CONNOTATIONS OF GOLD IN SELECTED POEMS ABOUT AUTUMN
CONNOTATIONS OF GOLD IN SELECTED POEMS ABOUT AUTUMN

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analize the connotations brought into the readers' minds by the association between autumn and gold in the following poems chosen for analysis: Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost, Autumn's Gold by George Macdonald, Gold Leaves by G. K. Chesterton, and a haiku poem by Ion Cuzuioc. In order to support the connotations of gold and autumn, the way in which these elements frequently go together will also be pointed out, briefly, in online articles, where poems about autumn to be enjoyed are presented, paintings, as well as poems written as a hobby by present-day authors, who are part of online poetry communities and online social media. The analysis goes through different ages and cultures, showing how this association between autumn and gold can be mentioned directly or implied by the readers. The connotations of gold are found relying on the free associations technique, itself based on background knowledge consisting of already existing artistic and cultural products. The experience is a universal one, with connotations of gold including, among others, happiness, preciousness, material and psychological well-being, joy, richness, brightness, warmth. The methodology will be made up of reader-response criticism, textual analysis, psychology, and psychoanalysis.

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