to autumn Flashcards
context
was about to die to tuberculosis, aged 25
romantic poet
parents died before he was 14
quote 1
‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!
Identification of the season of Autumn from the outset – transitionary season between Summer and Winter.Reference to ‘mists’ further reflects this transitionary state given that such vapour is neither solid nor liquid. Use of ‘fruitfulness’ is demonstrative of the abundance which accompanies Autumn. As although it will reach an eventual decline with Winter
quote 2
‘Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun…’
Use of ‘close bosom friend’ provides a sense of familiarity and companionship, which is shared between Keats and autumn. Links back to context as he was romantical poet (personal experience) ‘maturing sun’ as a key part of the natural world – it is not exempt from the passing of time, much like the speaker is not exempt from their imminent death
quote 3
‘And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core…’
Use of ‘fill’ and ‘ripeness’ is suggestive of the peak condition of Autumn’s fruit. This will inevitably give way to decay yet readers must learn to appreciate the bountifulness that Autumn brings.
quote 4
thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind…’
Adjectival choice of ‘soft-lifted’ and ‘winnowing’ is particularly gentle and gives the impression that the personified Autumn is a season of naturally occurring beauty and grace. ‘thy’ – speaker finds comfort in the personified autumn as if it were a friend
quote 5
*half-reap”d furrow sound asleep *
juxtaposition between images of work and images of rest symbolise personifying autumn as a worker who works themselves to exhaustion. reapd and sleep - gentle description of death.
quote 6
‘with patient look, Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours…’
Use of ‘oozing’ is slow and satisfactory which is indicative of the speaker observing the last moments of his life as it ebbs away incrementally and without force.
quote 7
“thou hast thy music too “
personifying autumn as a musician suggesting that it is beautiful and brings hapiness
quote 8
‘While barred clouds bloom the soft dying day’
Use of juxtaposition through the use of ‘barred’ with ‘bloom’ giving the impression of restriction alongside growth which is perhaps indicative of transition which may link to Keats’ own transition from life towards eventual death. Specific description of the ‘soft dying day’ presents death as somewhat gentle and perhaps something which people should not fear. Keats is finding the beauty in an otherwise difficult and challenging moment.
quote 9
‘And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn.’
Lambs have now grown to full size indicating the end of their life cycle as they will soon be brought to slaughter Their ‘loud bleat’ is indicative of apprehension at such changes which may reflect Keats’ own slight anxiety regarding the end of his life despite his general acceptance of the beauty of such a process.
overview
Keats uses To Autumn as a vehicle to elevate the beauty of nature in order to come to terms with his own imminent death from tuberculosis. This is accomplished through the poetic form of an ode, which is used to sing the praise of a given subject. In the case of ‘To Autumn’, this subject is the personified Autumn; an apt choice given Keats’ elevated view of nature as a Romantic poet.
