The Seasons—A Reflective Poem About the Glorification of Nature
The Seasons is a poem in blank verse by James Thomson, a one of the pioneer of Romanticism. It is in four books, one for each season, and a final “Hymn” by James Thomson himself. It was published in 1726-30.
Summarizing the Poem
“Winter (1726)”, the first of the four books, describes the rain, wind and snow. It also describes a man perishing in the snowdrift white and how his family uneasily awaits him. The poem depicts an evening spent by a student in a village and city. It gives a beautiful picture of wolves descending from the mountains.
The next is “Summer (1727)” which shows the progress of a summer day with the scenes like haymaking, sheep shearing and bathing. It consists of a picture of the Torrid Zone and two narrative episodes of the lover Celadon whose Amelia is stuck by lighting, and of Damon who beholds Musidora bathing.
“Spring (1728)” describes the influence of the season on vegetables, on inanimate objects, brute beasts, on man. The poet beautifully describes the charming picture of angels.
“Automn (1730)” givers a dramatic picture of shooting and hunting, and condemns these sports for their barbarity. The poet describes the reaping of the fruits of the earth, the migration of birds, and the delight of the country just after the harvest is gathered in. This book also includes the episode of Palemon who falls in love with Lavinia.
“Hymn” to nature is the concluding part of this poem. It’s purpose is to communicate a vision of nature as something revelatory of God.
Appreciating the Poem
The Seasons was actually not composed to set forth a philosophy. Rather, Thomson's aim was to depict external nature in a way which would combine realism of observation and innermost sensibility without sacrificing that ideal of mostly generalized normality which classicism had imposed upon poet.
The delight in fox-hunting is well described along with the concern about the feeling of a rabbit pursued by the hunter. The poet shows enthusiasm of good works here in this poem.
The poem exhibits the poet Thomson’s ideas about man and nature. The moral function of the poem is to show the fact that external nature is important to him in its moral significance to man.
Summarizing the Poem
“Winter (1726)”, the first of the four books, describes the rain, wind and snow. It also describes a man perishing in the snowdrift white and how his family uneasily awaits him. The poem depicts an evening spent by a student in a village and city. It gives a beautiful picture of wolves descending from the mountains.
The next is “Summer (1727)” which shows the progress of a summer day with the scenes like haymaking, sheep shearing and bathing. It consists of a picture of the Torrid Zone and two narrative episodes of the lover Celadon whose Amelia is stuck by lighting, and of Damon who beholds Musidora bathing.
“Spring (1728)” describes the influence of the season on vegetables, on inanimate objects, brute beasts, on man. The poet beautifully describes the charming picture of angels.
“Automn (1730)” givers a dramatic picture of shooting and hunting, and condemns these sports for their barbarity. The poet describes the reaping of the fruits of the earth, the migration of birds, and the delight of the country just after the harvest is gathered in. This book also includes the episode of Palemon who falls in love with Lavinia.
“Hymn” to nature is the concluding part of this poem. It’s purpose is to communicate a vision of nature as something revelatory of God.
Appreciating the Poem
The Seasons was actually not composed to set forth a philosophy. Rather, Thomson's aim was to depict external nature in a way which would combine realism of observation and innermost sensibility without sacrificing that ideal of mostly generalized normality which classicism had imposed upon poet.
The delight in fox-hunting is well described along with the concern about the feeling of a rabbit pursued by the hunter. The poet shows enthusiasm of good works here in this poem.
The poem exhibits the poet Thomson’s ideas about man and nature. The moral function of the poem is to show the fact that external nature is important to him in its moral significance to man.
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