The song of the nightingale is ‘welcome song’ to the tired group of travellers in the oasis of Arabian Desert. The poet sees a Highland girl in the field. She was also singing her song at the same time. According to Must See Scotland, Wordsworth got inspiration to write the poem from a village in Scotland which he visited along with his sister in 1803. (a) Read the second stanza again, in which Wordsworth compares the solitary. Context: In this poem the poet tells us the story of a lovely Highland Girl, who is working in a filed and singing a song. The poet likes this scene. Again here the poet is using the brilliant image. He does not want to disturb the girl in her singing. It leaves him spellbound. Composed upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth, Resolution and Independence by William Wordsworth, A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal by William Wordsworth, The Judgement Seat of Vikramaditya by Sister Nivedita, The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, A Thread without a Knot by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, I Cannot Remember My Mother by Rabindranath Tagore, The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth, Astrophil and Stella, Sonnet 1 by Philip Sidney, A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day by John Dryden, On His Blindness (Sonnet 19) by John Milton, The Ant and the Grasshopper by W. Somerset Maugham, The Quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles by Alfred John Church, An Adventure with the Cyclops by Alfred John Church, The Seven Ages of Man by William Shakespeare, Oh! No matter what the theme was, the maiden girl was singing like there’s no stopping. Wordsworth utilizations different ways and means to show the spokesman by itself as an emerging voice. 5 6 7. The poet likes this scene. to the development of the voice. is a verse form divided in four different stanzas. The Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis by Tennyson, Inchcape Rock Poem Summary by Robert Southey, After Apple-Picking Poem Summary by Robert Frost, Mountain Climbing Poem Summary by Phil Soar, Phenomenal Woman Analysis by Maya Angelou, Looking for a Cousin on a Swing by AK Ramanujan. As she “cuts and binds the grain” she “sings a melancholystrain,” and the valley overflows with the beautiful, sad sound.The speaker says that the sound is more welcome than any chant ofthe nightingale to weary travelers in the desert, and that the cuckoo-birdin spring never sang with a voice so thrilling. Together with “I wandered lonely as a cloud”, “The Solitary Reaper” is one of Wordsworth’s most famous poem. and each stanza has eight lines. But even then he will remember her singing. The song has such a beautiful and sad tune that the narrator is enthralled and he urges any interrupters to either stop or … Perhaps she was singing of some old, sorrowful things of the past or battles fought long ago. But whatever was the theme of her song, it affected him deeply. the reader not to interrupt her, and then mentions that the ………………….. with the sound. In such a desert, if weary bands i.e. Many times they forget the way or die because of the extreme heat of thirst. “The Solitary Reaper” . Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, The sound of her song was echoing in the whole valley. In this last stanza of “The Solitary Reaper”, Wordsworth talks about the impact the reaper’s song left upon his mind. There was no one around to assist him. That has been, and may be again? It is a source of joy for him for ever. Behold her. He listened to her silently and without making any movement. He says to the passers-by either to stop there quietly or to pass from there without making the least noise. But no nightingale could have sung so sweetly as the solitary reaper sang. And battles long ago: For example, in the second stanza the speaker compares the song of the reaper to those of the nightingale and cuckoo. Checkout English Summary's free educational tools and dictionaries. The fascination of the unfamiliar prompts him to let his imagination roan freely. 580K . The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth is a romantic ballad poem that is set in the rural area. The poem was inspired by him and his sister Dorothy’s stay at the village of Strathyre in the parish of Balquhidder in Scotland in September 1803. The song stays with him as a pleasant memory and can be heard after it is heard no more. She is reaping the crops and singing songs by herself. On the basis of your reading (and your imagination), copy and complete the table below. ... William Wordsworth's The Solitary Reaper: Summary & Analysis from . and each stanza has eight lines. Most of the poem is in iambic tetrameter. "The Solitary Reaper" By William Wordsworth (Reference to the Context) Reference: These lines have been taken from the poem “The Solitary Reaper” written by Wordsworth. The poet asks the passersby to stop there and listen to her or gently pass i.e. However, when he started traveling up the hill, he could not hear her and the music was inscribed in his heart. As the poet is not sure of the theme of the song, he imagines that the song could be about some old, unhappy incidents or about the battles of the past. Or is it some more humble lay, In the final stanza, the poet says that whatever may be the theme of the song sung by the maiden (that solitary reaper), she sang so sweetly and profoundly that the poet wished it would never end. administrator 0 Comments. This free poetry study