ode to autumn

Ode to AutumnOde to Autumn

John KeatsJohn Keats

What is Romantisism?What is Romantisism?

Use creative imagination • Focus on nature • Importance of myth and symbolism • Focus on feelings and intuition • Freedom and spontaneity • Simple language • Personal experience, democracy and liberty • Fascination with past

OdesOdes

LengthyLengthy Serious in subject matterSerious in subject matter Elevated in its word choice and styleElevated in its word choice and style Elaborate structure in stanzasElaborate structure in stanzas The Horatian ode - The Horatian ode - ““To AutumnTo Autumn””

uniform stanzasuniform stanzas same metrical patternsame metrical pattern more personal, meditative, & restrainedmore personal, meditative, & restrained

Guiding QuestionsGuiding Questions Read the first stanza and circle two words which you think best describe Read the first stanza and circle two words which you think best describe

autumn. autumn. Point out lines in the first stanza which draw pictures in your mind Point out lines in the first stanza which draw pictures in your mind Name at least three things that autumn and the sun are conspiring to do in Name at least three things that autumn and the sun are conspiring to do in

stanza 1. How may autumn confuse the bees? stanza 1. How may autumn confuse the bees? Cite three instances in which the spirit of autumn is personified as a farm Cite three instances in which the spirit of autumn is personified as a farm

girl? girl? What sights are evoked at line 25-26 to picture autumn's beauty? What What sights are evoked at line 25-26 to picture autumn's beauty? What

autumn sounds are mentioned in the last seven lines of final stanza? autumn sounds are mentioned in the last seven lines of final stanza? What does Keats suggest about autumn's beauty and about cyclic pattern of What does Keats suggest about autumn's beauty and about cyclic pattern of

nature? Is this poem mainly descriptive, or does the poet intrude his moods nature? Is this poem mainly descriptive, or does the poet intrude his moods on the poem? on the poem?

What examples of tactile imagery-imagery that appeals to the senses of What examples of tactile imagery-imagery that appeals to the senses of touch-do you find in "To Autumn"? touch-do you find in "To Autumn"?

What is the theme of the ode? (ripeness and harvest; nature's cycles) (20 What is the theme of the ode? (ripeness and harvest; nature's cycles) (20 minutes)minutes)

To Autumn To Autumn 1.1.

SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and blessConspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the mossTo bend with apples the moss ’’d cottage-trees,d cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shellsTo swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has oFor Summer has o’’er-brimmer-brimm’’d their clammy cells.d their clammy cells.

2 .2 .

　　　　 Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?　　 Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may findSometimes whoever seeks abroad may find

Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,　　　　 Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

　　　　 Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,　　　　 Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hookDrowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook

　　 Spares the next swath and all its twinSpares the next swath and all its twinééd flowers:d flowers: And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keepAnd sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

　　　　 Steady thy laden head across a brook;Steady thy laden head across a brook;　　 Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,

　　　　 Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

3.3.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,——

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mournThen in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn Among the river sallows, borne aloftAmong the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn; Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble softHedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft; And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Stanza Stanza 11 Autumn: a season of harvest; fruiting stageAutumn: a season of harvest; fruiting stage Metaphors of the autumn: Metaphors of the autumn: ““close bosom-friend of the maturing sun,close bosom-friend of the maturing sun,”” ““Season of Season of

mists and mellow fruitfulnessmists and mellow fruitfulness”” ““himhim”” the sun the sun ““bless with fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run bless with fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run ”” bless the vines that bless the vines that

run round the thatch-eves with fruit run round the thatch-eves with fruit ““load and blessload and bless””: Autumn and the sun not only : Autumn and the sun not only loadload but also but also blessbless the vines with the vines with

fruit. The effects of using the word fruit. The effects of using the word bless bless may include autumnmay include autumn’’s benediction s benediction over the ripening of the fruits and its power to enrich the fertility of nature.over the ripening of the fruits and its power to enrich the fertility of nature.

““To bend with apples the mossTo bend with apples the moss ’’d cottage-treesd cottage-trees”” To bend the moss To bend the moss’’d cottage-d cottage-trees with apples trees with apples The apples become so numerous that their weight bends The apples become so numerous that their weight bends the trees.the trees.

