Autumn

Autumn

1. Theme

   • To Autumn is a poem that celebrates the beauty of nature
   • It is a joyful poem yet vaguely melancholy
     • It considers that transcience of the seasons and the temporary nature of human existence

2. Content

   • To Autumn begins very optimistic, with images of plenty
     • To bend with apples, the moss'd cottage-trees
       • Suggests ripeness
         • Swell the Gourd, Plump the hazel shells
   • In the second Stanza there are many more images of calm beauty
     • Thy hare soft lifted winnowing wind
     • Drows'd with the fume of poppies
   • Structure, Style and Language
     • he slow rhythm of the second verse is achieved with the enjambment as one line runs into the other
     • There are also examples of alliteration and onomatopoeia
       • Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours
   • The last verse is more subdued
     • Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
     • Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies
       • These final lines signal the end of autumn
         • Autumn is the culmination of the year but also signifies it's death
           • Culmination= the highest or climactic point of something, especially as attained after a long time.
     • And gathering swallows twitter in the skies

3. Tone\Mood

   • Many of the words refer to the decay that will eventually occur
     • "until they think warm days will never seize".
   • By the 3rd stanza here is a shift in tone
     • Where are the songs of spring? Aye, where are they.
       • Lament for spring and youth
         • Lament= An expression of grief or sorrow
           • Keats knew he would probably die young, having already witnessing his brother's death
           • He was aware of time passing, the changing of the seasons and his own personal physical decline

4. In Keat's poem, "To Autumn" Keats evokes the feelings and sights of autumn and it's journey from ripening to harvest, then dying to death