To autumn Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is the poem about ?
The poem “to Autumn” is an ode, Keats wrote the poem to celebrate the season and various changes that take place during the time. The poem is about autumn and covers the three stages of the seasons.
When was it published ?
1819
What is the context ?
- Keats studied medicine and became a licensed apothecary
- Was born in london and lost both his parents at an early age so turned to art and literature for comfort
- Keats died at the age of 25, he was worried that he would leave no lasting impression on the world
this poem could be his attempt to leave his mark and be remembered.Since he knew he was going to die of tuberculosis
Was inspired to make this poem whilst on a walk in the middle of autumn
What is the structure ?
Presented as an Ode (a lyrical
poem which addresses a
particular subject).
Odes are usually written to be
sung, making the poem
appear like a love song to
Autumn.
Complex rhyme scheme with the first 4 lines of every
stanza using an ABAB rhyme
scheme whilst lines 9+10 use
rhyming couplets.
Odes typically have 10 lines
per stanza, but Keats adds an
extra 11th to each of his.
Possible therms and links ?
The passing of time - Afternoons, Death of a Naturalist, As Imperceptibly as Grief
The natural world - Excerpt from The Prelude, Death of a Naturalist.
What is mean by the first line of t
his poem “Seasons of mist
and mellow fruitfulness” ?
Immediately describes autumn as being a season of change yet that it is calm
What is the evidence that Keats personifies Autumn and what does he imply by it ?
“Thee sitting carelessly on a granary floor” by personifying autumn it allows us as the reader to interpret lest opinion of Autumn being quite thoughtless in the way it brings change. Also by personifying Autumn and talking to it directly, the speaker beings to build an emotional and personal relationship with, autumn, thus nature in general
How does keats show how calm Autumn is ?
“Thou watchest oozings” portraying Autumn to be quite careless and calm and acting in a ways as if they have all the time in the world but in reality, time is still passing.
What does the last line “And gathering swallows twitter in the sky”
It describes migration so therefore t
his quote shows
that winter is drawing in and time is coming to an end. Meat
s says this is a tone of sorrowfulness since Autumn is being lost to the stillness of winter, which could be further analysed by saying that it could mean that Keats enjoyed the slow passing of time during the Autumn
