Altogether Autumn

noodles · 09-24-2007, 01:38 PM

I recently read a literary essay entitled "Altogether Autumn."

The last para. goes like this, which, presumably, implies the theme:

Then came the autumn when I [mother/narrator] planted the bulbs alone, and knew that from then on it would always be that way. But every year, in autumn, she [daughter, who planted bulbs with mother together throughout childhood but doesn't now since she has grown from a toddler to a schoolgirl] talks about it. Full of nostalgia for the security of childhood, the seclusion of a garden, the final moments of a season [autumn/for the sake of alliteration?]. How both of us would dearly love to have a time machine. To go back. Just for a day.

My question: What does ALTOGETHER mean in the title?

Together? Whole? True? or whatever?

Please help me if any one has any clues.

Eng. is not my native language.

Sundae · 09-24-2007, 01:56 PM

Altogether in this sense probably means totally, as in as Autumnal as it can possibly be. I assume the author also wants you to consider the all together aspect - the daughter remembers the occasion as far more than a planting session.

noodles · 09-24-2007, 02:08 PM

Thank you, Sundae Girl, for your help.

barefoot serpent · 09-24-2007, 02:10 PM

In the altogether = naked, nude

is always my first guess...

noodles · 09-24-2007, 02:15 PM

Two and four is sex.

monster · 09-24-2007, 04:39 PM

I think the word was chosen to allow the reader to infer multiple meanings.

such as: not only is the season autumn, but the mother and daughter are in the autumn of their child/parent relationship/the daughter is in the autumn of her childhood. -everything is autumnal/totally autumnal

the mother and daaughter are rememebring it together -the memory of the activity is still bringing them together

etc.

laywong · 10-11-2010, 07:32 PM

The last paragraph is so amazing.

footfootfoot · 10-12-2010, 08:58 AM

A lot of hits for Chinese pages with that title. Who is the author?

footfootfoot · 10-12-2010, 09:11 AM

Suddenly, I think of my youngest daughter, living now in Amsterdam. Very soon she will call and ask “Have you planted the bulbs yet?” Then I will answer teasingly that actually I'm waiting until she comes to help me. And then we will both be overcome by nostalgia, because once we always did that together. One entire sunny autumn afternoon, when she was three and a half years old, she helped me with all enthusiasm and joyfulness of her age. . Very soon she will call and ask "Have you planted the bulbs yet?" Then I will answer teasingly that actually I'm waiting until she comes to help me. And then we will both be overcome by nostalgia, because once we always did that together. One entire sunny autumn afternoon, when she was three and a half years old, she helped me with all enthusiasm and joyfulness of her age.

It was one of the last afternoons that I had her around, because her place in school has been already reserved. She wandered around so happily carefree with her little bucket and spade, covering the bulbs with earth and calling out “Night, night” or “Sleep night”, her little voice chattering constantly on. She discovered “baby bulbs”, “kiddie bulbs”, and “mummy and daddy bulbs”, the latter snuggling cozily together. While we were both working so industriously, I watched my kid very deliberately. She was such a tiny thing, between an infant and a toddler, with such a round little tummy.

It was one of the last afternoons that I had her around, because her place in school has been already reserved. She wandered around so happily carefree with her little bucket and spade, covering the bulbs with earth and calling out "Night, night" or "Sleep night", her little voice chattering constantly on. She discovered "baby bulbs", "kiddie bulbs", and "mummy and daddy bulbs", the latter snuggling cozily together. While we were both working so industriously, I watched my kid very deliberately. She was such a tiny thing, between an infant and a toddler, with such a round little tummy.

Every autumn, throughout her childhood, we repeated the ritual of planting the bulbs together. Every autumn I saw her changing, the toddler became a schoolgirl, a straightforward realist, full of drive. Never once dreamy, her hands in her pockets; no longer happily indulging in her fantasies. The schoolgirl developed long legs, her jaw-line changed, she had her hair cut. It was autumn again that I thought “bye roses, bye butterflies, bye schoolgirl”. I listened to her stories while we painstakingly burrowed in the earth, planting the promise of spring.

