The Human SeasonsBy: John Keats

Analyzed By: Daniel McMurtrie

Four Seasons fill the measure of the year; There are four seasons in the mind of man: He has his lusty Spring, when fancy clear

Takes in all beauty with an easy span: He has his Summer, when luxuriously

Spring’s honied cud of youthful thought he loves To ruminate, and by such dreaming high

Is nearest unto heaven: quiet coves His soul has in its Autumn, when his wings

He furleth close; contented so to lookOn mists in idleness—to let fair things

Pass by unheeded as a threshold brook. He has his Winter too of pale misfeature, Or else he would forego his mortal nature.

The Human Seasons

AnalysisJohn Keats’ poem “The Human Seasons” is an

interpretation of the life of a human. It shows the four seasons and which time in a person’s life each stands for. This shows the importance of nature in

one’s life and how each one of us relate to nature in one way or another.

Spring The first season depicted in the poem is

spring. He explains that spring is short and a

time for beauty and lust. This is compared to

childhood of a person. It is short, beautiful

and the time for growth physically and

mentally.

Summer

The second season depicted is luxurious summer. This is the heart of the seasons as it is the heart of the human life..

The summer of the human

life is the best time in

our lives. We are still

young, but have the

maturity to learn and

understand life not held

in childhood.

Autumn

Autumn is the time when you finally realize

that you are getting old. It is time to be

peaceful as quiet coves or closed wings.

This time in our life allows you to reflect

on the things you have done and accept

them and let time pass in peace.

WinterWinter is the last of the four seasons as it is the last of

the human life. In the poem, death is described as a pale misfeature of the human soul. You cannot run

away from death, as you cannot run away from winter: It is a part of nature and your soul.