The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth | The Solitary Reaper | William Wordsworth | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Questions Answers | Critical Appreciation | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
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 more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?
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.
The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth: YouTube Link
The Solitary Reaper Analysis
1. Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker is drawing our attention to a young woman, referred to as the “Highland Lass,” who is alone in a field. The word “Behold” is an imperative verb, used here to make us focus on the image of the solitary reaper. The phrase “single in the field” emphasizes her solitude and the fact that she is the only one working in the field.
The term “Highland Lass” refers to a young woman from the Scottish Highlands. This not only tells us about her geographical origin but also suggests a sense of rustic simplicity and naturalness associated with the people from the Highlands.
Imagery: Wordsworth uses visual imagery to paint a picture of the scene. The phrases “single in the field” and “solitary Highland Lass” create a vivid image in the reader’s mind of a lone woman in a vast field.
Metaphor: The woman is metaphorically referred to as a “Highland Lass,” suggesting her purity, simplicity, and closeness to nature.
2. Reaping and singing by herself;
Explanation
In this line, the speaker describes the actions of the “Highland Lass.” She is “reaping,” which means she is cutting and gathering the grain in the field. At the same time, she is “singing by herself.” This emphasizes her solitude and the fact that she is alone in her work and her song.
Poetic Device
Imagery: The phrase “reaping and singing by herself” creates a vivid image in the reader’s mind of the solitary reaper engaged in her work and her song.
Parallelism: The use of the gerund form in “reaping” and “singing” presents two simultaneous actions, creating a rhythm and balance in the line.
3. Stop here, or gently pass!
Explanation
In this line, the speaker is addressing the reader or an imagined listener directly. The speaker gives two options: to “Stop here,” which means to pause and listen to the reaper’s song, or to “gently pass,” which means to move on without disturbing her.
Poetic Device
Imperative Mood: The speaker uses the imperative mood to give commands or make requests. Here, the commands are “Stop here” and “gently pass.”
Juxtaposition: The speaker juxtaposes two contrasting actions – stopping to listen or passing by gently. This contrast highlights the speaker’s mixed feelings of fascination and respect for the reaper’s solitude.
4. Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker continues to describe the actions of the “Highland Lass.” She is alone in her work, cutting and binding the grain. This emphasizes her solitude and the self-reliance of her labor. At the same time, she is singing a “melancholy strain,” which suggests a song of sadness or longing.
Poetic Device
Metaphor: The “melancholy strain” is a metaphor for the reaper’s song, suggesting it’s not just a simple tune, but a reflection of her inner feelings or state of mind.
5. O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker is urging the reader or an imagined listener to listen to the reaper’s song. The phrase “Vale profound” refers to a deep valley, which in this context, symbolizes a vast, open space. The speaker suggests that this space is “overflowing with the sound” of the reaper’s song, indicating the song’s power and reach.
Poetic devices
Metaphor: The “Vale profound” is a metaphor for the vastness of the space filled with the reaper’s song, suggesting its power and reach.
6. No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker is comparing the song of the reaper to the song of a nightingale. The nightingale is often associated with beautiful and melodious song in literature. The speaker says that no nightingale has ever sung a song more welcome to weary bands of travelers resting in some shady spot in the Arabian sands.
This comparison serves to emphasize the beauty and impact of the reaper’s song. Just as the song of a nightingale can provide comfort and joy to weary travelers, so too does the reaper’s song touch the heart of the speaker.
Poetic devices
Metaphor: The speaker compares the reaper’s song to the song of a nightingale. This comparison elevates the reaper’s song, associating it with the beauty and melody traditionally attributed to the nightingale.
Alliteration: The repetition of the ‘n’ sound in “No” and “nightingale” is an example of alliteration, which adds a musical quality to the lines.
7. 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.
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker continues the comparison of the reaper’s song, this time to the song of a cuckoo bird in springtime. The cuckoo’s song is often associated with the arrival of spring and is considered a pleasant and familiar sound. However, the speaker asserts that even the cuckoo’s song in springtime is not as thrilling as the reaper’s song.
