'With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the massed cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees.'

Think of as many words associated with seasons that come to your mind. What kinds of colors, images, sounds and activities do you associate with each of them? Discuss with your partner

Now complete the following table.

'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun,

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run'

Complete the sentence suitably, based on the given extract.

The poet is describing a ____________ called ____________. It is full of ____________ and ____________. Its close friend is the ____________ because they both conspire and fill all ____________ with ripeness. The ____________ are climbing over the roof of the cottage.

List the various activities that autumn and summer are busy in:

• _______________________________________

• _______________________________________

• _______________________________________

• _______________________________________

• _______________________________________

•_______________________________________

Appreciation:

‘Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimmed their clammy cells.’

a) Who is being referred to as 'they'?

b) What do they think? Why?

c) What kind of effect is achieved with the use of words such as 'o'er brimmed' and 'clammy'?

d) What is the overall effect of this stanza?

e) Describe the images and word pictures in this stanza?