““to set budding more to set budding more ””: -ing form suggests activity that is continuing: -ing form suggests activity that is continuing ““And still more And still more ”” suggests the mushrooming of flowers suggests the mushrooming of flowers Use of flashback : line 9 - line 11(cause and effect are reversed)Use of flashback : line 9 - line 11(cause and effect are reversed)

Stanza Stanza 22

Autumn: lax or resting; the stage of slowing Autumn: lax or resting; the stage of slowing down; personification of autumn as a reaper or down; personification of autumn as a reaper or a harvestera harvester

““sound asleep,sound asleep,”” ““Drows'd Drows'd ”” Autumn is Autumn is listless and even falls asleeplistless and even falls asleep

““Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours ””: The end of the cycle is near. The squeezing : The end of the cycle is near. The squeezing of the apple cider is nearly finished (of the apple cider is nearly finished (““the last the last oozingsoozings””) )

Stanza 3Stanza 3 Autumn: Description of the beauty of autumn. Keats blends living and Autumn: Description of the beauty of autumn. Keats blends living and

dying, the pleasant and the unpleasant, because they are crucial elements of dying, the pleasant and the unpleasant, because they are crucial elements of the mixed nature.the mixed nature.

Mention of Mention of ““springspring””: 1. representing process; the proceeding flow of time : 1. representing process; the proceeding flow of time (like the (like the ““summersummer”” in stanza 1) 2. Spring is a time of rebirth of life which in stanza 1) 2. Spring is a time of rebirth of life which contrasts with the seemingly dying autumn of stanza 3.contrasts with the seemingly dying autumn of stanza 3.

““the soft-dying daythe soft-dying day””: Its dying also creates beauty (as the following lines : Its dying also creates beauty (as the following lines present)present)

““While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, And touch the stubble-While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue plains with rosy hue ””: the setting sun casts a : the setting sun casts a ““bloombloom”” of of ““rosy huerosy hue”” over over the stubble left after the harvestthe stubble left after the harvest

““And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bournAnd full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn””: sheep will be : sheep will be slaughtered in autumn (Note: why is Keats using the term slaughtered in autumn (Note: why is Keats using the term ““lambslambs”” rather rather than than ““sheepsheep””?)?)

““And gathering swallows twitter in the skiesAnd gathering swallows twitter in the skies””: The swallows are gathering : The swallows are gathering for their winter migration for their winter migration suggesting that the autumn will cease suggesting that the autumn will cease

Images:Images:Stanza 1Stanza 1

The whole stanza is a single phrase that does The whole stanza is a single phrase that does not form a complete sentence. not form a complete sentence.

It addresses Autumn by name, just as a prayer It addresses Autumn by name, just as a prayer would begin by invoking or naming the god it would begin by invoking or naming the god it addresses, but uses a description rather than addresses, but uses a description rather than Autumn's proper name.( e.g. Autumn's proper name.( e.g. ““Season of mists Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,and mellow fruitfulness,””&&““Close bosom-friend Close bosom-friend of the maturing sunof the maturing sun””))

Personification Personification


Besides Besides maturingmaturing sun, sun, other words and other words and phrases that suggest phrases that suggest maturitymaturity

And fill all fruit with And fill all fruit with ripenessripeness to the core; to the core;

To To swellswell the gourd, and the gourd, and plumpplump the hazel shells the hazel shells


A repetitive listing of ripening indicates that Keats A repetitive listing of ripening indicates that Keats might designed it on purpose, in order to show the might designed it on purpose, in order to show the conspiracy between autumn and sun. conspiracy between autumn and sun.

Autumn and the sun not only Autumn and the sun not only loadload but also but also blessbless the the vines with fruit. vines with fruit. the effects of using the word the effects of using the word blessbless

at the end of the stanza, Autumn and the sun make so at the end of the stanza, Autumn and the sun make so many flowers bud late in the season that the bees have many flowers bud late in the season that the bees have become confused become confused (Until they think warm days will never cease, (Until they think warm days will never cease, For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.) For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.) suggestssuggests unawarenessunawareness


““Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?store?””Keats is stressing that in fact Keats is stressing that in fact everyone has seen Autumn.everyone has seen Autumn.

