journal 20

Autumn was a very interesting poem to read. Although it is still pretty early in the morning and by my brain really had to work hard at analyzing this poem, I think I finally understood it. This poem is talking about Autumn. It is also talking about all the things that Autumn brings and the effects of the land and people it has.I think that the speaker of this poem is preparing for Autumn. They seem to be ready for it, but a little upset because of the rain that will come with it. The verse on line 12,

"Like flames upon an altar shine the sheaves," is a metaphor comparing flames to the shine of the sheaves. I would think that flames would bring brightness and color to the sheaves. Beings that the sheaves are already shining, I think that Longfellow is trying to say that Autumn is going to be very bright and colorful.

Longfellow also writes about the farmer's dealing with Autumn. He says that Autumn is going to bless the farms (Line 8).

This poem definitely belongs in the Romanticism time period. Longfellow uses a lot of different references to nature, such as farming and the leaves. Nature was a big part of Romanticism because nature involved a a lot of creativity. It took creativity to be able to describe something like the dew on a leaf. Longfellow used a lot of metaphors in this poem. One of the main ways to express creativity in the Romanticism time period was through poetry. The final way that Romanticism characteristics were shown throughout this poem was through description. Longfellow described all of the little things. He paid close attention to the finer things in life. Describing the season of Autumn, he made you get excited for Autumn and think of all the things Autumn brings with it. With all of these characteristics of Romanticism writing, Longfellow definitely fit in with his time period.

Longfellow. "Sonnets. Autumn. The Belfry of Bruges and Other Poems. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 1893. Complete Poetical Works." Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Quotes, Poems, Novels, Classics and Hundreds More. Web. 08 Dec. 2011. .