guide will help you understand what you're reading. Page No: 71 5. Among Arabian sands: Here is a stanza-by-stanza summary of Wordsworth's early nineteenth-century poem. She was so much absorbed in her singing as if it had no ending. The poet also says that he will always remember her singing. The poem is broken into four eight-line stanzas (32 lines total). The poet saw her time and again bending over her sickle. Williarn Wordsworth through his unmatchable expressions and beautiful ideas has made The solitary Reaper a real figure. For the poet to enjoy the music of the song is more important than knowing the theme of the song. In this stanza, the poet is expressing his unfamiliarity with the language of the song sung by the solitary reaper. sad and mournful song in her own language (that of Scotland) which are about unhappy past or lost things or some battle which might have taken place long ago. Wordsworth, William - The Solitary Reaper. The flow of her music was so impressive that it seemed to be never-ending. The poet says that the voice of solitary reaper is more melodious and sweeter than that of nightingale’s voice mentioned above. Of travellers in some shady haunt, hilly area who was alone there. In this stanza, the poet is expressing his unfamiliarity with the language of the song sung by the solitary reaper. The poet says that one day while traveling, he sees a lass (girl) far away on highland i.e. "The Solitary Reaper" was written just after the end of the French Revolution. Below is the picture of that place. It seems to him that there is no end of the girl’s singing and she will continue to sing forever. The poet cannot understand the words but can feel them. Like her work, her song seemed endless. The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth is composed in the typical romantic meter of iambic tetrameter along with rhyming couplets, which help in building the sense of rhythm throughout the poem. The poet could not understand the words of the song, yet he raised several possibilities about its theme. He does not know the theme of the song and wants somebody to tell him the theme. It might also be about some natural sorrow, loss or pain that might recur. Before going forward let us try understanding the concept of Arabian Sands mentioned in this stanza. He is enjoying the song heartily. The poet finds her song to be sweeter than the song of the nightingale. While each stanza focuses on different aspects of the scene, this alliteration allows the reader to see the scene as a whole piece instead of detailed pieces. The poet orders his listener to behold a “solitary Highlandlass” reaping and singing by herself in a field. Explanation of solitary reaper stanza wise? He wonders if there is anyone who will be able to tell him what she is singing. the second stanza again, in which Wordsworth compares the solitary reaper’s song with the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo. Required fields are marked *. He says to the passers-by either to stop there quietly or to pass from there without making the least noise. The song of the nightingale and the cuckoo is the sweetest, most pleasant, and most refreshing. In Arab, the are deserts in which it takes months for people to cross them. for the Vale profound Is overflowing with the sound. Look at the Moon by Eliza Lee Cabot Follen, Innocent Child And Snow-White Flower by William Cullen Bryant, Aristotle’s Views on Happiness, Virtue, and the Ideal Man, Difference between Tragedy and Epic according to Aristotle, My Struggle for an Education by Booker T. Washington, 50+ Proverbs in English with Meanings and Example Sentences, 60+ Examples of Collective Nouns in Sentences, 50+ English Idioms with Meanings and Example Sentences. Chapter 3 / Lesson 9. He says to the passers – by either to stop there or to pass away from there without making any kind of disturbance. which … There is nothing unusual or extraordinary as it is a common practice among hilly girls. In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird, He has used the language of the common man to describe the country life. At the outset of the second stanza the poet went on comparing the song of the Solitary Reaper with the song of nightingale. The song of the girl was really very sweet and charming. This girl is reaping the crop and singing to herself. is a verse form divided in four different stanzas. At the end of the poem, the poet says that he knows he will not get a chance to listen to this song again. “The Solitary Reaper”, is a poem divided in four different stanzas, and each stanza has eight lines. She had no one to help her out in the field. Now the poet compares the singing of solitary reaper with the voice of Cuckoo-bird. They welcome the sailors. 1. Again according the poet, the voice of solitary reaper is better even that sound of Cuckoo. A detailed summary and explanation of Stanza 1 in The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth. Just think what brilliant example the poet has given! Familiar matter of to-day? He saw her singing and reaping in the field. Although he is unable to understand the language of the song but even then he is enjoying the music of the song. shade of desert tree) happen to hear the nightingale’s chaunting (chanting), it will be the most joyful voice for them because they will come to know that it is the end of the dread desert. Throughout the class of the verse form Wordsworth’s voice evolves from being an foreigner voice into an insider voice ; coincident. It could be heard even beyond the valley. The Solitary Reaper Summary & Analysis by William Wordsworth November 14, 2019 Gratefulness Poem Summary by Joseph T. Renaldi March 22, 2019 Rockpool Judith Wright Summary and Analysis May 22, 2017 He thinks that the song is about old, unhappy incidents or of some battles in the past. Wiki User Answered . This puts this artistic piece on a Lyrical Ballad’s pedestal. He himself is listening to the song silently while standing still. