To autumn

By John Keats

Represented by
Fatemeh Heydari , Negin Ghasemi , Mahdis Azizian ,
Salar Julayi Manesh & Mahdis Hasani
John Keats (31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821) was an English
poet of the second generation of Romantic poets, along with Lord
Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. His poems had been in
publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculosis at
the age of 25.

He devoted his short life to the perfection of a poetry marked by

vivid imagery, great sensuous appeal, and an attempt to express a
philosophy through classical legend.
'To Autumn' is the last of John Keats' famous 1819 odes even though, he didn’t
consider it as one but the structure and rhyme scheme is exactly like an ode.
Composed after an evening walk near Winchester, it is also one of the last
poems that Keats ever wrote: his money fast running out, he devoted himself to
travel, and just over a year later, died in Rome

As its title would suggest, "To Autumn" celebrates the bountiful beauty of the
fall.

In the poem, autumn is a season characterized by a rich abundance of life and

explores the themes of transition, change and mortality.
Stanza one
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, A
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; B
First four lines: ABAB
Conspiring with him how to load and bless A
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; B
To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees, C
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; D
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells E
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, D Followed by CDEDCCE
And still more, later flowers for the bees, C
Until they think warm days will never cease, C
For summer has o'er-brimmed their clammy cells. E
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Mellow: Refers to something that is ripe, soft, and full of flavor. In the context of the poem, it
describes the fruitfulness of autumn.
Maturing: The process of becoming fully developed or ripe. Here, it refers to the sun’s role in
ripening fruits during autumn.

The speaker is talking about autumn and briefly describe the season and uses
imagery,
Suggesting that autumn and the sun are old pals.
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

Conspiring: In this context, it means working together or collaborating. Autumn and the sun are
depicted as conspiring to bless the vines with fruit.
Thatch-eves: The edges or eaves of a thatched roof. The vines run around the edges of the
thatched roofs of cottages.

Speaker uses imagery to say that The image of vines running around thatched roofs
evokes a sense of abundance and natural growth.
To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

Moss: a very small green plant that grows in a thick soft furry mass on wet soil, trees, or rocks.
Ripeness:(of fruit or crops) the quality of being ready to be collected or eaten.

Imagery: The idea of ripeness reaching the core of the fruit conveys completeness
and fullness.
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
Gourds (such as pumpkins) grow larger, and hazelnuts become plump.
The use of “swell” and “plump” emphasizes the abundance and fullness of these
fruits.
The “sweet kernel” refers to the edible part inside the nut or seed.

Keats suggests that autumn not only brings current fruits to maturity but
also prepares for future growth by setting new buds.
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For summer has o'er-brimmed their clammy cells.
The word “o’er-brimmed” is a contraction of “over-brimmed”.
The phrase “still more” suggests an ongoing abundance, emphasizing the continuity
of life.
Imagery: The progression of flowers provides sustenance for bees and symbolizes
the cycle of life.
The word “clammy” evokes the sticky sweetness of honey.
Summary of first stanza
The first stanza of the poem represents Autumn as involved with the promotion of
natural processes, growth and ultimate maturation. In this stanza the fruits are still
ripening and the buds still opening in the warm weather.

Keats emphasizes the tactile sense here, suggested by the imagery of growth and
gentle motion: swelling, bending and plumping.

In summary, this stanza celebrates the persistence of life and the natural cycle. It
reminds us that even as autumn prepares for winter, there is still beauty and
sustenance to be found.
Stanza two
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store? A
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find B
First four lines: ABAB
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor, A
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind; B
Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep, C
Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook D
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers: E
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep C
Followed by CDECDDE
Steady thy laden head across a brook; D
Or by a cider-press, with patient look, D
Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours. E
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find

“Hath” is an archaic form of the verb “have.” It is used in older English literature and
poetry

.“Amid” (also spelled “amidst”) means “in the middle of” or “surrounded by.”

