Who is Ixion and why is he mentioned?

In Greek mythology, Ixion was a king who attempted to seduce Hera, the queen of the gods. As punishment, Zeus fashioned a cloud that resembled Hera, tricking Ixion into embracing it. From that encounter, the centaurs were said to have emerged. By referencing this myth, Longfellow connects November to themes of chaos, deception, and a disruption of the natural order.

Why does Longfellow use a centaur to represent November?

Sagittarius is the zodiac sign for most of November, linking it to astronomy. However, the centaur also serves as a powerful symbol: it's a creature of dual nature, both wild and wise, and it represents an archer — a hunter. November chases away the final remnants of autumn with its chilling winds, which aligns perfectly with the image of an archer releasing arrows.

What does 'half dead already with affright' mean?

Longfellow suggests that the leaves are so frightened by the coming cold that they begin to wither from fear even before the wind arrives. This personification highlights how powerful November is in influencing the natural world.

What does the word 'shroud' suggest in the final stanza?

A shroud is the cloth that wraps a dead body for burial. When November says it 'shrouds itself in gloom,' it evokes a powerful association with death and funerals. November isn't just dark and cloudy; it's like a burial cloth covering the world, signifying the year's end.

Is this poem part of a larger work?

Yes. Longfellow penned a series of short poems that give each month of the year a personality. 'November' is one of those poems, and it stands out as one of the bleakest. While the series explores the moods and characteristics of each month, November doesn’t receive any uplifting portrayal.

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

The poem features an ABABABAB rhyme scheme throughout its eight lines, a twist on the ottava rima form. The closely interwoven rhymes create a feeling of inevitability — each line connects to the next, much like how November envelops the world in cold and darkness.

What mood does the poem leave you with?

Bleak and unyielding. There’s no hint of hope or solace. The final line — 'bring nor comfort nor delight' — flatly rejects any notion of warmth. Longfellow lets November have the final say, and November responds with indifference to human emotions.

The Annotated Edition

NOVEMBER by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

Read aloud in ~1 minOpen reading mode →

In this brief poem, Longfellow allows November to express itself, taking on the persona of the mythological centaur Sagittarius — a creature that's half-horse and half-human, emerging from chaos.

Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Themes: death, mortality, nature

The PoemFull text

NOVEMBER

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Centaur, Sagittarius, am I, Born of Ixion's and the cloud's embrace; With sounding hoofs across the earth I fly, A steed Thessalian with a human face. Sharp winds the arrows are with which I chase The leaves, half dead already with affright; I shroud myself in gloom; and to the race Of mortals bring nor comfort nor delight.

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

In this brief poem, Longfellow allows November to express itself, taking on the persona of the mythological centaur Sagittarius — a creature that's half-horse and half-human, emerging from chaos. November portrays itself as a chilling, dark presence that chases after the final leaves with biting winds, offering no warmth or happiness to anyone. It's a grim self-portrait of autumn's harshest month.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

The Centaur, Sagittarius, am I, / Born of Ixion's and the cloud's embrace;
Editor's note
November signals the arrival of Sagittarius, the archer centaur in the zodiac. The mention of Ixion and the cloud comes straight from Greek mythology: Ixion attempted to seduce Hera, but Zeus deceived him with a cloud that looked like her, leading to the birth of the centaurs. This portrays November as something untamed, illegitimate, and born from trickery—not exactly a cozy or inviting presence.
With sounding hoofs across the earth I fly, / A steed Thessalian with a human face.
Editor's note
Thessaly, a region of ancient Greece, was said to be the legendary homeland of the centaurs. November strides across the world, with its 'sounding hoofs' evoking the noise of wind and storms. The 'human face' keeps the centaur imagery alive while also implying that November possesses a cold kind of intelligence; it knows precisely how it affects the world.
Sharp winds the arrows are with which I chase / The leaves, half dead already with affright;
Editor's note
Here, we see the archer aspect of Sagittarius in action. The sharp November winds act like arrows, while the falling leaves resemble the prey. These leaves are described as 'half dead already with affright' — they're so terrified of the impending cold that they seem to be wilting before the wind even reaches them. It's a striking depiction of late-autumn foliage.
I shroud myself in gloom; and to the race / Of mortals bring nor comfort nor delight.
Editor's note
November envelops us in darkness—shorter days, overcast skies, and early dusk. The final note feels stark and blunt: this month brings nothing beneficial for humanity. There’s no hint of a silver lining or a chance for redemption. November is simply itself, indifferent to our feelings.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is cold, proud, and unforgiving. November doesn’t apologize for its nature — it introduces itself with a grim sense of authority. The opening lines carry a hint of swagger, but by the end, the mood shifts into stark bleakness. Longfellow maintains a formal and controlled language, which makes the darkness feel even more intentional.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Sagittarius / the Centaur: November is represented by the centaur archer as its zodiac sign, but the myth offers more than just a way to mark the calendar. The centaur embodies two natures — wild animal and thinking human — reflecting how November straddles the vibrant energy of autumn and the quiet stillness of winter. As a hunter, the centaur also symbolizes how the month lays the landscape bare.
The arrows / sharp winds: The winds of November feel like arrows fired by the archer centaur. This gives the cold a sense of intention and aggression, rather than just a natural occurrence. The leaves aren’t merely falling; they are being pursued.
The leaves: The dying leaves represent all living things that can't survive November's harshness. Their fear — 'half dead already with affright' — adds a human touch, allowing them to symbolize mortal beings confronting the arrival of winter and death.
Gloom / shroud: The word 'shroud' has a heavy, funeral connotation — it refers to the cloth that envelops a corpse. November draping itself in gloom signifies more than just overcast skies; it embodies the month as a forerunner of death, swathing the world in a sort of burial cloth.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Longfellow wrote a series of short poems that give each month of the year a personality, and "November" stands out as one of the darkest. He was crafting his work in the mid-nineteenth century, a time when classical mythology was still familiar to educated readers, so the reference to Sagittarius would have resonated immediately. Longfellow had experienced significant loss — his first wife died in 1835, and his second wife perished in a fire in 1861 — which adds a layer of depth to his poetry, often embracing darkness rather than shying away from it. This poem fits into a long tradition of personifying seasons and months that dates back to ancient times, but Longfellow removes any romantic embellishments, allowing November to express itself in its raw form. The poem's single stanza and tight eight-line structure ensure that there’s no space for November to meander or soften its message.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

The poem features a dramatic monologue delivered by November, embodying Sagittarius, the centaur archer of the zodiac. November portrays itself as a chilling, dark, and fierce presence that relentlessly chases the final autumn leaves with biting winds, offering neither comfort nor joy to humanity.

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NOVEMBER by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

NOVEMBER

What this poem is about

Recurring themes

Stanza by stanza, with notes

How this poem feels

Symbols & metaphors

Historical context

Questions readers ask

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