The Peaceful Abundance of Autumn in John Keats' "To Autumn"
Part A
What inference can be drawn from "To Autumn"?
- Autumn is a peaceful and abundant season, full of natural beauty.
- Autumn is a beautiful season, but spring is much preferred.
- Autumn is simply a precursor to winter, and the autumn of life is a time of grief.
- Autumn is a sad season, and the autumn of life is equally sad.
Part B
Which evidence from the text best supports the answer in Part A?
- "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness . . . Conspiring . . . how to load and bless With fruit the vines . . . And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core."
- "Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn Among the river sallows, borne aloft Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;"
- "And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep Steady thy laden head across a brook; . . . Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours."
- "Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—"
Answer:
The inference that can be drawn from "To Autumn" is: A. Autumn is a peaceful and abundant season, full of natural beauty.
The evidence that supports the answer in Part A is: A. "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness . . . Conspiring . . . how to load and bless With fruit the vines . . . And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core."
Explanation:
John Keats, an English Romantic poet, composed the poem "To Autumn" to capture the essence of the season. In the poem, Keats celebrates the peaceful abundance of autumn, portraying it as a season full of natural beauty. The imagery used by Keats vividly describes the fruitful nature of autumn, with ripe fruits and flowers blessing the landscape.
Keats does not view autumn as inferior to spring; instead, he sees both seasons as having their own unique charm. The transition from autumn to winter is depicted as a peaceful and harmonious process, devoid of sadness. The poem is filled with images of nature, such as rivers, winds, and animals, creating a serene and abundant atmosphere.