The word “store” refers to the season’s wealth of fruits, grains, and natural bounty.

Imagery: The idea of seeking abroad suggests exploration and discovery.

The line hints at the idea that autumn’s richness is not limited to a specific location
 Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

A granary is a building or structure used for storing harvested grains (such as wheat, rice, or corn).

Winnowing is a process used to separate chaff (husks or outer coverings) from grain after threshing

Imagery: The image of autumn sitting casually on a granary floor adds to the scene.

The image conveys a sense of ease and abundance.

Keats describes autumn’s hair being gently lifted by this wind, emphasizing its natural grace.
 Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,
Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Half-reaped: Refers to a furrow (a long, narrow trench made in the ground) where only part of the crop has been
harvested. It suggests a scene of ongoing agricultural work.

Furrow: A groove or trench made by a plow in the earth for planting seeds or crops.

Drows’d is an archaic form of the word “drowsy”. It means being in a state of sleepiness or lethargy.

In the context of the poem, it describes the feeling of being half-asleep or dreamy

Fume refers to a vapor, smoke, or strong odor rising from something

The “hook” refers to the sickle used for reaping crops.

The image captures the peacefulness of the season as it transitions from work to rest.
Imagery: The drowsiness induced by poppies adds to the sensory experience.
 Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
A swath refers to a row of cut grass, grain, or other crops left behind by a scythe during the process of
harvesting.
A gleaner is someone who gathers leftover grain or other crops from a field after the main harvest.

A brook is a small, natural stream of water that flows through the countryside. It is often associated
with tranquility and the gentle babbling sound of water.

Imagery: The scythe’s sparing of flowers emphasizes autumn’s gentle touch and care for nature.
Imagery: The image of autumn crossing a brook with a laden head suggests balance and purpose
Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours.

A cider press is a device used for crushing apples to make cider.

Oozings refer to the slow, gradual release or seepage of a liquid substance. In the
context of the poem, it suggests the dripping or flowing of the last drops of cider
from the press.

Imagery: The patient observation of the cider-press adds to the scene.

Imagery: The slow dripping of cider is observed meticulously.
Summary of second stanza

In the second stanza, Autumn is personified as a harvester. There is a lack of definitive

action, all motion being gentle. Autumn is not depicted as actually harvesting but as
seated, resting or watching. The progression through the day is revealed in actions that
are all suggestive of the drowsiness of afternoon: the harvested grain is being winnowed,
the harvester is asleep or returning home, the last drops issue from the cider press.

In summary, the second stanza celebrates autumn’s quiet moments, its connection to
harvest, and its role in the cycle of life. Keats invites us to appreciate the season’s beauty,
even in its seemingly mundane details.
Stanza three

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? A

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, B
First four lines: ABAB
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, A
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; B
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn C
Among the river sallows, borne aloft D
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; E
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn; C
Followed by CDECDDE
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft D
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft, D
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies. E
 Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,

Hast is an archaic form of the verb “have”.

The speaker reflects on the absence of spring songs and contrasts autumn with spring.

The speaker advises us not to dwell on the absence of spring’s songs.

Instead, we should appreciate the music of autumn, which is equally beautiful.

 While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
the term “barred” refers to clouds that are streaked with bands of color, often red and orange.

“stubble-plains” describes the fields after the harvest. Stubble refers to the short, leftover stalks of grain or
other crops that remain in the field after reaping.

Hue refers to the color or shade of something. In the context of the poem, the “rosy hue” describes the
warm, reddish color that suffuses the stubble-plains during sunset.

The imagery captures the transition from day to evening.

The sun’s rays touch the harvested fields (stubble-plains) with a warm, rosy glow.
The stubble represents the remnants of crops after harvest.
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
The phrase “wailful choir” describes the mournful sound made by a group of small creatures.

Gnats are small, flying insects that belong to the family Culicidae. They are often found near water
sources and are known for their buzzing sound.

Sallows refer to willow trees.

