SOURCE: "Pyramidal Structure," in The Evolution of Keats's Structural Imagery, Francke Verlag Bern, 1974, pp. 145–93.

In the following essay, Matthey argues that Keats employs within his poetry an increasingly complex structure, characterized by "rising and falling" imagery and symmetrical patterns, in order to complement the themes of the poems and heighten their emotional effects.

A Sentimental Journey

The letters (27th April and 3rd May) in which Keats informs Reynolds of the completion of "Isabella" put an end to the young poet's evolution, so far as the structure of his poems is concerned. Indeed events take a dramatic turn as Keats and his brother Tom leave Devon unexpectedly on May 4 or 5, rushing back to London. And the next few weeks seem to have been a very busy time. The cause of the turmoil is the sudden change brought about by George's plans and the introduction into the group of a...