Twenty-five years ago, I took an English literature class in college. Our first assignment was to write an essay on the theme of the John Keats ode, "To Autumn." After the professor collected our papers, he said, "Let's discuss the theme of the poem."
I didn't think the poem's theme was difficult to detect. Clearly, Keats thinks we should appreciate Autumn for its beauty, just as we should appreciate the beautiful moments of our lives when we have them. Just as the seasons transition from Autumn to Winter, it's also advisable to accept that time moves on. That's the essence of what I wrote in my essay.
The other students had more baffling interpretations, however. One after another, they raised their hands. One student said, "I think Keats is talking about the calm before nations go to war." Another said, "No, I think he's alluding to pregnancy." Still another suggested, "It could be the Big Bang he's talking about and the peaceful order that resulted after the initial chaos."
I sat there, bewildered. "Where are you all coming up with these off-the-wall ideas?" I thought. "The theme of the poem, is, essentially, 'Autumn is a beautiful season, so appreciate it.'"
After listening to seven or eight offbeat interpretations, the professor said, "I appreciate your efforts, but it's customary when discussing a theme to cite language from the poem that justifies your case."
Most of these students majored in English, but my guess is, after seeing things that weren't there in such an on-the-surface poem, at least a few of them soon pursued other degrees instead.
