To Autumn - Change

Question 1

‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!’

Answer 1

Alliteration = calm tone
! = excitement of the new season
shows bountifulness

Stanza 1

Question 2

‘Maturing sun’

Answer 2

• Connects the morning with autumn and suggests it’s the start of the season as the sun is only just rising.
• Personification of the sun

Stanza 1

Question 3

‘Until they think warm days will never cease,’

Answer 3

• Hint of sadness in the beauty because we are given the first indication that winter is coming.
• Never = negative which shows that nature isn’t expecting it, but it will happen.
• It is the end of summer and things are bound to change

Stanza 1

Question 4

Topic sentence 1 - structure

Answer 4

Both poems use their structure to show a change in view and opinion on nature which suggests how time goes on ideas on nature change and it is inevitable

Question 5

‘Soft-lifted by the winnowing wind’

Answer 5

• It’s getting cooler, and the wind is there more often affecting the people.

Stanza 2

Question 6

‘Thy laden head across a brook’

Answer 6

• Enjoying the last few moments before autumn changes completely to winter

Stanza 2

Question 7

‘Where are the songs of Spring?’

Answer 7

• Suggests the longing for spring now that autumn is at its final stage.
• ? = the speaker is sad that spring is gone and doesn’t want to accept that winter is close.

Stanza 3

Question 8

‘Thou hast thy music too, -’

Answer 8

• Autumn has its own beauty too and although the season and the cycle are ending it is still celebrated and can be remembered.
• Suggests that this season still brings abundance to the natural world too.

Stanza 3

Question 9

Topic Sentence 2 : Language devices:

Answer 9

Both poets use imagery and similes especially to emphasises their view on nature and how it affects them and their perception of nature.

Question 10

‘Close-bosom-friend’

Answer 10

• Exaggeration of nature
  suggests that nature is conspiring and working together.
• They have a plan for the cycle of life and it should not scare the reader

Stanza 1

Question 11

‘budding more’

Answer 11

Suggests that although it is no longer summer, nature is still very abundant and it suggests that the poet still finds beauty in a part of nature which others think is slowly degrading

Stanza 1

Question 12

‘sitting careless on a granary floor’

Answer 12

adjective ‘careless’ suggests that autumn may do what it wants but it has little power because it is ‘sitting’

Stanza 2

Question 13

‘half-reap’d furrow’ ‘while thy hook’

Answer 13

Imagery relating to the grim reaper and suggests that autumn is the time of death approaching as the fields die in nature humans are next.

Stanza 2

Question 14

‘fume of poppies’

Answer 14

soft ‘f’ sound provides an image or tranquillity and sleepiness as though the reader is going to go through hibernation or nearing their death in this past cycle.
- The harsh ‘pp’ sound juxtaposes this and suggests that the readers end is near and they should beware that it will be gone soon.

Stanza 2

Question 15

‘stubble-plains’

Answer 15

Creates an image of the rough fields which were recently harvested and give them a sense of desertion as there is no life there anymore foreshadowing what will happen with the seasons and the rest of nature soon.

Stanza 3

Question 16

‘small gnats mourn’

Answer 16

contrasting images of life (gnats) and death (mourn = sadness) – mixed emotions

Stanza 3

Question 17

‘light wind lives or dies’

Answer 17

• Contrasting images of life and death – autumn is still providing life but also close to death
• wind is a sign of times changing and is often associated with overturning a new leaf and a new part of the natural cycle

Stanza 3

Question 18

‘full-grown lambs’

Answer 18

shows the passage of time through nature imagery because in spring the lambs were born

Stanza 3

Question 19

‘gathering swallows’

Answer 19

migration ready for end of the year. Isn’t permanent because they will be there for the new life of the new year.

Question 20

Topic sentence 3 : sound

Answer 20

To Autumn’ and ‘Death of a Naturalist’ both use sound to discuss the way nature is presented. In ‘Death of a Naturalist’ sound appeals to the senses to show how nature is precepted for the young boy compared to adulthood. In ‘To Autumn’

Question 21

‘ mists and mellow fruitfulness!’

Answer 21

alliteration

stanza 1

Question 22

‘fill all fruit’

Answer 22

alliteration - shows bountifulness

stanza 1

Question 23

‘clammy cells’

Answer 23

alliteration - shows how full the honey combes are

stanza 1

Question 24

‘winnowing wind’

Answer 24

alliteration - shows the movement of the wind and creates the image of the movement it creates.
it appeals to the sense of sound because it is almost as though it can be heard.

Stanza 2

Question 25

‘sound asleep’

Answer 25

Sibilance - gives a sense of tranquillity and calm although the times are changing. it provides solace that it will be ok and it is not to be feared.

Stanza 2

Question 26

‘Spares the next swath’

Answer 26

Sharp sibilance - suggests that death is near through the season of winter to get rid of all life.

Stanza 2

Question 27

‘hours by hours.’

Answer 27

Suggests that time is going by slowly allowing time to enjoy the last of the season before the end of autumn comes.

Stanza 2

Question 28

‘soft-dying day’

Answer 28

alliteration to show it is a heavy and hard topic to discuss but the use of the adjective ‘soft’ makes it seem as its a comfortable natural process they all go through

Stanza 3

Question 29

‘wailful choir’

Answer 29

sombre tone which resonates with the reader

Stanza 3

Question 30

‘treble soft’

Answer 30

juxtaposition of 2 sounds -deep sound linked to a calm sounding adjective

Stanza 3

Question 31

‘loud bleat’ ‘whistles’ ‘twitter’

Answer 31

Onomatopoeia to show that even at the very end of autumn there is still life which accompany you and help calm the reader down.

Stanza 3