Question

read the poem \autumn\ by emily dickinson.

the morns are meeker than they were,
the nuts are getting brown;
the berrys cheek is plumper,
the rose is out of town.

the maple wears a gayer scarf,
the field a scarlet gown.
lest i should be old-fashioned,
ill put a trinket on.

which statement best explains the central idea of the first stanza?

autumn is less enjoyable than summer.
autumn is the time to harvest fruit.
nature provides signs of autumn.
nature is inactive in autumn.

Explanation:

Analyze the first stanza

The first stanza describes several natural changes:

• "The morns are meeker than they were" (mornings are cooler/gentler)
• "The nuts are getting brown" (nuts are ripening)
• "The berry's cheek is plumper" (berries are swelling/ripening)
• "The rose is out of town" (summer flowers like roses are gone)

These details represent various physical signs in nature that indicate the arrival of autumn.

Evaluate the options

• "Autumn is less enjoyable than summer": The stanza describes changes neutrally and beautifully, not as less enjoyable.
• "Autumn is the time to harvest fruit": While berries and nuts are ripening, the stanza focuses on observation rather than the human act of harvesting.
• "Nature provides signs of autumn": This directly matches the descriptions of changing mornings, ripening nuts/berries, and disappearing roses.
• "Nature is inactive in autumn": The stanza shows active changes (nuts browning, berries plumping), so nature is not inactive.

Answer:

• Autumn is less enjoyable than summer.
• Autumn is the time to harvest fruit.
• Nature provides signs of autumn. (Correct answer)
• Nature is inactive in autumn.