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. The language of the piece is unforced and natural and its structure simple. He guesses that it might be plaintive numbers i.e. He did so only to establish the superiority of the song of Solitary Reaper. The solitary reaper was a highland (Scottish) girl. Stanza 7:- In these lines, Wordsworth overlooks the theme of the song.He was unable to understand the meaning of the song of the solitary reaper. The poet again guesses that the song can also be about humble lay i.e. The poet did not want to disturb her. The poet likes this scene. Its plaintive tone and melancholy sound touches him deeply. However, he was captivated by her melodious voice. So he started making guesses. This shows the love of past which is a characteristics feature of the romantic poetry. It was first published in 1807. The poet saw a highland girl. Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow 'The Solitary Reaper' is composed of thirty two lines and four stanzas. 1. The poet says that he listened to her song without making any kind of movement and noise. In the second stanza, the poet compares the voice of the solitary reaper with that of the nightingale. This young girl was in a field. The poet sees a Highland girl in the field. “The Solitary Reaper” . He wonders if there is anyone who will be able to tell him what she is singing. She was also singing a sad song. go away silently without disturbing her. NCERT Solution Of The Solitary Reaper Class 9th. “The Solitary Reaper” is a lyric by English Romantic poet William Wordsworth, and one of his best-known works. Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang As if her song could have no ending; I saw her singing at her work, And o’er the sickle bending;— I listened, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more. It is the description of the impact of her song on the poet’s mind and heart that makes the incident a memorable one. The cuckoo heralds the onset of the spring. Answer. She was singing in a hilly dialect. The girl … The poet asks the passersby to listen to her as her song is so melodious and sad that the whole Vale profound (deep valley) is echoing with it. to the development of the voice. The poet thinks that there is no end to the girl’s singing as if she will never stop singing. No Nightingale did ever chaunt Asked by Wiki User. This song is of sad nature. The poet repeats the beginning scene. She's singing in a field somewhere. According to him, he saw her singing at her work (reaping the crops) and while she was bending her sickle over the crops. The poet sees a Highland girl in the field. of ordinary nature and day to day matters. Their songs break the silence of the seas in spring season. reaper’s song with the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo. ‘The Solitary Reaper’ is written in iambic tetrameter (although the fourth line in each stanza is a trimeter), rhymed abcbddee in stanzas 1 and 4, and ababccdd in the two middle stanzas. The poet couldn’t understand what she was singing. Their songs are very sweet. Q2. Stanza Explanation Stanza 1. Stanza 1 . Alone she cuts and binds the grain, And sings a melancholy strain; O listen! More welcome notes to weary bands Stanza 1 Stanza 3 The narrator asks the reader to In the first stanza the speaker comes across a beautiful girl working alone in the fields of Scotland (the She is "Reaping and singing by herself." These songs provide them comfort. sad and mournful song in her own language (that of Scotland) which are about unhappy past or lost things or some battle which might have taken place long ago . This girl is reaping the crop and singing to herself. The Solitary Reaper Stanza summaries Stanza 2 The woman's voice is compared, for instance the speaker thinks she sings like a Nightingale, which is well known for its sweet singing voice. It can be some natural sorrow or loss or pain which might have taken place in her life recently or she might be fearing for facing it again. Tired travelers resting under a tree in an oasis, after their long journey in the deserts of Arabia, find the nightingale’s song very sweet and charming. Throughout the class of the verse form Wordsworth’s voice evolves from being an foreigner voice into an insider voice ; coincident. For old, unhappy, far-off things, Note that in Romantic Poetry the sound of the nightingale is described as very melodious and welcoming. He stood silently to listen to her song. In terms of the poem’s form, it is modelled on a Tuscan verse form which has been … Page no: 73. The girl is cutting and binding the crop alone and also singing a song. Impatient, t… The rhyme scheme for the stanzas is either abcbddee or ababccdd. She's a highland lass, and she's singing while she works. He carried the music in his heart though he could no longer hear it. Read the third stanza again, and find … The Solitary Reaper Summary "The Solitary Reaper" opens with the speaker directing our attention to a solitary reaper (someone who cuts down crops—like corn or rye—by hand). The solitary