Introduction- “The solitary reaper” was composed in November 1805 and published in 1807. It was written on the basis of a tour recorded by a friend of Wordsworth. Wordsworth did not actually go to this place and watched the solitary reaper. This poem is based on the experience of a friend of Wordsworth named Thomas Wilkinson who recorded this in his account. Wordsworth imagined this incident on the basis of that account.
Themes:
a. Poetic imagination- The main theme of the poem is based on the poetic theory of Wordsworth that a poem is written on the basis of ’emotions recollected in tranquility’. Here too imagination of highest quality is showed by the poet. He in fact did not see this girl but imagined her on the basis of account of a friend who saw her. This account of a lone girl singing and reaping crop on highlands left indelible mark on the poet’s mind and heart. He imagines the theme of the song the girl was singing as he couldn’t understand the language of the song. He was so much fascinated by the music of the song that it found a permanent place in his heart and he could still listen the song long after he was not hearing it live.
b. Music- Music has special place in the poem and whole poem revolve around song of the girl. Hence the beautiful and heart touching song of the girl becomes an important theme.
Imagery- Poem has various beautiful images like how the girl was ‘cutting and binding’ and ‘over the sickle bending’. The image of ‘the nightingale’ and ‘the cuckoo’ while comparing their song with the girl’s song is beautifully depicted.
Figure of speech-
- Assonance- ‘Among Arabian’ has assonance as repetition of vowel ‘a’.
- Alliteration – ‘No Nightingale’ has repetition of consonant sound /n/ hence it has alliteration.
- Metaphor- It is used in ‘plaintive numbers’ for sad song of the girl.
- Apostrophe- ‘Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass!’ has apostrophe.
- Rhetorical question – “Will no one tell me what she sings?—” This line seems like a question poet is asking the passersby but it is not a question but a heightened statement which means that no will answer him and he answers to himself that she must be singing about some wars or old loss.
Melancholic tone in the poem- The poem has melancholy tone which is clear from the anticipation of the poet about theme of the song of the girl. The song was in Gaelic dialect which was not understandable to the poet. He guess the song may be on some –
‘ — plaintive numbers flow
Flow from old, unhappy, far off things’
Further anticipation leads to the poet that it might be on –
‘ some natural sorrow, loss, or pain’
These guess work of the poet includes melancholy tone into the poem.
Structure and rhyme scheme – Poem has a stanza of eight lines which is divided into a quatrain and two octasyllabic couplets. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ababccdd.
Language and diction- Poem has simple language with no complexity. It has diction used in daily life of a person.
Philosophy of poetry of Wordsworth – Poem exhibits the philosophy of the poetry of Wordsworth. He says that poetry is ‘the spontaneous overflow of feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility’. In this poem too the experience of perceiving a girl reaping and singing happened long time ago than the poetry written. Poet recollected the experience later on in the life and wrote this beautiful poem.
Conclusion- This is among the most beautiful poems of the William Wordsworth. He has stated his theory of poetry in this poem which is based on imagination power of the writer. This poem finds an important place in the history of English literature.
To read critical appreciation of poem ‘Preludes’ of T.S. Eliot please click here
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