To Autumn

• To Autumn – John Keats
• The poem 'To Autumn' is an 'Ode' which means that it is dedicated to autumn. Keats wrote the poem to celebrate the season and the various changes which take place during the time. The poem is about autumn and covers the three stages of the season – the beginning when fruit/plants are ready to harvest, the middle when animals go into hibernation and things begin to die, and the end as winter begins
• First line 'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness'


  Suggests that autumn is a season of change but despite this, it is a calm season
• Personification of autumn


  Keats addresses autumn directly and implies that autumn 'behaves' as if it has all the time in the world even though time is passing by
• The last line 'And gathering swallows twitter in the sky' shows that winter is drawing in and time is coming to an end – it could represent the circle of life
• Keats was a romantic poet and wrote a lot about nature and the natural world
• Keats died at the age of 25, he was worried that he would leave no lasting impression on the world – this poem could be his attempt to leave his mark and be remembered