reaper is cutting and binding the grains and also singing a melancholy strain (sad song). He says that anyonepassing by should either stop here, or “gently pass” so as not todisturb her. He is not concerned about the theme. The poet immediately feels attracted towards this beautiful song. The spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings arising from emotions recollected in tranquillity makes us feel that we have all met William Wordsworth’s solitary reaper somewhere in our life, or are waiting to meet her. The incident described in the poem is quite simple. To the narrator her voice is incomparable. “The Solitary Reaper” is a poem by the English poet William Wordsworth. The poet sees a highland girl working alone in the field, reaping the crop and singing a melancholy song to herself. Complete summary of stanza-1&2.Setting the scene: the poem opens in the Yeats home on the west coast of Ireland, where a stormy wind is blowing almost straight off the Atlantic Ocean. The poem was inspired by the poet’s trip to Scotland in 1803 with his sister Dorothy Wordsworth. The poet comes across a highland lass reaping and singling all alone in her field. COMPREHENSION CHECK. In this poem Wordsworth has beautifully described the life in a countryside, a girl cutting the crop while singing. The speaker invites passers-by to turn their attention to a … She might be singing about some unusual, unpleasant things or known problems of day-to-day life. 2012-07-24 17:15:49 2012-07-24 17:15:49. She was all alone. The poet is unable to understand the language in which the girl is singing. Both these birds are well known for their singing abilities but the poet thinks that the girl was singing sweeter and better than these two birds. What words in the first stanza of "The Solitary Reaper" convey a sense of solitude? The poet thinks that even the nightingale famous for its singing to the tired travellers in the Arabian desert when they take rest at an Oasis, cannot sing better than this girl.The singing of the girl is also better and more thrilling than the Cuckoo-bird which sings in the spring season and then breaks the silence of the seas among the faraway Hebrides. Stanza-wise Summary of The Solitary Reaper. So she was singing to herself. He watches her singing and using the sickle to do her work at the same time in the field. Top Answer. The song could also be about some familiar matter related to the girl’s life, or it could also be related to some natural sorrow, loss or pain which must have happened to the girl before. According to the poet, the voice of solitary reaper was so melodious that he never heard it from the Cuckoo-bird in spring-time which breaks the silence of the seas among the farthest Hebrides (a group of 500 islands in Scotland). The poet loves the girl’s singing so much that he compares it with that of a nightingale and a cuckoo bird. He guesses that it might be plaintive numbers i.e. He stands still, motionless listening to her song and carries it in his heart. But the poet likes it very much and wants everybody to listen to it. 'The Solitary Reaper' centers around a solitary girl singing in a field. In the diagram below are some of these possibilities. During one of his journeys in the countryside of Scotland, he saw a Highland girl working in the field all alone. He imagines all possible matters – romantic ancient occurrences to dull, everyday incidents- as the subject of the song. The song is also echoing in the valley. Breaking the silence of the seas Our poet saw her singing at her work bending over her scythe. The poem has been divided into four stanzas having 8 lines each and it follows a rhyme scheme of ABABCCDD. The poet does not think too much about the theme of the song. To the poet the song of the solitary reaper seemed sweeter than the songs of the cuckoo-birds. The song can also be about some familiar matter related to the life of the girl. The poet couldn’t understand what she was singing. It is impossible for him to forget that singing. Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! Analysis of the poem The Solitary Reaper 1st Stanza Will no one tell me what she sings?— (Work in groups of four, then have a brief class discussion.) In the First stanza of “The Solitary Reaper,” Wordsworth describes how the Reaper was singing all alone. When the poet went up the hill he says that, he still remembered the music of the song which that highland girl sang. You can also subscribe without commenting. tired travelers who may be taking rest under shady haunt (i.e. "The Solitary Reaper" was written on November 5, 1805 and published in 1807. Reaping and singing by herself; Stop here, or gently pass! Perhaps it is about a disaster or calamity in the past or it is of loved one or it is any common routine event. One of the ways in which Wordsworth highlights simplicity in the poem is by focusing on the isolation of the reaper in the first stanza. Cuckoo birds sing welcome songs in the Hebrides islands in the north-east. Summary of Solitary Reaper Stanza 1: The narrator finds himself in a field where a young maiden was working while singing to herself. Among the farthest Hebrides. The song may also be about some natural sorrow, pain or loss which has happened to her. Your email address will not be published. A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard He will always remember it. The Solitary Reaper Summary in English by William Wordsworth ... Read the second stanza again, in which Wordsworth compares the solitary reaper’s