The Fall of Hyperion

The Fall of Hyperion is a fragmentary poetic epic by John Keats, existing in two versions. The first was begun in 1818 and published unfinished in 1820. A revised edition, The Fall of Hyperion, was also left unfinished and published posthumously in 1856.1

The poem explores the conflict between absolute value and mortal decay. It narrates the story of Hyperion, the sun god of the Titans, who were supplanted by the Olympians. The poem begins after the Titans have already been deposed, with their hope for regaining power resting on Hyperion. However, their era ends with the arrival of Apollo, the Olympian god of poetry, music, and knowledge.1

In The Fall of Hyperion, the poet dreams of entering a shrine where the goddess Moneta reveals that a poet's role is to engage with human suffering rather than merely dreaming. This work is considered Keats's last attempt to grapple with the tension between eternal ideals and the transient nature of mortal life, especially in the face of his own illness and unfulfilled love.12