Every autumn, throughout her childhood, we repeated the ritual of planting the bulbs together. Every autumn I saw her changing, the toddler became a schoolgirl, a straightforward realist, full of drive. Never once dreamy, her hands in her pockets; no longer happily indulging in her fantasies. The schoolgirl developed long legs, her jaw-line changed, she had her hair cut. It was autumn again that I thought "bye roses, bye butterflies, bye schoolgirl". I listened to her stories while we painstakingly burrowed in the earth, planting the promise of spring.

Suddenly, much quicker than I had expected, a tall teenager was standing by my side. She is taller than I. The ritual became rather silent, and we no longer chatter from one subject to another. I thought about her room full of posters and knick-knacks, how it had been full of treasures in bottles and boxes, white peddles, a copper brooch, colored drawings, the treasures of a child who still knew nothing of money, who wanted to be read to and who looked anxiously at a spider at her room and asked, “Would he want to be my friend?”

Suddenly, much quicker than I had expected, a tall teenager was standing by my side. She is taller than I. The ritual became rather silent, and we no longer chatter from one subject to another. I thought about her room full of posters and knick-knacks, how it had been full of treasures in bottles and boxes, white peddles, a copper brooch, colored drawings, the treasures of a child who still knew nothing of money, who wanted to be read to and who looked anxiously at a spider at her room and asked, "Would he want to be my friend?"

Then came the autumn when I planted the bulbs alone, and I knew from then on it would always be that way. But every year, in autumn, she talks about it. Full of nostalgia for the security of childhood, the seclusion of a garden, the final moments of a season. How both of us would dearly love to have a time machine. To go back. Just for a day.

Then came the autumn when I planted the bulbs alone, and I knew from then on it would always be that way. But every year, in autumn, she talks about it. Full of nostalgia for the security of childhood, the seclusion of a garden , the final moments of a season. How both of us would dearly love to have a time machine. To go back. Just for a day.

skysidhe · 10-12-2010, 09:13 AM

Altogether autumn as a title sounds better than ' It was all about autumn' but then it's anyone's guess.

Gravdigr · 10-13-2010, 03:10 AM

Altogether = wholly

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodles

Two and four is sex.

Two and four is an orgy. Orgies are good. Mmmkay?

09-24-2007, 01:38 PM	#1
noodles Wet Nurse's Aide Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 40	Altogether Autumn I recently read a literary essay entitled "Altogether Autumn." The last para. goes like this, which, presumably, implies the theme: Then came the autumn when I [mother/narrator] planted the bulbs alone, and knew that from then on it would always be that way. But every year, in autumn, she [daughter, who planted bulbs with mother together throughout childhood but doesn't now since she has grown from a toddler to a schoolgirl] talks about it. Full of nostalgia for the security of childhood, the seclusion of a garden, the final moments of a season [autumn/for the sake of alliteration?]. How both of us would dearly love to have a time machine. To go back. Just for a day. My question: What does ALTOGETHER mean in the title? Together? Whole? True? or whatever? Please help me if any one has any clues. Eng. is not my native language.

09-24-2007, 01:56 PM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Altogether in this sense probably means totally, as in as Autumnal as it can possibly be. I assume the author also wants you to consider the all together aspect - the daughter remembers the occasion as far more than a planting session. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

09-24-2007, 02:10 PM	#4
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	In the altogether = naked, nude is always my first guess... __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

09-24-2007, 04:39 PM	#6
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I think the word was chosen to allow the reader to infer multiple meanings. such as: not only is the season autumn, but the mother and daughter are in the autumn of their child/parent relationship/the daughter is in the autumn of her childhood. -everything is autumnal/totally autumnal the mother and daaughter are rememebring it together -the memory of the activity is still bringing them together etc. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-12-2010, 08:58 AM	#8
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	A lot of hits for Chinese pages with that title. Who is the author? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

09-24-2007, 02:08 PM	#3
noodles Wet Nurse's Aide Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 40	Thank you, Sundae Girl, for your help.

09-24-2007, 02:15 PM	#5
noodles Wet Nurse's Aide Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 40	Two and four is sex.

10-11-2010, 07:32 PM	#7
laywong Dog O'Nine Tails Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 20	The last paragraph is so amazing.

