John Keats

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"To Autumn" is regarded as Keats's best poem, written with graphic clarity just before his death.

He personifies the season, dressed in its rich autumn colours and alive with life and mellow vibrancy. Everything is maturing now.

The fruits on the trees are at their sweetest, the wine is oozing with heady tranquillity. Everywhere the birds and the insects are enriching the countryside with their melody.

ABOUT THE POET

John Keats was born in London in 1795, the son of a hostler. Both his parents died while he was still young -- his mother of tuberculosis. He was thereafter brought up by his grandmother who quickly made him an apprentice physician.

He was still only in his late teens when he discovered that he too had caught TB and his younger brother who was in his care soon died of it. In order to escape the disease, Keats moved to the sunnier and drier climate of Italy.

There was no escape for him, however, and the poet died in 1821. He was then just 25 years of age. He nevertheless bequeathed us a gargantuan amount of poetry written with an amazing maturity for one so young.

Keats wrote this Ode one autumn evening in 1819. It has been said that he could not focus on his writing because somebody nearby was disturbing his thoughts by practising on the violin. The poet went out for a walk and, inspired by the autumn atmosphere, returned to write this poem.

Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?

TEST YOURSELF!

Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:

"Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind."

What is a "granary floor"? (2)

[Need help?]

A granary was a place where corn or wheat was crushed to make flour.

What happens when one "winnows"? What then would be meant by the " winnowing wind"? (4)

[Need help?]

To winnow was to separate the grain from the husk. The husk was then blown away which meant that it was useful that a wind should be flowing at the time. This wind was known as the " winnowing wind".

In what way would one or could one find Autumn "sitting careless on a granary floor" or with her hair "soft-lifted by the winnowing wind"? (4)

[Need help?]

The goddess Autumn is personified, presented as a beautiful but relaxed woman with blond hair, relaxing on the granary floor. The golden husks being flown away by the wind represents her hair "soft-lifted" and floating away on the air.

"Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drowsed with the fume of poppies."

Why is there a reference to poppies within the context of this poem? (4)

[Need help?]

The seeds of certain poppies are crushed to make opium which was smoked to induce a wonderful, drug- induced sleep which was rich in dreams.
In these lines, the mere smell -- "fume" -- of the poppy flowers was enough to induce this drowsiness and sleep.

Why would Autumn be found "sound asleep" on a "half-reap'd furrow"? (2)

[Need help?]

Just the smell of the poppy flowers was enough to make Autumn feel drowsy and no longer able to continue her work. The furrow in which she was reaping was therefore only half finished, while she was fast asleep nearby.

"And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours."

What is a "gleaner"? (2)

[Need help?]

A "gleaner" is a person who follows after the reapers and picks up grain which has landed on the ground.

Why should Autumn have a "laden head" and why does she keep her head steady? (4)

[Need help?]

Gleaners were always pictured as carrying a basket on their heads, into which they put the bits of grain that they have picked up. If their baskets are full, their heads are then laden. Their heads have to be kept steady of else they will spill the contents of their baskets.

Comment on the use of the word "oozings" to describe the cider-press. (4)

[Need help?]

"Oozings" is an onomatopoeic word. It describes the slow, dripping liquid but also carries the sound of sleepiness.
It is the cider-press which is oozing its liquid but this is being made into apple-cider which is an alcoholic beverage. People who imbibe it are likely to nod off to sleep.

GENERAL QUESTION:

Is Autumn, as depicted in this Ode, presented as male or female? Be able to explain your understanding carefully. (4)

[Need help?]

Autumn is very much female. She is a goddess who is the counterpart of the Sun-god, Her blonde hair is long as a woman's would have been. She is also a gleaner, a task reserved usually for women.

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See also:

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This document is copyrighted. No part of it may be reproduced in any form whatever without explicit permission in writing from the author. The sole exception is for educational institutions which may wish to reproduce it as a handout for their students.

Ode to Autumn

Stanza 2:
Some questions to challenge you!

Keith Tankard

Knowledge4Africa.com
Updated: 18 January 2014
Contact the English4Africa Subject Coordinator

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that the creator of Knowledge4Africa, Dr T., has passed away. Helping people through his website gave him no end of pleasure. If you had contact with him and would like to leave a message, please send us an e-mail here.

Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?

A granary was a place where corn or wheat was crushed to make flour.

To winnow was to separate the grain from the husk. The husk was then blown away which meant that it was useful that a wind should be flowing at the time. This wind was known as the " winnowing wind".

