to autumn Flashcards
what are the themes of to autumn?
nature, love, time, place, man and death
“mists of mellow fruitfulness!”
Alliteration – joyful exploration of the start of the autumn season and the end of summer which has allowed the fruits to be ready to.
“mid thy store?”
Rhetorical question – suggesting that life has quietened down in the end of autumn and perhaps towards the middle of life too in this second stanza.
“swell the gourd”
Imagery – the sun has given an abundance of harvest for people to gather and collect to keep them going over the winter months.
“o’erbrimm’d their clammy cells.”
Adjective – again life has been provided and the harvest is plentiful and enjoyable.
“Winnowing wind;”
Alliteration – the wind is gentle and quiet reflecting the gentleness of the season.
“half reaped furrow sound asleep,”
Adjectives – suggesting there is time to sleep and rest now that the harvest has nearly been taken in. It gives a very calm tone to the poem.
what is to autumn about?
The persona in the poem directly addresses Autumn as if it were a person. It begins by describing the plentiful nature of Autumn as everything ripens for harvest and the warm days seem endless. They then imagine Autumn as a goddess, who can be found around where the farm labourers are working – often watchful or drowsily sleepy. Finally, they comment on the sounds of Autumn, and how the season draws to a close and the swallows gather to leave for a warmer climate and are replaced in winter by the robin.
