Summary and Extra short questions and answers of the poem 'Autumn' by John Clare.

Summary of "Autumn".

Clare's love of nature and close noticing mind gets expression in the poem 'Autumn'. A picture of wind blown autumn is presented here. Autumn is a season of dropping leaves, bare branches and strong winds, as after autumn the season winter will come. So autumn and winter create a complete gloominess in nature.

         The poem starts with the poet's announcement that he loves autumn for various reasons. The gust of wind blows all the time and shakes the casement all day. Again faded leaves continually fall from elm trees because of blowing wind. Those fallen leaves are carried by the strong wind, sometimes twirling by the window pane and then carried through the lane.

         Until night comes, the small twigs shake and dance in the presence  of strong wind. The poet loves to see all these. The sparrow, sitting on the cottage roof, chirp in spite of the cool sorrowfulness. This gives reminder to the poet about the seasons of spring and summer. Even in autumn, the poet can feel the warmth of spring and summer. The cottage smoke that curls upward through the leafless bare trees is an object of attraction and love for the poet. The pigeons are taking shelter round their nest, the cock is crowing, sitting casually on a dung-hill as if everything is all right. The windmills are are blowing gracefully and slowly with the help of strong wind.

            Lea or meadow is left with stubble after crops are harvested. From raven's breast feather is dropping on the lea. Oak fruits are falling on the ground, creating pattering sounds. It is happening near the old crow's nest. The pigs are running in hurry towards those fruits to eat.
So, this is a colourful picture of rural areas in autumn.

Short questions and answers :

1) Name the birds and their cries mentioned in the 'Autumn'. 
Ans: The birds like the pigeon, the cock, the raven and the crow are mentioned in the poem 'Autumn'. The sparrow chirps and the cock crows.
2) What is meant by the 'stubble lea' mentioned in the poem? 
Ans: A lea is a medow, a stretch of open grassland. Here the lea is full of corn left after harvest.
3) Where do the faded  leaves twirl? 
Ans: The faded leaves twirl by the window pane.
4) What happens with the cottage smoke?
Ans: The cottage smoke curls upward through the naked trees.
5) What happens to the leaves of the mossy elm-tree in autumn? 
Ans: In the poem 'Autumn' the leaves of the mossy elm-tree become faded. The gust of wind twirls them by the window pane. Then it carries them away.
6) What is the effect of the sparrow's chirp on the poet's mind? 
Ans: The sparrow's chirp creates an imaginary situation in the poet's mind. It reminds him the warm colorful days of summer and spring in autumn.