By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
‘The Solitary Reaper’ is one of Wordsworth’s best-known poems. Although it’s a ballad, it didn’t appear in Wordsworth’s most famous collection, Lyrical Ballads, because he wrote it after the publication of that volume (co-authored with Samuel Taylor Coleridge) in ‘The Solitary Reaper’ appeared in Wordsworth’s collection Poems in Two Volumes. The poem has received a fair bit of critical analysis; here, we offer some notes towards a commentary on it.
The Solitary Reaper
Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
Will no one tell me what she sings?—
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some
(FAQ)
Introduction
Summary The Solitary Reaper By William Wordsworth William Wordsworth, a key figure in the Romantic literary movement, is renowned for his deep appreciation of nature and human emotion. His poem &#;The Solitary Reaper,&#; composed in and published in , exemplifies these themes by capturing a moment of beauty and contemplation in the Scottish Highlands. In this poem, Wordsworth describes a solitary Highland girl who sings while she reaps in a field, evoking feelings of nostalgia, solitude, and the transcendent power of music.
The poem serves as a meditation on the relationship between nature, humanity, and art, illustrating how a simple act can resonate with profound emotional depth. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, Wordsworth invites readers to reflect on the universal themes of beauty, sorrow, and the human y The Solitary Reaper By William Wordsworth
Summary of the Poem
Structure and Form
&#;The Solitary Reaper&#; consists of eight stanzas, each containing four lines, following an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem&#;s regular structure and rhythmic flow contribute to its musical quality, enhancing the experience of the reader as they engage w
In the first stanza the speaker comes across a beautiful girl working alone in the fields of Scotland (the Highland). She is "Reaping and singing by herself." He tells the reader not to interrupt her, and then mentions that the valley is full of song.
Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
The second stanza is a list of things that cannot equal the beauty of the girl's singing:
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
In the third stanza the reader learns that the speaker cannot understand the words being sung. He can only guess at what she might be singing about:
Will no one tell me what she sings?--
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble
William Wordsworth’s poem “The Solitary Reaper” is a masterpiece of romantic literature that has captivated readers for centuries. This article takes a deeper look into the literary analysis of the poem, exploring its themes, symbolism, and structure. Through a close examination of the text, readers will gain a greater understanding of Wordsworth’s poetic style and the profound emotions he conveys through his words. Whether you are a student of literature or simply a lover of poetry, this article is sure to provide valuable insights into one of the greatest works of the romantic era.
The Solitary Reaper: A Deeper Look into William Wordsworth’s Literary Analysis
William Wordsworth’s poem “The Solitary Reaper” is a beautiful and haunting piece of literature that has captured the hearts of readers for centuries. The poem tells the story of a young woman who is singing a melancholy song in a field, and the effect that her singing has on the narrator. While the poem is often read as a simple celebration of the beauty of nature and the power of music, there is much more to it than that. In this article, we will take a deeper look into
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