To Autumn

Question 1

To autumn overview

Answer 1

Keats uses his poem as a vehicle to highlight how time moves you on to the next stage of your life and it cannot be rushed. This is achieved through the seasonal and natural imagery throughout his poem which represent the approach to death. He suffered from tuberculosis at the time of writing so he questions death in this poem.

Question 2

To autumn para 1 quote 1

Answer 2

“Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness”

• the use of seasonal imagery referencing his peak in the summer time
• “fruitfulness” connotes abundance and him being in his peak form
• but however “mists” suggests there is uncertainty about death when in this period of peak performance

Question 3

To autumn para 1 quote 2

Answer 3

“Until they think the warm days will never cease for summer has overbrimmd their clammy cells”

• suggests when in their peak people think they will last forever like this because of the abundance
• “oerbrimmed” connotes abundance
• clammy suggests they have a lot of riches
• “summer” is symbolic of their peak and how time is deceitful in forcing them to move on

Question 4

To autumn para 2 quote 1

Answer 4

“Or on a half leapd furrow sound asleep”

• shows how suddenly the nature is inactive and less abundant which is symbolic of how he is approaching his death
• symbolises the movement out of his peak years approaching deaty

Question 5

To autumn para 2 quote 2

Answer 5

“Thou watch est the last oozings hours by hours”

• suggests time slows down and speeds up uncontrollably and he want time to pass but it is taking a while
• the use of “oozing” demonstrates how he doesn’t want to die as time is slowing down for him because of his dread
• the phrase “hours by hours” is him overcompensating as he is ever approaching his death which makes him feel a lack of purpose

Question 6

To autumn para 2 quote 3

Answer 6

“Where are thy songs of spring?”

• he is questioning where the time has gone and is dreading his upcoming death
• the use of questions is symbolic of how he is uncertain about death with his tuberculosis

Question 7

To autumn para 3 quote 1

Answer 7

“Think not of them thou hast thy music too”

• demonstrates how over time he is now accepting of his death and is dealing with his death in a different way by appreciating what has gone before
• the reference to “music” demonstrates how he does not need to go back, instead he has all he needs now before he dies

Question 8

To autumn para 3 quote 2

Answer 8

“The light wind lives or dies”

• demonstrates how he is now appreciative of his life and is accepting of death as oppose to dreading it
• the use of “light” suggests his burden has now dissipated and he is now only content
• “lives or dies” suggests he doesn’t care as he is fulfilled

Question 9

To autumn structure

Answer 9

As the poem progresses he approaches his death

Cyclical life