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'On His First Looking into Chapman’s Homer' by John Keats; Brief-answer Questions

On His First Looking into Chapman’s Homer

John Keats

1. What does the word "Looking" in the title of the poem mean?
Ans: The word "Looking" in the title of the poem means reading. 
2. Who was George Chapman?
Ans: George Chapman was an English dramatist, translator, and poet. He was a classical scholar whose work shows the influence of Stoicism.
3. Why does Keats pay a tribute to the Chapman?
Ans: Keats pays a tribute to the Chapman because of his excellent and close-to-the-original translation of Homer. 
4. Who was Homer?
Ans: Homer was a Greek epic poet.
5. What does the word " travell'd " mean in the first line of the poem?
Ans: The word " travell'd" in the first line of the poem means “enjoyed” or “read”. 
6. What is described as "the realms of gold"?
Ans: “The realms of gold” means the golden world of literature.
7. What does the phrase "one wide expanse" mean?
Ans: The phrase "one wide expanse" means an epic which is grand in size. 
8. What does Keats compare literature to?
Ans: Keats compares literature to geographical regions like islands, states and kingdoms. 
9. Who is Apollo?
Ans: In Greek mythology, Apollo, son of Zeus and the Titan Leto, is a god of prophecy and oracles, music, song and poetry, archery, healing, plague and disease, and the protection of the young.
10. Who is Cortez?
Ans: Cortez refers to Hernan Cortes who was a famous conquistador of Spain.
11. Who discovered the Pacific Ocean?
Ans: Actually Balboa, not Cortez, discovered the Pacific Ocean. 
12. What is Darien?
Ans: Darien is a province in Panama. 

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