To Autumn Flashcards
(17 cards)
Who wrote To Autumn?
John Keats
For how long did Keats live and what did he die of?
He lived from 1795-1821 and died from tuberculosis
What is the poem describing at the beginning, middle and e?
It is describing the plentiful nature of the start of Autumn at the start, the work people do during the harvest in the middle and the passage of time as Autumn fades and Winter approaches at the end
What type of poem is To Autumn?
it is an ode, a serious poem that is usually written in praise of a person or thing
What is the rhythm of To Autumn?
It is written in iambic pentameter but has a slightly changing rhyme scheme
What is special about the first 4 lines of each stanza compared to the rest of the poem in To Autumn?
The first 4 lines have an ABAB rhyme scheme but the rest of the second and third stanzas are different to the first
What is different about To Autumn compared to Keats’ other odes?
All the other odes have 10 lines per stanza and this one has 11 - reinforcing the plentiful nature of Autumn
What does Keats do in each of his stanzas in To Autumn?
He introduces an aspect of Autumn in the first line then expands on it in the other 10 lines
How does each stanza reflect the different times of day in To Autumn?
The first stanza links early Autumn with morning, the second links mid-Autumn and the afternoon and the 3rd links the approach of Winter and sunset
What does the language of excess represent in To Autumn?
It shows how Autumn can produce a bountiful harvest. However, the harvest is hinted to be too large and therefore the language of excess could symbolise the start of death as seen in Winter
How is Autumn personified in To Autumn?
The speaker personifies Autumn to be hardworking but also takes breaks and relaxes. Autumn ages throughout the poem as a human and this seems to be mourned in the final stanza
How does To Autumn use sensory language and what does it reflect?
Each stanza appeals to a different sense - the first to touch, the second to sight and the third to sound. This reflects the abundance of Autumn and how it is omnipresent. The detail it is described in also reflects the richness of Autumn
What are 6 themes of To Autumn?
Nature, Power, Beauty, Abundance, Negative emotions and A sense of place
What is special about To Autumn regarding Keats’ life?
It was his last poem before he died
