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A Comparative study of poetic elements in the poetry of Pashto writer Abdul Ghani khan with
Romantic writer John Keats
By
Sikandar Khan
BS Literature in English
Department of English
Abbottabad University of science and technology
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Approval sheet
Name of the student: Sikandar Khan
Roll No: 6644
Program: BS English (Literature)
Topic: A Comparative study of poetic elements in poetry of Pashto writer Abdul Ghani khan with
Romantic writer John Keats
Declaration by the scholar:
I do hereby solemnly declare that ideas / contents presented in this proposal are my own and if any
Plagiarism is found at any stage I will be responsible for consequences.
___________________
Signature of the student
Approval of the supervisor:
I have gone through the proposal presented by Mr.__________ . I have found it workable
for
BS thesis. I recommend that this proposal may be put before the next meeting of the board of studies in
English and ASRB for formal approval.
_____________________-
Signature of the supervisor
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Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Statement of the problem
3. Research question
4. Objectives of the study
5. Significance of the study
6. Literature review
7. Methodology
8. Tentative chapter division
9. Tentative time frame
10. Working bibliography
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Introduction
Poetry is the language of imagination and the passions. Poetry is considered as universal language which
the heart keep it with nature and itself. It has been the study of glee of mankind in all ages. Fear is
poetry, love is poetry, hope is poetry, Hatred is poetry, human life itself is a poetry, are all poetry. This
research presents a comparative study of two great romantic poets, John Keats and Abdul Ghani Khan.
Johan Keats and Ghani Khan hold an eccentric position due to the contribution they have made to the
poetry of English and Pashto languages respectively. Both of the romantic poets have no contact with
each other. Indeed the poets were very far away from each other. Keats lived in Georgian England and
Ghani Khan in Pakistan, so we cannot find any direct or indirect relation between them is conceivable.
Although the belong to two diverse cultures, their backgrounds are very different and even at times they
born and lived in were having great difference, yet they got so many similarities in their poetry. Keats
and Ghani khan have many things in common, so anyone familiar with their poetical careers would
compel to compare them in literary studies.
This comparative study aims to find the elements of similarity between Ghani khan and John Keats
poetry. Both these poets have almost the same feelings but have used different vernacular for
expression. Keats was authoritative person and a firm believer in beauty. Like Keats too Ghani khan also
talk in his poetry. Looking at their poetic works, it is easily seen and felt that these poets are blessed
with the “romantic” spirits I them.
John Keats (1795-1821) was an English romantic poet. He was one of the main figures of the second
generation of romantic poets along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Keats belong to literary
movement Romanticism. His first published poem “on solitude” appeared in Leigh Hunts “examiner” in
1816. Keats major works are the eve of St Agnes, La belle dame sans merci, ode to autumn, ode on a
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Grecian urn, ode to psyche, Hyperion, Isabella, Lamia, Endymion etc. The major conflicts in Keats poetry
are reality, enduring, art, melancholy, mortal, life, death, sepration, connection, the real and the ideal
Keats is associated with the subject matter of love and pain both in his life and poetry. In 1821, he died
of tuberculosis. He lived only 25 years.
Ghani khan (1914-1996) is mostly considered as one of the great Pashto language poet of 20 th century.
He was also a respected artist and writer. He was the son of the Red-shirt leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar
Khan and elder brother of another Pashtun leader Abdul Wali khan. He was not only a poet but a painter
and sculptor. His first poetry was appeared in December 1928. Ghani khan poetry is anti-political. His
major poems are A poppy flower, music, prayer, hell, king, the prison dream, Reverie, Euphoria, Entreaty
etc. He also wrote in English his book name was The Patans(1947). He seemed impressed by no one he
follow his inner call and his own self and soul and fits it in his poetry in individualistic style. He did not
wrote poetry for the sake of criticism but rather believed in freedom of thought and expression always
seemed working against the set traditions. Besides Ghani Khan also staunchly believed in the love of
nature and beauty. Like Keats on the wings of imagination, he flies to land of happiness, fancies, ecstasy
but it does not mean he forgets the harsh realities of Life.
