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Lesson 4: Rhyming: Merry Autumn

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Performer: Librivox - Jason Mills


It's all a farce,—these tales they tell

About the breezes sighing,

And moans astir o'er field and dell,

Because the year is dying.



Such principles are most absurd,—

I care not who first taught 'em;

There's nothing known to beast or bird

To make a solemn autumn.



In solemn times, when grief holds sway

With countenance distressing,

You'll note the more of black and gray

Will then be used in dressing.



Now purple tints are all around;

The sky is blue and mellow;

And e'en the grasses turn the ground

From modest green to yellow.



The seed burrs all with laughter crack

On featherweed and jimson;

And leaves that should be dressed in black

Are all decked out in crimson.



A butterfly goes winging by;

A singing bird comes after;

And Nature, all from earth to sky,

Is bubbling o'er with laughter.



The ripples wimple on the rills,

Like sparkling little lasses;

The sunlight runs along the hills,

And laughs among the grasses.



The earth is just so full of fun

It really can't contain it;

And streams of mirth so freely run

The heavens seem to rain it.



Don't talk to me of solemn days

In autumn's time of splendor,

Because the sun shows fewer rays,

And these grow slant and slender.



Why, it's the climax of the year,—

The highest time of living!—

Till naturally its bursting cheer

Just melts into thanksgiving.

    Literary Devices Literary Devices    

Lesson 4: Rhyming: Merry Autumn

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Performer: Librivox - Jason Mills

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the poem.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Read about the poet.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

In 'Merry Autumn', Paul Laurence Dunbar scolds those that mourn autumn and the 'dying of the year.' Dunbar argues that autumn is a glorious time of reds and yellows, of singing birds, sunshine, and fun. Dunbar sees autumn as the very best of the seasons and the 'climax of the year.'

Concepts

Poets often use literary devices, defined as 'rules of thumb, convention, or structure that are employed in literature and storytelling.'

The nine literary devices we'll study include:

  1. Rhyming
  2. Alliteration
  3. Similes
  4. Metaphors
  5. Personification
  6. Foreshadowing
  7. Allusion
  8. Hyperbole
  9. Onomatopoeia

Rhyming is defined as 'A word that is pronounced identically with another word from the vowel in its stressed syllable to the end.'

A rhyme scheme is defined as 'The pattern created by the rhymes at the ends of the lines of a stanza of poetry.'

  1. Study the poem, 'Little Miss Muffet,' by Mother Goose, below and identify the pairs of rhyming words.
  2. Note the rhyme scheme of A-A-B-C-C-B.

Study the common rhyme schemes:

  1. Traditional: A-B-A-B...
  2. Couplet: A-A-B-B...
  3. Enclosed: A-B-B-A...
  4. Triplet: A-A-A-B-B-B...

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Study an Example Poem

Does John Milton's poem, 'How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,' follow a traditional (ABAB), couplet (AABB), enclosed (ABBA), or triplet (AAABBB) rhyming scheme?

  • How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,
  • Stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year!
  • My hasting days fly on with full career
  • But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th.

Activity 5: Identify the Rhyme Scheme

Review the poem excerpt. Does it follow a traditional (ABAB), couplet (AABB), enclosed (ABBA), or triplet (AAABBB) rhyming scheme?

  • It's all a farce,—these tales they tell
  • About the breezes sighing,
  • And moans astir o'er field and dell,
  • Because the year is dying.

Activity 6: Complete Book Activities   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete pages 13-15 of 'Elementary Poetry 5: Literary Devices.'

References

  1. 'Rhyme scheme.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

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