Question

The speaker describes her mother’s quilts as “october ripened canvases” in the sixth line of the poem. Based on context clues, what do you think ripen means here? In your own words, define this word and explain how you figured it out.

Answer 1

In this context, "ripen" means to reach its full, mature, or complete state. I figured out this meaning based on the use of the word "October" which is typically associated with autumn, when fruits and vegetables are fully mature and ready to be harvested. Additionally, the comparison of her mother's quilts to canvases further suggests a sense of maturation and completion. Therefore, "ripen" in this line implies that her mother's quilts have reached their full beauty and readiness.