To Autumn by John Keats
“To Autumn” is one of the most famous, and perfect odes written by
John Keats, and any modern writer. It is quite fitting that his
greatest piece was the last one that he ever wrote before he met with
his unfortunate end. However, this ode has some significant
differences to the other odes that he has written. Firstly, there is
no flight from reality, or deviation into imagination or dream, in
fact there is no narrative voice at all. Secondly, it has an
unprecedented emphasis and commemoration of change and progress, not
only through autumn, but through all mortal events. While the title
implies a progression through autumn, the ode also has references to
an aging day, and even personal maturity.
The first stanza is brimming with specific vivid visual imagery. The
first which relates to the change in the season and day is the
“maturing sun.” This sun makes the fruit ripen and cause the burst of
ripe food for harvesting. He then goes on to describe the outburst of
ripening fruit to an excruciating intensity.Life is a beautiful thing that should not be wasted. Life must be lived without warning; it is not to be taken for granted. We will never fully understand life, not even in a million years. The theme of John Keats' "To Autumn" is to enjoy life, even as you grow old and it begins to move away from you. He spreads his message through the time frame, imagery, and diction of the stanzas.
To begin with, the time frame of the stanzas begins to prove the theme. By itself, it doesn?t prove the theme, but, when added with the imagery and diction, it gets the job done. The second and third proofs build off of the time frame. The time frame of the stanzas progresses through autumn and a day as a person?s life does. It shows that autumn and a day are being paralleled to a person?s life.
The first stanza is set in early autumn and the morning. This is shown is passages from the poem. For example, season of...