Discuss To Autumn as a sensuous poem
Introduction
John Keats (1795-1821) is one of the eminent poets who is better known as the poet of beauty. In his famous ode “To Autumn”, he has made a philosophic treatment of nature showing the different aspects of nature related to the season.
The bounty of nature
At the outset of the poem, the poet has shown how nature is flourished with the influence of the season. Different types of fruits such as grapes, apples, hazzle nuts, and so on are available in autumn that is considered to be the season of fall. Besides fruits and vegetables, honey also brings water to the mouth of the readers. All the fruits and vegetables are ripened in the core and make nature blessed. It is in the poet’s tongue:
“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;”
Thus, the poet means to say though nature is affluent in autumn, it is considered a fall season that is similar to the poet’s life since he could write poem very well, but he could not continue it because of poverty and criticism.
Notes of Poetry
Influence of season on nature
In the second stanza, the autumn has been personified to display the function of nature under the influence of season. This time nature is seen in different shapes. The crops are reaped and half reaped. The season throws its full force to ripen the half-reaped crops and we notice that autumn is crossing the brook with a loaded head that hits the sight of human sense. The patient of nature is also shown.
“Or by a cyder-press, with patient look.
Thou watchest the last oozing hours by hours”.
So, in the second stanza, the poet has made it clear that nature has nothing to do if the season has no influence on it. Likewise, environmental inspiration is very significant for human creativity because it makes an impression on the human mind for being creative.
Resources of nature
In the final stanza of the poem, the poet has shown that autumn has its own assets. The songs of different types of insects and birds such as robins, swallows, etc. attract and influence the sense of hearing. Here the poet suggests autumn not to be sorrowful for not having sweet songs like spring. This suggestion is really philosophic because this is an objective suggestion for all human beings.
“where the songs of spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou has thy music too-“
Philosophic speculation of nature
Though Autumn is full of resources, it is the symbol of death. The bounty of nature symbolizes two aspects of death for the poet. One is the end of his poetic career because of severe poverty and stern criticism from the Quarterly Review and another is his real death that will happen soon because of consumption.
Conclusion
In fine, we can say that the appreciation of nature by John Keats is out and out objective that provides messages to the universe to take lessons from nature since nature appeals to our senses.
