The phrase ‘maturing sun’ connotes ripeness and abundance. It also suggests the sun has reached its best - matured - in autumn.

Semantic field of music presents a joyous atmosphere - ‘where are the songs of spring’; ‘thou hast thy music too’.

Nature

Abundance and fruitfulness

Passing of time

Change and transformation

Admiration and awe

Instead of the usual 10 lines per stanza, 'To Autumn' features 11 lines. This could present autumn as plentiful and abundant.

The poem is written as an ode, which is typically romantic. This could show Keat's love for the season.

It was written in 1819.

The rhyme scheme makes the poem flow. It could show the fruitfulness of autumn.

'The soldier' is general - it could show the mentality of the time.

'If I should die' - An acceptance to die for England. Patriotism. Highlights the mentality of the time.

'In hearts at peace' - Positive. Shows how the war was viewed before the destructive truth was found out.

'Washed by the rivers, blest by suns' Presents England as a paradise.

Did not have first hand experience of war - unrealistic account.

Regular rhyme scheme stanza 1 (ABAB); Irregular stanza 2.

Layout of a sonnet (8,6). Shows his love for England.

Strict puritan (strict religion)

5 school friends died when she was young due to consumption

often wrote about death

Recluse ~30 years and relied on letter correspondence

Progressive

The single stanza could show how summer slowly lapses away without a break.

The use of the dashes slows the poem down drastically which could reflect the sun slowly drifting away.

Sibilance of the 'S' sound - 'the summer lapsed away' - could reflect the summer slowly disappearing.

'Sequestered afternoon' could show summer's withdrawal from the Earth. It could also represent Dickinson's reclusive nature.

The words, 'keel' and 'wing' provide stability and support. They could represent how summer provides support for the Dickinson family.

The sun is shown to be temporary and a stranger, 'as guest', the morning foreign shone.'

Change/transformation

Passing of time

First hand account

About a gas attack (6000 died)

Believes that war is futile

War/conflict

He uses similes to suggest the men are prematurely old and weakened - 'coughing like hags'

'Innocent tongues' - Plural - wasn't a small amount. Links to context - 6000 dead after gas attack.

'Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!' - The men are so tired it takes time to comprehend/sink in. Could show how many were inexperienced with war. The sudden increase in pace creates a sense of urgency.

'Bent double' - The soldiers are so tired they can barely stand up. Extreme exhaustion. 'Trudge' - slow and heavy walk. Downbeat tone.