The gnats hover near the willow trees along the riverbanks.

The word “borne aloft” suggests their flight.

The gnats rise and fall with the gentle breeze and Their movement mirrors the changing wind.
 And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

Bleat refers to the sound made by sheep or lambs

Keats captures the image of lambs on the hillsides, their cries echoing through the
landscape.
Hedge-crickets are small insects that inhabit hedges, grassy areas, and gardens.
They are known for their distinctive chirping sound, especially during warm
evenings.

the speaker suggests that the animals that were born in springtime and are now full-
grown, and the birds that one can find in autumn. explaining that Autumn is just as
beautiful as spring is and perhaps even more
 The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft,
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies
The “redbreast” refers to a robin, a small bird with a red breast and its whistling, creating a soft
and melodious sound.
A garden-croft refers to a small plot of ground adjacent to a house. It is typically used as a
kitchen garden or for pasturing one or two cows.
this line captures the peaceful and cozy atmosphere of autumn.
Swallows are migratory birds that fly in flocks.
The word “twitter” describes their joyful and chattering calls.
Keats refers to the birds gathering for migration. This alludes to the inevitable end of Autumn
and beginning of Winter and he beautifully portrays the sights and sounds of autumn—the
robin’s gentle whistle in the garden and the swallows’ lively chatter as they take flight.
The poem celebrates the richness and transition of this season.
Summary of third stanza

In this stanza, Keats contrasts autumn with spring. While spring has its own songs,
autumn has its unique music—the buzzing of gnats, the bleating of lambs, the
chirping of hedge-crickets, and the whistling of the red-breast (robin) in the garden.
The gathering swallows add to the lively chorus of the season .The references to
Spring, the growing lambs and the migrating swallows remind the reader that the
seasons are a cycle, just like the life and the persistence of it and it‘s inevitable
cycle .
 The end
Thanks for your time
Poetic Devices
1. Imagery: Keats uses vivid and evocative language to describe the sights, sounds,
and smells of autumn. For example, "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness",
"moss'd cottage-trees", "sweet kernel", "soft-dying day", "rosy hue", "sinking as
the light wind lives or dies".
2. Metaphor: Keats compares autumn to a person, using words like "Close bosom-
friend of the maturing sun" and "whoever seeks abroad may find / Thee sitting
careless on a granary floor". This personification gives autumn human-like
qualities, making it more relatable and accessible.
3. Personification: In addition to personifying autumn, Keats also gives natural
objects human-like qualities. For example, "the vines that round the thatch-
eves run" and "the small gnats mourn" are given human-like actions.
Continued
• 4. Simile: Keats uses similes to make comparisons between autumn and other
things. For example:
• "like a gleaner thou dost keep" - This simile compares autumn to a gleaner, which
is a person who gathers leftover crops from a harvested field. This comparison
creates a vivid image of autumn as a gentle and thorough collector of nature's
bounty.
• "like a wailful choir" - This simile compares autumn to a mournful or melancholic
choir, which is a group of people singing together. This comparison creates a vivid
image of autumn as a season of lamentation or sorrow.

• 5. Assonance: Keats also uses assonance to create a sense of harmony and

rhythm. For example, "mellow fruitfulness", "soft-dying day", and "twinkling in
the skies".
Continued
• 6. Enjambment: Keats uses enjambment (the running on of a
sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause) to
create a sense of flow and continuity. For example, the lines "To bend
with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, / And fill all fruit with ripeness
to the core" flow seamlessly into each other.
• 7. Symbolism: Keats uses symbols throughout the poem to represent
different themes and ideas. For example, the poppies may represent
sleep or oblivion, while the swallows may represent migration or
change.
Continued
• 8. Pathos: Keats uses emotional language to evoke feelings of
nostalgia and longing in the reader. For example, his lamentation of
the passing of summer ("Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where
are they?") creates a sense of melancholy.
These poetic devices help to create a rich and evocative portrait of
autumn.