In Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Autumn" it talks about autumn (obviously), but it also talks about life and the changes we go through and how they are for the good while also giving a descriptive literal meaning to the poem as well. The literal meaning to "Autumn" is the change in weather and the change of the color of leaves. Longfellow talks about the different changes that signify fall or autumn is coming and what that feels like to him. He starts out his poem with "Thou comest, Autumn, heralded by the rain" which literally means after summer comes fall brought in by storms and crummy weather, but goes on to say "Brighter than brightest silks of Samarcand" talking about the beauty these showers bring and the gleaming of the rain twinkling in the sunlight on the golden yellow leaves (Longfellow lines 1-3).
Obviously the literal meaning of this poem is far off from the real meaning behind it. The point Longfellow is trying to get across is about life and the different changes people have. People change so often just like the seasons do in a year. They are very distinctive and can be very beautiful and amazing things, but sometimes they can be pretty ugly. Just like in a season people have different moods different days. When Longfellow talks about the weather being rainy and then beautiful is just like a mood in someone (Longfellow lines 1-5). After the nastiness comes a happy mood and the day is great. In the poem he talks about fall and the change in leaves from their green color to their beautiful yellow and red colors before going to brown and the weather getting nasty again. He is trying to point out that we should take advantage of the good times and not look back on the bad.. That is why he only talks about rain in one or two lines and then goes on for the remainder of the poem to talk about the beauty found in the leaves and the cool breeze while in the sunshine. He talks about the joy that these things bring to people and the smiles it puts on their faces.
It could also be related to a relationship between two people. The nasty weather could signify the moments when a relationship is rocky and there are disagreements between the two. The beautiful fall weather could signify all of the happy moments you share with this person and that sticking with it and working your way through the downs is worth it in the end because the happy moments are so much more important. You shouldn't dwell on the past and you should trust your significant other. Anticipating the good to come in something is exciting and brings joy through the downs. If you truly like someone you can hate them one moment and be completely over it the next. A healthy relationship is basically two people who are best friends. You have to be nice to each other and work through things or else you will lose a great friend of yours. When Longfellow talks about the transition from the rain to the beautiful leaves falling from the trees signifies how much more important the big picture and the end is than the little things in the middle.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. "Autumn." Bartleby.com. Web. 11 Dec. 2011.
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