To Autumn Flashcards
who wrote to autumn?
John Keats
context and meaning of To Autumn
Mostly about the change in seasons but also comments on the inevitable passing of time
-Keats presents nature as lively through the various sounds of the animals and insects. Even though winter is still approaching, life is still vibrant
-focuses on how nature provides such goodness for humans and delights it
describe and analyse the from of To Autumn
is an ode- a serious poem written in praise of a person or thing
-iambic pentameter but rhyme scheme slightly changes it
-first four lines of each stanza always have ABAB pattern but the rest of the second and third stanza is different to the first.
-Keat’s other odes have ten lines per stanza- this one has eleven, reinforcing the plentiful nature of autumn
describe and analyse the structure of to autumn
-in each stanza, the first line introduces an aspect of Autumn before expanding on it in the remaining ten lines
-structure seen as a passage of time
-first stanza- links morning with early autumn
-second stanza-sleepy mood standing for mid autumn
-third stanza-hints at both the approach of winter and sunset
how does Keats use language of excess in to autumn, quotation and analyse it
-language to do with abundance shows how autumn can produce a bountiful harvest.
-However, the harvest is just beyond the point of perfection- the speaker hints that its too much
-the language of excess could therefore symbolise the start of death
-“for summer has o-erbrimmed their clammy cells”
how does Keats use personification, quotation and analyse it
personifies autumn in the second stanza and shows that its hardworking but also takes breaks and relaxes.
-Autumn ages throughout the poem in the same way a human does- this seems to be mourned in the final stanza
-“think not of them, thou hast they music too”
how does Keats use sensory language in to Autumn, quotation and analyse it
-Each stanza appeals to a different sense- the first focuses on the sense of touch, the second on sight, and the last on sound
-this reflects the abundance of autumn- it is present all around.
-many of the poem’s images are described in detail, underlining the richness of the season
-“and full-grown lambs loud beat from hilly bourn”
finish the quote, “seasons of mists and..
mellow fruitfulness”
analyse the quote, “seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness!”
-alliteration makes autumn seem calm and gentle and makes the changes not disruptive
-exclamation mark hints at narrator’s awe
-seasons- narrator directly addresses autumn
-season is full of abundance
finish the quote, “what are the songs of Spring?
Ay, where are they?
analyse the quote, “what are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?”
consecutive rhetorical questions make the speaker sound scornful of spring
-implies that they are celebrating that spring has been forgotten
-power of Autumn
finish the quote, “Gathering swallows….
twitter in the skies”
analyse the quote, “Gathering swallows twitter in the skies”
-Swallows migrate south for winter- their gathering represents the end of the year. Migration isn’t permanent, so it symbolises hope that there will be new life
-natural world is still lively even with this change
