Class IX: The Solitary Reaper

The Solitary Reaper

William Wordsworth

About William Wordsworth:

William Wordsworth, also known as ‘the nature poet’, is known for his love for nature and its separate status in his poetry. He believed that nature gives us joy and works as a healing force. He regarded nature as the great moral teacher. He is concerned with spiritual significance of nature.

About Romanticism:

Romantic period in literature is the time period after the age of reason and before the Victorian period. Romanticism talks about untamed nature, emotions, imagination, supernatural elements, and focus on individual.

Short answer Questions:

1.    What were the poet's first thoughts when he saw the solitary reaper?

The poet was so moved by the reaper working all alone in the fields, singing her song, that he felt the scene should not be disturbed. The slightest noise would be jarring. So he stood there quietly watching her at her work.

2.    Why was the valley filled with music?

The song was very intense and melodious. The beauty of the girl's voice was so deep, that the entire valley echoed with the song.

3.    To what does the poet compare the reaper's song?

The young maiden's song was inspiring and welcome to the poet, just as the nightingale's song in the desert which is indicative of an oasis nearby. The song is also compared to the cuckoo's song in the far off islands of the Hebrides.

4.    How did the reaper's song affect the poet?

The reaper's song made such an impact on the poet that he carried the music with him. He could feel the beauty of the song long after he had passed the valley.

5.    “Stop here or gently pass!” Why does the speaker say this?
The poet is so charmed by the sweet song of the solitary reaper that he does not want anybody to disturb her in her song. Thus he asks the passer by either to listen to the song or to pass by gently.

6.    What are the poet's guesses about the theme of the solitary reaper song?
The song of the solitary reaper has a sad tone. So the poet guesses that it about some unhappy incidents like battle of long past. It may all so be about so common sorrow, lass or pain of the present time.

7.    "Breaking the silence of the seas among the farthest Hebrides"------- What is meant by silent of seas? How does the silent break?
Ans. 'The silence of the seas' means stir less, lifeless, still atmosphere of the frozen seas in the north west of the Scotland. The deep silence is shattered in spring by the thrilling voice of the cuckoo.

Long answer Questions:

a)    Why did the poet compare the song of the solitary reaper with those of the nightingale and the cuckoo - bird? What did he think of the maiden's song?

The poet was deeply moved by the sweet melancholic song of the Highland lass. It was so profound that be compared it with the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo - bird. The nightingale sings to welcome weary travellers in the Arabian Desert - the maiden's singing is compared to the soothing effect of the nightingales singing on the travellers. Similarly the cuckoo - bird's song announces the onset of spring in the Hebrides Island and this singing is so pleasant that it breaks the silence of the gloomy winter - the maiden's singing has the same effect on the poet. The entire valley was overflowing with this music and the melody lingered on in the poets ears long after she had completed singing her song.

b)    How does the poet create an atmosphere of silence in the poem?

In the beautiful lyric, “The Solitary Reaper” Wordsworth nicely evokes an atmosphere of silence through suggestions. The reaper girl reaps the harvest in the valle and sings a sad song. The deluge of melody overflows the valley and captivates the poet and his companions. The uphill flight of the song suggests that silence prevails in the whole area. Again, the poet describes the Hebrides in winter when the surrounding seas get frozen and the fishermen shift to their upland camps. The entire area remains enveloped in deep silence which, as the poet imagines, is broken by the thrilling voice of the cuckoo bird. Thus, through subtle suggestions the poet evokes an atmosphere of silence in the present poem under discussion.

c)    What was the impact of the song of the reaper girl on Nature?

The poet listened to the song of the solitary reaper spell-bound. He could not move an inch. The haunting melody of the sad song arrested his heart and soul. Similarly, Nature was deeply moved by the „plaintive strain‟ of the solitary girl. There was no other noise in Nature when the reaper girl was pouring out her soul in absorbing melody. Like the poet, Nature was so profoundly affected by the song that she lay in trance for the time being.

Theme based Questions:

·         Briefly explain the significance of the title of the poem.

In the superb lyric, “The Solitary Reaper” the focus has been laid on the supreme sweetness of the song sung by an unknown reaper girl and its profound impact on the poet. The lonely waif was reaping and singing simultaneously a melancholy song in a desolate cornfield. The poet listened to her song motionlessly. As he failed to understand the meaning of the song, he guessed that the song might about some old unhappy incidents or about the daily oppression of the girl. In fact, the poem gyrates round the reaper’s song and the poet’s emotional response to it. Hence the title is apt.

·         Wordsworth the poet can hear music in nature. What effect does this have on him? Discuss this point in relation to "The Solitary Reaper."

In seeing Wordsworth as the speaker in "The Solitary Reaper," it becomes clear that he senses a musical quality regarding being in nature.  Human consciousness, the natural setting, and the music intrinsic to this experience are all convergent aspects of the Romantic notion of identity that Wordsworth articulates.  The opening lines of the poem speak to this:  "Reaping and singing by herself."  In casting the subject of the poem in this light, Wordsworth suggests a natural beauty in the setting that has unfolded in front of him.  Nature's music is evident in the song the reaper sings. Wordsworth makes the argument that there is music in nature in the specific form of the reaper's song because it enables him to be transformed and taken to another world. The expansion of Wordsworth's moral and spiritual imagination is how nature's music changes anyone who partakes in it.  The effect that this song of the natural world has on Wordsworth is to enable the expansion of his imagination, the ability to experience what can be in the face of what is.

The song has more meaning for Wordsworth because it takes place in something very natural.  It is natural for Wordsworth to see the woman in the field, hear her song, and see everything blend into something transformative.  This experience is where nature's music lies for Wordsworth.  This experience is one that "could have no ending."  Even after it dissipates, the resonant echoes of the music that the natural setting provided lingers on for Wordsworth:  "The music in my heart I bore,/ Long after it was heard no more."  For Wordsworth, this is where the natural song in nature continues endlessly. 

Figures of speech

Metaphor:

The poet compares the reaper with the nightingale and cuckoo respectively. He even claims that her son is more thrilling and more beautiful than those of the two birds.

Apostrophe:

The poem begins with an apostrophe. The apostrophe is a figure of speech in which an imaginary person or a thing is addressed as if present and capable of understanding.

Imagery:

Throughout the poem, Wordsworth uses visual imagery to have the reader’s picture what he is discussing. For example, in the beginning stanza, Wordsworth mentions a woman working in a field by herself singing. With this image the readers can picture cutting and harvesting grains in a field while singing. This is significant to the poem because the readers can better visualize the woman and the environment in which the poem takes place in. Another image that is in the poem, is the picture of somebody walking over a hill listening to the songs the woman is singing. This is significant to the poem because according to Wordsworth, everybody stops to listen to the woman sing. This image supports the statement of travelers stopping to listen and watch her harvest the grains on her field.