to autumn Flashcards
(10 cards)
to autumn 3 points
vehicle to celebrate a time where the world is at its peak, where every elements appears at its most harmonious and complete
vehicle to reflect the quiet inevitability of change in nature, drawing on his romantic belief in beauty within transcendence and the natural rhythm of life
vehicle to confront the idea of endings, shaped by his awareness of his mortality and his desire to find balance and peace even in decline
to autumn at the beginning of the poem quote 1
seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness
soft alliteration creates sensory imagery, appealing to the senses of sight (mists, ripe fruits) and touch (mellow, soft). create musical and evocative sound
to symbolise abundance and harvest, where nature provides generously
to autumn at the beginning of the poem x quote 2
close bosom friend of the maturing sun
personified autumn as suns close friend working together to brin seasons bounty
sun is aging- parallels idea of autumn as a time of maturity of fulfilment
to autumn as the poem progresses x quote 1
thy hair soft lifted by the winnowing wind
tactile imagery and personification
gentle movement of hair lifted by wind subtly suggests a transition is underwent, change taking place in an almost unnoticed natural rhythm
to autumn as the play progress x quote 2
thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours
oozing is slow and satisfactory indicates speaker observing last moments of his life as it ebbs away incrementally, without force
lessons go be learnt from the beauty of nature
to autumn as the play comes to a close
while barred cloud bloom the soft dying day
juxtaposition barred and bloom, impression of reestricyion amongst growth, indicate transition from life toward eventual death
to autumn as the play comes to a close quote 2
full grown lambs bleat from the hillybourn
auditory imagery through load bleat to convey sense of instinctive unease,
subtly echoing keats own quiet apprehension toward inevitability of death beneath poems otherwise composed tone
while image of full grown lambs signals the closing of a natural cycle
context
reflects Romantic ideals, focusing on the beauty of the natural world and the emotional depth found in everyday life. Composed shortly before his death from tuberculosis, the poem captures a calm acceptance of change and mortality. Rather than resisting the passage of time, Keats presents autumn as a season of richness, transition, and quiet endings, suggesting a deep appreciation for fleeting moments of stillness and beauty.
to autumn structure
Horatian ode with three 11-line stanzas, each reflecting a different stage of the season. The rhyme scheme (ABAB CDECCDE) blends regularity with variation, mirroring nature’s balance and richness. Keats uses iambic pentameter throughout, creating a smooth, steady rhythm that reflects the gentle, inevitable flow of time and the natural cycle. The structured form reinforces the poem’s calm, reflective tone and deep connection to seasonal change
overview to autumn
to autumn is presented ass an allegory for the cycle of life to death. keats uses it as a vehicle to celebrate autumns abundance whilst also acknowledging its evitable decline . its impermanence used to convey its beauty and preciousness