““harvested grain, a partially harvested field, harvested grain, a partially harvested field, apples being pressed to make cider” apples being pressed to make cider” All All the stanza's images take sights common in the the stanza's images take sights common in the countryside during autumn countryside during autumn

““sitting careless; sound asleep; Drows'd; keep sitting careless; sound asleep; Drows'd; keep / Steady; with patient look”/ Steady; with patient look” the images the images seem to picture Autumn at rest seem to picture Autumn at rest


““the soft-dying day,the soft-dying day,”“”“mourn,mourn,”” ““sinking,sinking,”” ““dies,dies,”” words and phrases that suggest death or dyingwords and phrases that suggest death or dying Indicates that Indicates that ““Autumn is leavingAutumn is leaving””


Autumn's music: Autumn's music: ““Then in a wailful choir Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn” “And full-the small gnats mourn” “And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;” “Hedge-crickets sing; and bourn;” “Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft” “The red-now with treble soft” “The red-breast whistles from a garden-breast whistles from a garden-croft” “And gathering swallows croft” “And gathering swallows twitter in the skies”twitter in the skies”


““And full-grown lambs bleat from hilly And full-grown lambs bleat from hilly bourne;”bourne;”

“ “Hedge-crickets sing;”Hedge-crickets sing;”

“ “And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.”” connotations of deathconnotations of death

“Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breat whistles from a garden-croft;And gathering swallows twitter in the skies."

1st stanza1st stanza——describing the describing the autumn as a fruitful seasonautumn as a fruitful season

Season of mists and mellow Season of mists and mellow fruitfulnessfruitfulness,,Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;Conspiring with him how to load and blessConspiring with him how to load and blessWith fruit the With fruit the vinesvines that round the thatch-eves run; that round the thatch-eves run;To bend with To bend with applesapples the mossed cottage trees, the mossed cottage trees,And fill all fruit with And fill all fruit with ripenessripeness to the core; to the core;To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shellsTo swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shellsWith a sweet kernel; to set budding more,With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,And still more, later And still more, later flowersflowers for the bees, for the bees,Until they think warm days will never cease,Until they think warm days will never cease,For Summer has oFor Summer has o’’er-brimmed their clammy cells.er-brimmed their clammy cells.

2nd stanza2nd stanza——Comparing autumn to Comparing autumn to ““someonesomeone”” (personification) (personification)

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?Sometimes whoever Sometimes whoever seeksseeks abroad may find abroad may findThee Thee sittingsitting careless on a granary floor, careless on a granary floor,Thy hair Thy hair soft-liftedsoft-lifted by the winnowing wind; by the winnowing wind;Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,DrowsedDrowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook with the fume of poppies, while thy hookSpares the next swath and all its twinSpares the next swath and all its twinééd flowers:d flowers:And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keepAnd sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keepSteady thySteady thy laden laden head across a brook; head across a brook;Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,Thou Thou watchestwatchest the last oozings hours by hours. the last oozings hours by hours.

3rd stanza3rd stanza——Autumn is a symbol Autumn is a symbol of maturity of beingsof maturity of beings

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?Think not of them, Think not of them, thou hast thy music toothou hast thy music too,,——While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,And touch the stubble plains with And touch the stubble plains with rosyrosy hue; hue;Then in a wailful Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mournchoir the small gnats mournAmong the river sallows, borne aloftAmong the river sallows, borne aloftOr sinking as the light Or sinking as the light wind lives or dieswind lives or dies;;And And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bournfull-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;;Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble softHedge-crickets sing; and now with treble softThe The red-breast whistles from a garden-croftred-breast whistles from a garden-croft;;And And gathering swallows twitter in the skiesgathering swallows twitter in the skies..

Reflective QuestionsReflective Questions

1.1. How does each speaker talk to/about the How does each speaker talk to/about the subject (Art/Nature)?subject (Art/Nature)?

2.2. What are their attitudes?What are their attitudes?

3.3. Is the speaker in Is the speaker in ““To AutumnTo Autumn”” more more respectful and in awe than respectful and in awe than ““Grecian UrnGrecian Urn””? ? How?How?

ode to autumn

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