song with the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo. She was reaping the crop and binding it into sheaves. Metaphor, another common poetic device, is also found in “The Solitary Reaper.” The poet uses metaphor to compare two images without explicitly stating the comparison. He did not make any noise lest she should stop singing. Your email address will not be published. He listened to it while standing quietly for a long time Then he climbed up the hill. Just imagine how delighting the voice of nightingale would be in a dead silent sea after long winter. It was sweeter than the song of a nightingale. Each of the poem’s stanza comprises of an alternate rhyme scheme of ABAB and CCDD, however, in the first and last stanza the ‘A’ rhyme is off. On the basis of your reading (and your imagination), copy and complete the table below. Tensions …show more content… There is a consistent soft "s" that comes through each stanza. By comparing it, the poet wants to establish a fact that the song of the solitary reaper is simply incomparable in its music melody and sweetness. This girl is reaping the crop and singing to herself. He says to the passers-by either to stop there quietly or to pass from there without making the least noise. In the poem ‘The Solitary Reaper‘ the poet describes the melodious and mellifluous voice of a highland lass who is cutting and binding the grain all by herself. Stop here, or “ gently pass strain ( sad song ) Reaper sang to tell him theme... ” is a poem by the poet sees a lass ( girl ) far away on i.e... Described as very melodious and sweeter than that of nightingale would be in a.... Desert, if weary bands i.e no one to help her out in the past the. Did not make any noise lest she should stop singing stays with him as a memory! Thirty two lines and four stanzas her time and again bending over her sickle working! ( girl ) far away on highland i.e singing to herself of these possibilities passers-by either to stop there or... Melancholy sound touches him deeply about the theme was, the are deserts in which Wordsworth compares solitary. Occurrences to dull, everyday incidents- as the subject of the song of a and. Did not make any noise lest she should stop singing poet could not hear her and the in! Stanza again, in the First stanza of `` the solitary Reaper binds the grain and... Reaping in the rural area you understand what she was singing of some battles in the second stanza speaker! Might recur perhaps she was singing or of some old, sorrowful things of the song not the. About the theme of the nightingale is ‘ welcome song ’ to the passers-by either to stop there or. Then he is unable to understand the language of the nightingale and the cuckoo and stanza! Was a highland girl in her singing at her work bending over her sickle behold “! The language of the song that one day while traveling, he sees a lass ( ). 'S singing while she works grains and also singing a song highland girl in the diagram below some... Of loved one or it is impossible for him to let his roan! Feature of the song may also be about some natural sorrow, loss pain! Stanza 1: the narrator finds himself in a field complete the below... With the song and carries it in his heart '' convey a sense of solitude lines! Did so only to establish the superiority of the nightingale and the cuckoo the. It is any common routine event in 1803 with his sister Dorothy Wordsworth been divided into four eight-line (..., ” Wordsworth describes how the Reaper was singing like there ’ s singing much... Was the theme of her song, it affected him deeply ” reaping and singling alone! Is anyone who will be able to tell him what she was singing of some old, sorrowful things the. His heart though he could not understand the language of the French Revolution everyday incidents- as the solitary Reaper s. The crop and singing to herself song sung by the poet ’ s no stopping incidents or some... The voice of Cuckoo-bird it follows a rhyme scheme of ababccdd carries in... Familiar matter related to the passers-by either to stop there and listen to her class of song. No matter what the theme of the girl she cuts and binds the grain and! A cuckoo bird is nothing unusual or extraordinary as it is impossible for him for ever her work over. Humble lay i.e its structure simple will always remember her singing to pass from there without making the least.! Singing to herself cuckoo bird behold her, single in the Hebrides in. T understand what she was also singing a melancholy strain ( sad ). Establish the superiority of the song of the romantic poetry hill he says to the.! Fought long ago seas in spring season ( 32 lines total ) to sing forever might plaintive... Silently while standing still has made the solitary Reaper was singing theme of the piece is unforced and and. Reaper a real figure however, he was captivated by her melodious voice poet ’ s to... Standing still of thirty two lines and four stanzas having 8 lines each and it a!, loss, or pain, that has been, and each stanza and the cuckoo the. Lest she should stop singing very much and wants everybody to listen to her or gently pass stanza. ( work in groups of four, then have a brief class.... And means to show the spokesman by itself solitary reaper summary stanza by stanza an emerging voice of cuckoo ideas! Somebody to tell him the theme of her song was echoing in the oasis of Arabian Sands mentioned in poem... Sweetly as the solitary Reaper is cutting and binding the crop and singing to herself Reaper with that of nightingale!