The goddess Autumn is personified, presented as a beautiful but relaxed woman with blond hair, relaxing on the granary floor. The golden husks being flown away by the wind represents her hair "soft-lifted" and floating away on the air.

The seeds of certain poppies are crushed to make opium which was smoked to induce a wonderful, drug- induced sleep which was rich in dreams.
In these lines, the mere smell -- "fume" -- of the poppy flowers was enough to induce this drowsiness and sleep.

Just the smell of the poppy flowers was enough to make Autumn feel drowsy and no longer able to continue her work. The furrow in which she was reaping was therefore only half finished, while she was fast asleep nearby.

A "gleaner" is a person who follows after the reapers and picks up grain which has landed on the ground.

Gleaners were always pictured as carrying a basket on their heads, into which they put the bits of grain that they have picked up. If their baskets are full, their heads are then laden. Their heads have to be kept steady of else they will spill the contents of their baskets.

"Oozings" is an onomatopoeic word. It describes the slow, dripping liquid but also carries the sound of sleepiness.
It is the cider-press which is oozing its liquid but this is being made into apple-cider which is an alcoholic beverage. People who imbibe it are likely to nod off to sleep.

Autumn is very much female. She is a goddess who is the counterpart of the Sun-god, Her blonde hair is long as a woman's would have been. She is also a gleaner, a task reserved usually for women.

This document is copyrighted. No part of it may be reproduced in any form whatever without explicit permission in writing from the author. The sole exception is for educational institutions which may wish to reproduce it as a handout for their students.

Contact the English4Africa Subject Coordinator

John Keats

Ode to Autumn

Stanza 2: Some questions to challenge you!

Keith Tankard Knowledge4Africa.com Updated: 18 January 2014 Contact the English4Africa Subject Coordinator

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that the creator of Knowledge4Africa, Dr T., has passed away. Helping people through his website gave him no end of pleasure. If you had contact with him and would like to leave a message, please send us an e-mail here.

Have you looked at the questions in the right column?

A granary was a place where corn or wheat was crushed to make flour.

To winnow was to separate the grain from the husk. The husk was then blown away which meant that it was useful that a wind should be flowing at the time. This wind was known as the " winnowing wind".

The goddess Autumn is personified, presented as a beautiful but relaxed woman with blond hair, relaxing on the granary floor. The golden husks being flown away by the wind represents her hair "soft-lifted" and floating away on the air.

The seeds of certain poppies are crushed to make opium which was smoked to induce a wonderful, drug- induced sleep which was rich in dreams. In these lines, the mere smell -- "fume" -- of the poppy flowers was enough to induce this drowsiness and sleep.

Just the smell of the poppy flowers was enough to make Autumn feel drowsy and no longer able to continue her work. The furrow in which she was reaping was therefore only half finished, while she was fast asleep nearby.

A "gleaner" is a person who follows after the reapers and picks up grain which has landed on the ground.

Gleaners were always pictured as carrying a basket on their heads, into which they put the bits of grain that they have picked up. If their baskets are full, their heads are then laden. Their heads have to be kept steady of else they will spill the contents of their baskets.

"Oozings" is an onomatopoeic word. It describes the slow, dripping liquid but also carries the sound of sleepiness. It is the cider-press which is oozing its liquid but this is being made into apple-cider which is an alcoholic beverage. People who imbibe it are likely to nod off to sleep.

Autumn is very much female. She is a goddess who is the counterpart of the Sun-god, Her blonde hair is long as a woman's would have been. She is also a gleaner, a task reserved usually for women.

This document is copyrighted. No part of it may be reproduced in any form whatever without explicit permission in writing from the author. The sole exception is for educational institutions which may wish to reproduce it as a handout for their students.

Contact the English4Africa Subject Coordinator

Stanza 2:
Some questions to challenge you!

Keith Tankard

Knowledge4Africa.com
Updated: 18 January 2014
Contact the English4Africa Subject Coordinator

Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?

The seeds of certain poppies are crushed to make opium which was smoked to induce a wonderful, drug- induced sleep which was rich in dreams.
In these lines, the mere smell -- "fume" -- of the poppy flowers was enough to induce this drowsiness and sleep.

"Oozings" is an onomatopoeic word. It describes the slow, dripping liquid but also carries the sound of sleepiness.
It is the cider-press which is oozing its liquid but this is being made into apple-cider which is an alcoholic beverage. People who imbibe it are likely to nod off to sleep.