The phrase “Breaking the silence of the seas / Among the farthest Hebrides” suggests that the reaper’s song is so powerful that it can reach even the remote islands of the Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland, breaking their silence.
Poetic devices
Metaphor: The speaker compares the reaper’s song to the song of a cuckoo bird. This comparison further emphasizes the beauty and impact of the reaper’s song.
Alliteration: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “silence of the seas” is an example of alliteration, which adds a musical quality to the lines.
Hyperbole: The speaker uses hyperbole, or exaggeration, to emphasize the reach and power of the reaper’s song, suggesting it can be heard even in the farthest Hebrides.
8. Will no one tell me what she sings?—
Explanation
In this line, the speaker expresses his desire to understand the content of the reaper’s song. He asks, “Will no one tell me what she sings?” indicating his curiosity and longing to know what the reaper is singing about. This line underscores the speaker’s deep interest in the reaper’s song and his frustration at not being able to understand it.
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question: The speaker uses a rhetorical question to express his desire to understand the reaper’s song. A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question that is asked to make a point rather than to elicit an answer.
Alliteration: The repetition of the ‘w’ sound in “Will” and “what” is an example of alliteration, which adds a musical quality to the line.
9. Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker is speculating about the content of the reaper’s song. He suggests that “perhaps the plaintive numbers flow / For old, unhappy, far-off things, / And battles long ago.” The word “plaintive” means expressing sorrow or melancholy, so the speaker is suggesting that the reaper’s song might be a lament for past sorrows or distant battles.
Poetic devices
Alliteration: The repetition of the ‘f’ sound in “far-off” and “for” is an example of alliteration, which adds a musical quality to the lines.
Metaphor: The “plaintive numbers” is a metaphor for the reaper’s song, suggesting it’s not just a simple tune, but a reflection of her inner feelings or state of mind.
10. Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker is further speculating about the content of the reaper’s song. He wonders if the song might be a “more humble lay,” referring to a simple song or tune about ordinary, everyday matters. The speaker suggests that the song could be about “some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, / That has been, and may be again,” indicating that the song might be expressing universal human experiences of sorrow, loss, or pain that are part of the human condition.
Poetic devices
Metaphor: The “humble lay” is a metaphor for the reaper’s song, suggesting it’s not just a simple tune, but a reflection of her inner feelings or state of mind.
11. Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker is expressing that regardless of the theme or content of the reaper’s song (“Whate’er the theme”), the maiden sings as if her song could go on forever (“As if her song could have no ending”). This suggests the speaker’s perception of the song’s timeless quality and the reaper’s deep engagement with her song.
Poetic devices
Hyperbole: The phrase “As if her song could have no ending” is an example of hyperbole, or exaggeration, used to emphasize the enduring and timeless quality of the reaper’s song.
12. I saw her singing at her work,
And o’er the sickle bending;—
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker is describing his observation of the reaper. He sees her singing while she works, bending over the sickle, a tool used for cutting grain. This image further emphasizes the reaper’s engagement with her work and her song, creating a picture of harmony between labor and art.
Poetic devices
Alliteration: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “saw,” “singing,” and “sickle” is an example of alliteration, which adds a musical quality to the lines.
13. I listened, motionless and still;
Explanation
In this line, the speaker describes his own reaction to the reaper’s song. He says, “I listened, motionless and still,” indicating that he is so captivated by the song that he remains completely still, absorbed in the sound.
Poetic devices
Assonance: “Listened, motionless and still” – Repetition of the “i” sound creates a sense of quiet attentiveness.
14. And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.
Explanation
In these lines, the speaker describes his departure from the scene. As he ascends the hill, moving away from the reaper, he carries the music of her song in his heart, even long after he can no longer hear it. This suggests that the song has left a deep and lasting impression on him.
Poetic devices
Metaphor: The phrase “The music in my heart I bore” is a metaphor for the lasting emotional impact of the reaper’s song, suggesting that it has touched the speaker on a deep, emotional level.
Hyperbole: The phrase “Long after it was heard no more” is a hyperbole, or exaggeration, used to emphasize the enduring impact of the reaper’s song on the speaker.