10-12-2010, 09:11 AM	#9
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Suddenly, I think of my youngest daughter, living now in Amsterdam. Very soon she will call and ask “Have you planted the bulbs yet?” Then I will answer teasingly that actually I'm waiting until she comes to help me. And then we will both be overcome by nostalgia, because once we always did that together. One entire sunny autumn afternoon, when she was three and a half years old, she helped me with all enthusiasm and joyfulness of her age. . Very soon she will call and ask "Have you planted the bulbs yet?" Then I will answer teasingly that actually I'm waiting until she comes to help me. And then we will both be overcome by nostalgia, because once we always did that together. One entire sunny autumn afternoon, when she was three and a half years old, she helped me with all enthusiasm and joyfulness of her age. It was one of the last afternoons that I had her around, because her place in school has been already reserved. She wandered around so happily carefree with her little bucket and spade, covering the bulbs with earth and calling out “Night, night” or “Sleep night”, her little voice chattering constantly on. She discovered “baby bulbs”, “kiddie bulbs”, and “mummy and daddy bulbs”, the latter snuggling cozily together. While we were both working so industriously, I watched my kid very deliberately. She was such a tiny thing, between an infant and a toddler, with such a round little tummy. It was one of the last afternoons that I had her around, because her place in school has been already reserved. She wandered around so happily carefree with her little bucket and spade, covering the bulbs with earth and calling out "Night, night" or "Sleep night", her little voice chattering constantly on. She discovered "baby bulbs", "kiddie bulbs", and "mummy and daddy bulbs", the latter snuggling cozily together. While we were both working so industriously, I watched my kid very deliberately. She was such a tiny thing, between an infant and a toddler, with such a round little tummy. Every autumn, throughout her childhood, we repeated the ritual of planting the bulbs together. Every autumn I saw her changing, the toddler became a schoolgirl, a straightforward realist, full of drive. Never once dreamy, her hands in her pockets; no longer happily indulging in her fantasies. The schoolgirl developed long legs, her jaw-line changed, she had her hair cut. It was autumn again that I thought “bye roses, bye butterflies, bye schoolgirl”. I listened to her stories while we painstakingly burrowed in the earth, planting the promise of spring. Every autumn, throughout her childhood, we repeated the ritual of planting the bulbs together. Every autumn I saw her changing, the toddler became a schoolgirl, a straightforward realist, full of drive. Never once dreamy, her hands in her pockets; no longer happily indulging in her fantasies. The schoolgirl developed long legs, her jaw-line changed, she had her hair cut. It was autumn again that I thought "bye roses, bye butterflies, bye schoolgirl". I listened to her stories while we painstakingly burrowed in the earth, planting the promise of spring. Suddenly, much quicker than I had expected, a tall teenager was standing by my side. She is taller than I. The ritual became rather silent, and we no longer chatter from one subject to another. I thought about her room full of posters and knick-knacks, how it had been full of treasures in bottles and boxes, white peddles, a copper brooch, colored drawings, the treasures of a child who still knew nothing of money, who wanted to be read to and who looked anxiously at a spider at her room and asked, “Would he want to be my friend?” Suddenly, much quicker than I had expected, a tall teenager was standing by my side. She is taller than I. The ritual became rather silent, and we no longer chatter from one subject to another. I thought about her room full of posters and knick-knacks, how it had been full of treasures in bottles and boxes, white peddles, a copper brooch, colored drawings, the treasures of a child who still knew nothing of money, who wanted to be read to and who looked anxiously at a spider at her room and asked, "Would he want to be my friend?" Then came the autumn when I planted the bulbs alone, and I knew from then on it would always be that way. But every year, in autumn, she talks about it. Full of nostalgia for the security of childhood, the seclusion of a garden, the final moments of a season. How both of us would dearly love to have a time machine. To go back. Just for a day. Then came the autumn when I planted the bulbs alone, and I knew from then on it would always be that way. But every year, in autumn, she talks about it. Full of nostalgia for the security of childhood, the seclusion of a garden , the final moments of a season. How both of us would dearly love to have a time machine. To go back. Just for a day. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

10-12-2010, 09:13 AM	#10
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Altogether autumn as a title sounds better than ' It was all about autumn' but then it's anyone's guess.

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