to autumn Flashcards
who is to autumn written by?
John Keats
what movement was Keats part of?
the Romantics
what did Keats relish?
the beauty of nature
what political stance did Keats take?
a liberal stance- he rejected urban sophistication
what does this poem capture the presentiment of?
death and Keats’ hoping he will have an easy passing- as reflected in the final stanza
what technique is used that shows that Autumn is addressed with “thou”?
apostrophe
what does Keats personify Autumn as?
a goddess
why did Keats like nature so much?
it is free to all of us- not just wealthy and upper classes- he did not like those classes
how does Keats describe the goddess as?
as an ordinary peasant woman and not a powerful deity
what technique is used in the poem with the rhyme scheme?
iambic pentameter
ABAB rhyme- then varies perhaps reflecting on the variety and diversity of nature
what type of odes did Keats usually write and what is different about this one?
normally wrote odes with 10 lines- this one has 11- reflecting on the myriad and plethora of nature
what is the first line of the poem?
“season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!”
what does the first stanza of the poem convey about Autumn?
it has a plentiful nature, Autumn allows for great harvests and there are a multitude of warm, sunny days
what is the use of the verb “bless” in the line “conspiring with him how to load and bless”?
Autumn is a gift for the world- Autumn uses its powers to help everyone else
what are the 2 lines that convey Autumn as a goddess- “thee sitting careless…
on a granary floor, thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind”
what is being conveyed in the first stanza?
a misty, dewy morning- the ripeness and peak of Autumn- where the harvests are great and the flowers are blossoming
what is being conveyed in the second stanza?
a sleepy afternoon- Autumn begins to slowly transform into Winter- the season is slowly dying
what is being conveyed in the third stanza and what does this link to in Keats’ life?
the evening and the dying of Autumn as Winter approaches- reflective of Keats’ death
- Autumn turning into Winter is a natural process and it happens slowly and peacefully- how Keats wanted to die
what is the structure of the poem?
Keats introduces an aspect of nature and then expands on it
what is unique about how Keats describes Autumn, especially in the first stanza?
Autumn- in British literature- is usually a melancholy time and a time of death- Keats is describing it as a fruitful time of existence
what are some quotes from the poem that convey beauty and the powerful energy of Autumn?
“mellow fruitfulness!”
“load and bless”
“fruit the vines”
“fill all fruit with ripeness to the core”
“plump the hazel shells”
“sweat kernel”
what does the idea of “fruit (having) ripeness to the core” produce a parallel to?
the parallel idea of a climax
this is the ultimate glory of Autumn- of sunny days and crisp air- then bleak, gloomy Winter will arrive
what does the relaxed tone of voice link to?
Keats acknowledgement and acceptance of his death- it is futile and inescapable
why does Keats personify Autumn?
to help the reader understand and empathise with the season- to understand the true power of it
what does Keats directly address in the last stanza?
Autumn herself
what is Keats implying in the final stanza?
Autumn is mourning the loss of Spring and considers herself to be inferior and not as important as Spring
how does Keats explore the belief of Autumn being just as beautiful as Spring?
“think not of them, thou hast thy music too”
how does Keats show the beauty of Autumn in the final stanza?
describing the sun setting over the land
the insects that come out at night
the animals that were born in Autumn and are now fully- grown
how does the poem also have a deeper, darker meaning?
in the final stanza, the words such as- “soft-dying” and “rosy hue” “mourn” allude to his death
what does the language of excess show in the poem?
Autumn can produce a bountiful harvest, but perhaps it is too much and it is on the brink of death- like Keats
how is sensory language used in the poem?
especially sound is used in the last stanza to convey the songs of Autumn
what is the significance of the swallows in the final stanza?
the swallows are leaving the area- almost how Keats is leaving too
the swallows are replaced by the robins- Keats will be replaced by new life
what are the key themes in this poem?
nature- its excess and beauty
death and loss
the passing of time and change
what are poems to compare this to?
afternoons
as imperceptibly as grief
the prelude