Statement of the Problem
Ghani Khan is a writer and poet of Pashto language and having waste difference in time with Keats they
lived and can he show similarities with the writing of romantic writer John Keats. Besides that to what
extent they have the same passion and emotions for poetry.
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Research Question
Different scholars and research wants to find the imaginative and emotional sense of poetry of both
these poets of different languages, regions, cultures and times having same ideas and how they are
deeply involved in nature in which they see the reflection of God in nature
What is the concept of love and beauty in their poetry?
How far Ghani Khan and John Keats shown similarities and some personal differences in their
poetry?
To what extent they have thematic similarities?
Objectives of the study
To highlight the poetic similarities in their works.
To introduce the works of Keats and Ghani Khan.
To identify the concept of love and beauty in their poetry.
Significance of the study
It will help the students of literature to introduce the with great Pashto writer Ghani khan having
comparison with great romantic writer John Keats.
Literature review
This comparative study aims to find the elements of similarity between Ghani khan and John Keats.
Both these poets have almost the same feelings but have used different language for expression.
Keats was an authoritative person and firm believer in beauty. Like Keats too, Ghani khan also talk
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about in his poetry. Looking at their poetic works, it is easily seen and felt that these poets are
blessed with the romantic spirit in them.
Keats and Ghani Khan seem to share several similar thoughts in their poetry. Their love for Beauty
and Nature, and their concern for the Eternal and Political turmoil’s are also manifested in their
poetry. Escapism is the hallmark of these great poets and on the wings of imagination, they seek
shelter in the imaginary world from the harsh realities of life, but this does not mean that they do
not look at the world realistically. Despite the fact they lived in two different centuries and they
grow in different countries with different cultures, they have so many things similar in their poetry.
Keats and Ghani Khan hold a unique position in literature due to the contribution they have made
to the poetry of Pashto and English languages respectively. Ghani and Keats are similar to a great
extent with a few expectations. Both the poets give expression to feeling and emotions, which can
be appealing to everyone of any age and time or place. They understood human nature and
working of human heart. Ghani Khan and Keats wanted to see the world permeated by love that
they considered to be the integral part of beauty. Beauty, love and truth were their guiding force
and goal. Through it, they hoped to achieve closer to Eternal. Their feelings have a universality that
has a general appeal irrespective of age and culture.
Methodology
The research will follow the qualitative method and the data will be collected in this research is
library research. The researcher will collect data from the relevant researches to the topic. The data
collection will follow some referential books, journals and articles that are related to the topic and
comparative way of understanding it. Using different reading techniques in order to understood the
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writers view about the same feeling for expression of poetry and take relevant poems and
quotation for information to make a comparative understanding.
Tentative chapter Divisions
Chapter 1: Introduction
In this chapter the background of the study will be discussed and literary biography of the writers will
be discussed.
Chapter 2: Literature Review
In this chapter we will discuss that Keats as an eternal lover of beauty and the works of different
researchers will provide a frame for this study.
Chapter 3: Methodology
In this chapter the audience will be informed about the methods that will show that how both these
writers have shown comparison.
Chapter 4: Conclusion
The conclusion will help the readers to understand the poetry of John Keats and Ghani khan
comparatively.
Tentative time frame
Introduction 2 weeks
Literature Review 4 weeks
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Methodology 4 weeks
Discussion 4 weeks
Conclusion 1 week
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Writing Bibliography
1. Main Shah Bacha, Bakht Sheema Bibi “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”
volume 10:11 November (2010)
2. [Link]
comparative-study-of-john-keats-and-ghani-khan
3. Naseer yousaf “two naughty boys” published 3,November 2012.
4. Imtiaz Ahmed Sahibzada translation of 141 poems of Ghani khan “The pilgrim of beauty”
completed in 2001.
5. Dodd, Mead and Co. E. DE SELINCOURT 1909.
