Lecture on Rainer Maria Rilke's Poem 'Autumn Day'

Jun 5, 2024

Lecture on Rainer Maria Rilke's Poem "Autumn Day"

Introduction to Rainer Maria Rilke

  • Full name: Rainer Maria Rilke
  • Lifespan: 1875-1926 (51 years old)
  • Cause of Death: Two stories
    • Died from sepsis after pricking his finger on a rose thorn while picking a rose for a woman
    • Died from leukemia

Overview of "Autumn Day"

  • Opening Lines:
    • "Lord, it is time, the summer was very grand"
    • A prayer-like invocation, regardless of the reader's faith
    • Reflects on the grandeur of the past summer
  • Imagery and Symbolism:
    • Summer's vitality leading to the fruit's ripeness and the sweetness in wine
    • Requesting autumnal changes: "Put your shadow on the sundials, and let loose the winds upon the fields"
      • Shadow symbolizes time passage, divinity
      • Wind symbolizes change
  • Thematic Elements:
    • Transition and Ripening:
      • The poem calls for the completion of summer's work: ripening fruits, sweetening heavy wine
      • Commands for nature to fulfill its duties
    • Reflection and Solitude:
      • The state of being without a home signifies an end, no need to acquire more; embrace simplicity
      • Solitary individuals will remain alone, finding contentment in isolation
      • Activities of the solitary: reading, writing letters, wandering restlessly

Interpretation and Meaning

  • Emphasis on Natural Cycles
    • The poem mirrors the natural process of ripening and completion
    • Connection between human emotions and nature's cycles
  • Solitude and Creation
    • Solitude seen as a source of creativity, contemplation, and deeper connection with nature
    • Symbolizes the poet's own life: living in solitude and creating profound art

Connection to Other Literary Works

  • Comparison to Korean poet Lee Yuk-sa's themes of not owning material things, embracing natural simplicity
    • Critique of materialism and the quest for ownership from birth to death

Historical Context

  • Background on Rilke's life and influences
    • Early life challenges: loss of sister, mother's influence
    • Influential travels and relationships
      • Connection with Lou Andreas-SalomΓ©
      • Encounter with Tolstoy and other Russian literary figures
    • Assistant to sculptor Auguste Rodin
      • Artistic growth from association with renowned artist

Key Verses and Their Implications

  • "Your shadow on the sundials, and let loose the winds upon the fields"
    • Sundial represents time, shadow God's divine presence
    • Field winds symbolize divine intervention in the natural order
  • "Command the last fruits to be full" and "grant them another two more southerly days"
    • Urgency in completing the ripening process
    • Extension of favorable conditions for natural culmination
  • "He who has no house now will never build one"
    • Acceptance of one's state and embracing spiritual poverty
    • Finding fulfillment in what is rather than striving for more
  • "He who is alone now will stay alone, will sit, read, write long letters, and wander restlessly in the autumn"
    • Loneliness as a choice and condition for introspection and artistic pursuit

Conclusion

  • The poem's cyclical nature echoes the eternal return, life’s continuous process of growth and decay
  • Offers contemplative reflection on the passage of time, completeness, and the role of solitude in personal growth and creativity

Key Takeaways

  • Rilke's "Autumn Day" combines themes of natural transition, solitude, and introspection
  • Reflects Rilke's philosophy and personal life experiences
  • Calls for embracing natural rhythms and finding beauty and purpose within solitude