1. The Procession of the Seasons Edmund Spenser AUTUMN SPRING WINTER SUMMER

2. Edmund Spencer (1552-1599) Born in London Attended Cambridge University Influenced by Gabriel Harvey (prominent professor at the University) Married Elizabeth Boyle in 1595 Published more poetry after the marriage Died January 16, 1599, at West Minster and was buried near his Geoffrey Chaucer

3. So forth issued the seasons of the year. First, lusty Spring, all dight in leaves of flowers That freshly budded and new blooms did bear, In which a thousand birds had built their bowers That sweetly sung to call forth paramours, And in his hand a javelin he did bear, And on his head, as fit for warlike stours, A gilt-engraven morion he did wear, That, as some did him love, so others did him fear. Then came the jolly Summer, being dight In a thin silken cassock coloured green That was unlinèd all, to be more light, And on his head a garland well beseen He wore, from which as he had chafèd been The sweat did drop; and in his hand he bore A bow and shafts, as he in forest green Had hunted late the leopard or the boar And now would bathe his limbs, with labour heated sore. So forth issued the seasons of the year. First, lusty Spring, all dight in leaves of flowers That freshly budded and new blooms did bear, In which a thousand birds had built their bowers That sweetly sung to call forth paramours, And in his hand a javelin he did bear, And on his head, as fit for warlike stours, A gilt-engraven morion he did wear, That, as some did him love, so others did him fear. Then came the jolly Summer, being dight In a thin silken cassock coloured green That was unlinèd all, to be more light, And on his head a garland well beseen He wore, from which as he had chafèd been The sweat did drop; and in his hand he bore A bow and shafts, as he in forest green Had hunted late the leopard or the boar And now would bathe his limbs, with labour heated sore.

4. Then came the Autumn all in yellow clad As though he joyèd in his plenteous store, Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad That he had banished hunger, which to-fore Had by the belly oft him pinchèd sore; Upon his head a wreath, that was enrolled With the ears of corn of every sort, he bore, And in his hand a sickle he did hold To reap the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold. Lastly came Winter clothèd all in frieze, Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill, Whilst on his hoary beard his breath did freeze; And the dull drops that from his purpled bill, As from a limbeck, did adown distil. In his right hand a tippèd staff he held With which his feeble steps he stayèd still, For he was faint with cold and weak with eld That scarce his loosèd limbs he able was to wield. Then came the Autumn all in yellow clad As though he joyèd in his plenteous store, Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad That he had banished hunger, which to-fore Had by the belly oft him pinchèd sore; Upon his head a wreath, that was enrolled With the ears of corn of every sort, he bore, And in his hand a sickle he did hold To reap the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold. Lastly came Winter clothèd all in frieze, Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill, Whilst on his hoary beard his breath did freeze; And the dull drops that from his purpled bill, As from a limbeck, did adown distil. In his right hand a tippèd staff he held With which his feeble steps he stayèd still, For he was faint with cold and weak with eld That scarce his loosèd limbs he able was to wield.

5. Content This four-stanza poem describes the four different seasons by comparing the “procession of the seasons” to the stages of human life. Written in chronological order beginning with spring (youth), the poem moves through summer (young adult) to autumn (middle age) to winter (old age and death). The seasons are also personified as different types of characters: a young lover/soldier (spring), a hunter (summer), a farmer during harvest (autumn), and an elderly man (winter).

6. Structure The stanzas share a similar structure. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDD with the final line providing a summary of each stanza. Meter is consistent, as are stanzas. This formula represents the inevitable stages of life.

7. So forth issued the seasons of the year. First, lusty Spring, all dight in leaves of flowers That freshly budded and new blooms did bear, In which a thousand birds had built their bowers That sweetly sung to call forth paramours, The subject of the poem is introduced. Metaphor indicates birth. Diction reflects spring as the mating season. Archaic diction reflects that seasons, like man's circumstances, have not changed. Alliteration of "B" sound suggests movement like the emergence of youth. Personification begins immediately with "lusty spring."

8. And in his hand a javelin he did bear, And on his head, as fit for warlike stours, A gilt-engraven morion he did wear, That, as some did him love, so others did him fear. Tools of battle ("javelin" and helmet) represent man as a warrior--young, vigorous, and fearsome, much like spring, which is an emotionally immature stage of life. Inverted syntax places emphasis on "javelin" to show uncontrollable nature of spring. The commas create caesura, which highlights duality of the season and the youth it represents.

9. Then came the jolly Summer, being dight In a thin silken cassock coloured green That was unlinèd all, to be more light, And on his head a garland well beseen He wore, from which as he had chafèd been The sweat did drop; and in his hand he bore A bow and shafts, as he in forest green Had hunted late the leopard or the boar And now would bathe his limbs, with labour heated sore. Note how the informal diction provides an honest description of the seasons rather than a glorification of them. The tool progresses from a javelin and helmet to a “bow and shaft” to show how age weakens the man. Archaic vocabulary continues. Personification continues with “Summer,” a “jolly” man wearing a “garland,” “from which” the “sweat did drop.” This metaphor paints the man as a strong adult--a hunter now, not a warrior, who provides for his family. The alliteration and consonance of the “h” sound softens the “b” from the first stanza to show the man has become a rational adult.

10. Then came the Autumn all in yellow clad As though he joyèd in his plenteous store, Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad That he had banished hunger, which to-fore Had by the belly oft him pinchèd sore; Upon his head a wreath, that was enrolled With the ears of corn of every sort, he bore, And in his hand a sickle he did hold To reap the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold. He now reaps the fruits of his labors. The military imagery (“javelin and “bow” to a “sickle”) has shifted to a farmer during harvest, a man satisfied with his accomplishments throughout life. The “sickle” may also be a symbol of his approaching death as winter is the next season. Alliterative “h” continues in this stanza. The inverted syntax stresses how the hunger of his youth is no longer present.

11. Lastly came Winter clothèd all in frieze, Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill, Whilst on his hoary beard his breath did freeze; And the dull drops that from his purpled bill, As from a limbeck, did adown distil. In his right hand a tippèd staff he held With which his feeble steps he stayèd still, For he was faint with cold and weak with eld That scarce his loosèd limbs he able was to wield. Informal diction continues to provide an honest description of the seasons. Tool has completed its final shift to a “staff” that supports an elderly man. Winter is personified as the end of life, a time when all life is frozen. Consonance of “l” creates a quiet, soothing sound as life reaches its end. Final images contrast stongly with initial images in stanza 1. Winter’s only purpose is to bring death, unlike other seasons. The “limbeck” drips distilled water (like an hourglass) until it depletes. Winter’s only purpose is to bring death, unlike other seasons. The “limbeck” drips distilled water (like an hourglass) until it depletes.

12. Tone The tone of the poem is neutral, perhaps contemplative, as there is no true message, only a progression of life as symbolized through the seasons. The tone also changes when the poem shifts in the final stanza. Rather than joyous and fulfilling occasions experienced throughout life, man reaches his end without any evidence of pleasure, just misery.

13. Works Cited http://aspoetryanalysis.weebly.com/ http://www.cieliterature.com/2014/11/04/the- procession-of-the-seasons/