The solitary reaper Essay Example
The solitary reaper Essay Example

The solitary reaper Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (432 words)
  • Published: August 22, 2017
  • Type: Analysis
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In Wordsworth's poem, he portrays a solitary girl singing and harvesting in the fields. Despite not comprehending her song's meaning, it captivates him with its loveliness. He encourages others to also listen to her and take inspiration from his personal encounter. The poem contains four stanzas that demonstrate Wordsworth's mastery of poetry. The initial stanza emphasizes the importance of appreciating the "Highland lass" without disturbance. In the second stanza, he draws parallels between the meanings and sounds of "profound" and "sound." The third stanza compares the beauty of her voice through description.

In the poem, a "field" and a "Lass" are depicted by the poet as she cuts and binds the grain. Vivid imagery is used to create an image in the reader's mind while also urging them to listen to her mournful melody. Despite not understanding its m

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eaning, the poet admires her singing in the third stanza and tries to guess what it is about. The final stanza concludes that her voice is charming and unforgettable, comparing it to those of birds from different regions such as a Nightingale from "Arabian sands" and a cuckoo-bird from the "farthest Hebrides." This suggests that her song has universal appeal like that of birds' voices, representing nature as part of humanity itself. Her captivating voice embodies emotions such as sadness, happiness, and melancholy that are universally human rather than specific to any one language or culture. Therefore based on its tone alone he predicts its meaning even though he does not know what she sings about exactly.

The poet emphasizes that the challenges mentioned, like 'sorrow, loss, or pain', are universal experiences that affect people worldwide. This underscores

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the inherent similarities in human nature. In the final stanza, the poet implies that the significance of the song is irrelevant. The poem utilizes iambic tetrameter to enhance the tone of admiration and enthusiasm. The first and last stanzas commence serenely with lines that are both end-stopped and open. This conveys that the poet remains composed and in charge of their emotions and thoughts.

The poem's second and third stanzas overflow with bursts of emotion that extend into subsequent lines, conveying an exuberant and joyful mindset. The primary focus of the poem is on the praise of mountains, pastures, and nature, yet it additionally explores the ways in which beauty and memory impact the poet. As is characteristic of works by Wordsworth and other nature-focused poets, the theme centers on the relationship between nature, humanity, and their influence on human memory. The enjambments present throughout the poem suggest spurts of emotion.

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