ODE TO AUTUMN BY KEATS

Hareshwar Roy,


John Keats is the high priest of beauty in English poetry. He is one of the well known poets of Romantic School of Poetry. 'Ode To Autumn' is the last of the great odes of John Keats. It was composed in September 1819. Critics consider that it is the best ode of John Keats. It beautifully unites mood, meter and thought.

'Ode To Autumn' is one of the purest poems of Nature. The evocation to the beauty and bounty of nature makes this ode a thing of beauty. Its purity as an ode of Nature is refreshing for ever. This poem is a fine Hellenistic achievement of Keats. The personification is used as a poetic technique in this ode.

In the first stanza of the poem the poet describes the beauty of the season. Here the Autumn has been presented as the season of mellow fruitfulness and happy content.The personification of Autumn reaches its climax in the second stanza. The Autumn has been presented in its varied forms. It has been presented as a farmer, a reaper and a gleaner. Thus in the beginning two stanzas the poet has presented the fantastic beauty of Nature. It is alive and it has the capability of speaking.

The third stanza captures the music of Autumn. Here the poet gives vivid description of the sounds of Autumn. The Autumn has its own particular music. It is heard in the evening. It is not gloomy. The progress of this ode is a testimony to Keats's empathy.

Thus 'Ode To Autumn' is a beautiful Nature poem. It presents the sights and scenes of the Autumn season. The entire Autumn season appears before us. The pictorial quality of the poem is praiseworthy.Here there is no sign of pessimism. The personification is the real essence of the poem. Here there is a fine melody that makes the poem remarkable.
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