Discourse, explaining it as a memoir-style exploration of Keats's six great odes through a personal and scholarly lens. She emphasizes the unique contribution of her work as it bridges the gap between academic scholarship and personal narrative, being potentially the first memoir-style critical text about Keats written by a woman.

Notable Quote:

Anahid Nersessian (39:20): "My book is the first memoir or, you know, kind of critical text come memoir written by a woman about Keats."

She underscores the importance of making scholarly work accessible and relatable, moving away from the traditionally hermetic nature of academic literature to engage a broader audience.

6. Favorite Odes and Emotional Connections [54:55 - 60:10]

Anahid reveals her favorite ode, the "Ode to Psyche," discussing its unique place among Keats's works. She highlights its vulnerability and the way it defies the structured perfection of other odes like "To Autumn." Anahid appreciates how "Ode to Psyche" captures a profound sense of solemnity and love without the constraints of rigid formality.

Notable Quote:

Anahid Nersessian (55:05): "The poem casts a spell on me, and I evidently am helpless to resist it."

She contrasts it with the often-celebrated "To Autumn," suggesting that the former's perceived imperfections add to its emotional depth and relatability.

7. The Bonus Question: Choosing Between Keats and Marx [61:29 - 67:34]

In a creative and insightful segment, Anahid responds to a hypothetical scenario where she must choose to spend an afternoon with either a young John Keats or Karl Marx. She opts to meet Keats, driven by her deep emotional and scholarly connection to his work. Anahid speculates on how introducing Marx's ideas to Keats could have influenced his poetic trajectory, reflecting on the potential fusion of literary beauty and political thought.

Notable Quote:

Anahid Nersessian (62:21): "I would have to choose to meet the 25-year-old Keats because there's so much more of Marx."

8. Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Jack Wilson and Anahid Nersessian reflect on the enduring relevance of Keats’s odes and the importance of passionate scholarship in keeping literary works alive and accessible. Anahid emphasizes the transformative power of poetry, likening the relationship between a reader and a poem to that of love, capable of profound personal change and emotional resonance.

Closing Quote:

Anahid Nersessian (67:34): "This was so fun."

Jack thanks Anahid for her insightful contributions, reminding listeners to explore her book for a deeper understanding of Keats's odes.

Key Takeaways:

• Personal and Scholarly Intersection: Anahid Nersessian seamlessly blends personal narrative with literary analysis, offering a fresh perspective on Keats's odes.
• Emotional Resonance of Literature: The episode underscores how poetry can evoke deep emotional responses, fostering a personal connection akin to love.
• Accessibility in Scholarship: Anahid advocates for making academic work more relatable and less insular, inviting a wider audience to engage with literary criticism.

Recommended For: Listeners interested in literary analysis, personal memoirs intertwined with scholarship, and fans of John Keats eager to explore his odes through a new lens.

Resources Mentioned:

• Keats's A Lover's Discourse by Anahid Nersessian
• Keats's six great odes, including "Ode to Psyche" and "To Autumn"

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