Duality And Personification In John Keats's To Autumn

In the incredible ode, “To Autumn”, John Keats uses the literary devices duality and personification to capture the audience’s attention. He talks about the differences in autumn and it becomes clear that no matter the scale of revolt, or whatever happens, the cycle of life will continue endlessly. This is obvious when one looks at the phrases in each stanza, which makes the slight contrasts Keats’ uses purposeful. By looking at duality and personification, we can see the major differences in the phrases and the stanzas; this is important because John Keats magnificently exemplifies that all good things must eventually end as it’s a common cycle to all living on earth. The first stanza, which centers on the beauty of spring, seems to emanate …show more content…
Keats compares Autumn to a gleaner who “dost keep/ Steady(ing) thy laden head across a brook”. This direct mention means that the cutting down of autumn has occurred, and that the cleanup process is underway. This gleaner carries the scraps of the fields in a large sack upon her head. Imagining a woman walking steadily across vast, and empty fields, carrying this heavy burden of closure upon her head leaves a ceremonial and sacred impression. Even at the end Keats has managed to make this death beautiful and stately, for it takes a long time to walk with that much weight balancing upon one’s head, and as she walks the end grows closer and closer. But even at the very end, it is not yet over. The final image compares the completion of the cycle to a person sitting “by a cyder-press, with a patient look/ Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours”. This long, drawn out process of the end of autumn, or the end of a life, has been extended almost to the point of over-exaggeration. Even when there is literally no time left at all to spare, Keats has made it seem as if there is so much left. Sitting and watching the last drops of cider ooze out would make the hours last to their full potential, which is exactly what Keats desires. The word choice of “ooze” also has a dual meaning. When something oozes it sounds like it is forced to leave, it is not coming of its own volition, but being pushed out, in …show more content…
The beauty and power of autumn have overcome, and it will overcome forever. The cycle begins in the early plentiful stages, where nothing can go wrong. The blessing is bestowed upon the earth and life flows from the fingertips of every plant. However, as with all things of virtue, these blessings must be cut down, shaped into the roles that society lays out for them, although they may be spared certain moments of mercy. At the point of this necessary end, the magnificent blooming begins, laying the groundwork for new life ahead of it. Thus with the cycle of the seasons, each year, autumn will return, full force, and die once again. But, this death is so trivial, when compared to the yearly rebirth, and although the poem appeals the sadness and injustice of the death, the force of the ecstasy of rebirth is too much to suppress and the bliss shines