Background Information
Ode to Autumn is one of Keats' last poetic endeavours. Because after one year of publishing the poem in a collection called Lamia, Keats kicked the bucket in Rome. Keats wrote this poem when he was suffering from his financial crisis, while walking in the evening of the monarchy of autumn. This short poem is highly allegorical as it notes Keats' direct response to Peterloo Massacre, in which the British Army showed its brutality to the protestors who demanded parliamentary reforms.
Summary or Situation
The poem starts with the speaker, calling the sun and the autumn good mates that help the fruit to grow and crops to ripen. The ripe crops shall drop more seeds to the ground, making a perfect spot for the blooming of flowers in Spring. The addressor tells us that the bees think that "warm days will never cease" but the speaker knows better than the bees.
In the second stanza, hard harvest is accomplished and harvested crops are safely stored. The autumn sits on the floor of a granary. The speaker suggests autumn to take a rest or watch the making of cider. In the last stanza, the speaker asks autumn where did she keep the song of Spring. But he also notes that the song of autumn has her own music too. The song of Autumn may include harvested land in sunset, clouds, bleating of lambs, gnats flying and twittering and chirping of the birds.
Themes
Ode to Autumn showcases the theme of life and death at once. Autumn is a season that stands between the summer as well as the winter or the season of life and death. The pleasant days of Summer and Spring bring the whistling of the birds after the scorching winter. But the season of autumn, despite its moderate temperatures, warns the elements of Nature of the plunder of winter and death. It is a season to build a shelter as well as to store food for the snowy days.
The second theme of this poem lies in the appreciation of the present time. The poet reminds us of the sweet music of spring but he suggests autumn not to think of it. Because her music has the beauty of her own. Here, the poet wants to emphasize the importance of the present. He asserts that no matter how many challenges fall in your way like leaves, you must not be afraid of them but embrace them while you admire the facilities and felicities of the present day.
Literary Devices
The use of literary devices extends the scope of evaluation of a poem. Keats has implied different literary devices to make his ode stand out. There are many symbolic meanings hidden inside the poem. The autumn is the symbol of a woman while the sun stands for the male counterpart. The poet compares autumn with a person who picks up remains of food, thus forming a simile,
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep.
The poet puts a rhetorical question to the readers as well as autumn that "where are the songs of Spring? " without expecting any answer. The poet makes the sun and autumn friends as if they were human beings, thus personifying the existence of autumn,
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Setting and Images
This ode boasts a vast setting of a field which is watched by autumn. There are numerous images that help us, the readers create a projection of the ripeness of the field. The images may include "the granary floor", "mossed cottage trees", "fume of poppies" and "winnowing wind". Thus, the olfactory, tactile and visual imagery transforms words into an imaginary world.
Structural Analysis
The ode is composed of thirty-three lines which are divided into three stanzas. The rhyme scheme of the particular ode is ABAB CDECCCE. While the rhythmic pattern follows the flow of iambic pentameter.
Conclusion
Ode to Autumn, despite its appearant shortness, holds a plethora of symbolic meanings approaching from the simple interpretations of a bridge between the season of life and death to the allegorical significance of oppression and deliverance.
Sources and Suggested Readings
- Critical Evaluation of Selected Poems by John Keats - Famous Products - Page 143
- Lectures of Sir Saffi
- https://literarydevices.net/to-autumn/
- https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/john-keats/to-autumn
- https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/poetry/to-autumn/summary
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Autumn
