Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market

While the ode has a long history stemming back to ancient Greece, Neruda’s poem exists more within the romantic tradition—particularly that of John Keats. Keats’s odes are similar in thematic movement to Neruda’s in that they focus on specific, seemingly mundane objects, and the focus on these objects leads the speaker to some sort of epiphany or revelation about love or life at large.

“Ode to a Nightingale,” “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” and “To Autumn” are three of Keats’s most famous odes. “Nightingale” explores concepts of creativity, death, and nature through the image of a bird. “Grecian Urn” focuses on themes of beauty, art, and time through an exploration of an urn. Finally, “To Autumn” explores concepts of death and artistry through the use of the autumn season.

In each of these poems, Keats uses an extended metaphor—or allegory—to present the theme of the work. Keats’s odes contrast seemingly insignificant objects with deep philosophical themes, all while using the celebratory style of the ode.

Neruda was familiar with the work of the romantic poets, and though he does not follow Keats’s structured format, he does mimic Keats’s use of