Endymion is a long narrative poem divided in four books.

It has been named after its hero, Endymion,

a character taken from Greek mythology. In Endymion, John Keats takes the legend of a shepherd
who fell asleep on Mount Latmos and captivated the goddess of the moon, Cynthia, who fell in love
with him. He transforms this basic tale into a somewhat wearisome and difficult quest in which
Endymion hopelessly searches for a beautiful and mysterious goddess he first glimpsed in a dream.

Book I describes Endymion’s account of his dreams and adventures, as narrated to Peona. The poem
first begins by illustrating the pastoral world of Endymion and his people, with shepherds gathered
around an altar to worship Pan, god of shepherds and flocks. While the youths are in a festive mood,
and the elders sit and discuss what life would be like in the shades of Elysium, Endymion, the “brain-
sick shepherd-prince” of Mount Latmos, appears to be in a state of depression; troubled by his trance-
like state, his sister Peona, leads him away to her place of rest in order to determine the reason of his
agony. Endymion tells her how in a dream he met and fell deeply in love with the manifestation of
feminine perfection but when he awoke, he found himself alone and heartbroken in a world he now
saw as hideous. Peona advises her brother not to destroy his life obsessing over a mere dream, to
which Endymion replies that “love immortal” is far more valuable than earthly greatness. He also
reveals that he had since seen the image of his dream-lover in a well and has heard her voice
emanating from a cave. However, the book ends with Endymion declaring to Peona that he is
reconciled to a life of unrequited love.

In Book II, Endymion begins the quest for his dream vision, journeying into the Underworld in pursuit
of his love. He encounters a naiad who instructs him that he “must wander far/ In other regions” before
his love can be accomplished. Endymion is discouraged, but a voice inspires him to descend, and
Endymion continues his journey until he comes upon the Garden of Adonis, where Adonis, the
favourite of Venus, is asleep. Venus appears as Adonis begins to awaken from his “winter-sleep” and
requests Love to pity Endymion’s agony. This encounter seemingly foretells an identical fate for the
mortal Endymion and his immortal paramour.