Poems, in Two VolumesThis is what you would have seen when you opened Wordsworth's book in 1807. Where the mind is without fear . Tour the Lake DistrictFancy a scenic tour? For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Check out this documentary (in two parts). Below is the picture of that place. British ReadingHere's a reading of the poem by a dude with a perfect British voice. For the first time! The Solitary Reaper is a master piece of Wordsworth and is often recognized with him. The Solitary Reaper By William Wordsworth. According to the Wikipedia entry, the poem was inspired by Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy’s stay at the village of Strathyre in the parish of Balquhidder in Scotland in September 1803. thumb_upLike. It wasn't easy, to say the least, despite the fact that Wordsworth and Coleridge were used to walking. The Solitary Librivox'erYep, the massive audio website has a version of this poem, too. "The Solitary Reaper" is one of Wordsworth's most famous post-Lyrical Ballads lyrics. The Solitary Reaper was written by Wordsworth in 1805 and was later published in the collection Poems, in two volumes, in 1807. Here's one other thing to consider: "The Solitary Reaper" also says, essentially, that you don't have to go drop 200 bucks on a ticket to the opera to get something of the same experience. Get quotes about Art and Culture from The Solitary Reaper - see where to find the quote, what it means, and how it relates to Art and Culture. Deep in ThoughtWell, our man's definitely solitary, but it doesn't look like he's doing any reaping. remove_red_eye 776. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The poet orders his listener to behold a “solitary Highlandlass” reaping and singing by herself in a field. Still, if you have no idea what the blazes we're on about, don't fret. He is so enamoured by her song that he stops in his travels and listens to her song. Wordsworth DocWant to learn more about our poet? Ever been to the opera, Shmoopers? A #3D sound enhanced recitation on The Voice of Literature. Even though the speaker has no clue what the woman is singing about, he is totally floored by her song, so floored that he carries the song in his heart with him long after he has moved on. You also better pack your Google translate app. Although it’s a ballad, it didn’t appear in Wordsworth’s most famous collection, Lyrical Ballads, because he wrote it after the publication of that volume (co-authored with Samuel Taylor Coleridge) in 1798.‘The Solitary Reaper’ appeared in Wordsworth’s 1807 collection Poems in Two Volumes. The words of the reaper's song are incomprehensible to the speaker, so his attention is free to focus on the tone, expressive beauty and the blissful mood it creates in him. Ruthless WordsworthWho knew? We're here to break it all down for you. While Dorothy's charming little travel narrative was making the rounds, her bro was writing a bunch of poems that he would later describe as "written during a tour in Scotland." Her lovely song and the presence of some local dialect in a foreign language had a profound impression and moved the poet to write those verses. for the Vale profound Is overflowing with the sound. However, the speaker's encounter with the woman singing is just like most people's encounter with an incredible, operatic performance. Watch this video of our boy Pavarotti performing one of the most famous pieces ever ("Nessun Dorma," from Turandot). (You can take a peek at Wilkinson's book right here.) Reaping and singing by herself; Stop here, or gently pass! By Dr Oliver Tearle ‘The Solitary Reaper’ is one of Wordsworth’s best-known poems. It comprises of eight stanzas each stanza containing four lines each. She's a regular peasant girl, not a highly-trained opera singer. It was first published in 1807. Other languages can be unbelievably gorgeous, and human beings can pick up on that—even if the exact meaning is beyond them. The HebridesThey look pretty, but kind of cold. PandaemoniumHere's a film about the friendship between Wordsworth and Coleridge. 8th-class … What About Scotland?Well, you really can't talk about Romanticism without talking about Scotland now can you? He says that anyonepassing by should either stop here, or “gently pass” so as not todisturb her. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. What about the issue of the reaper herself? William Wordsworth's poem "The Solitary Reaper" has a mixed rhyme scheme, with the first and last stanzas following an abcbddee pattern and the … The speaker of the "The Solitary Reaper" takes the experience with him, just like we can take Pavarotti with us. Reaping and singing by herself; Stop here, or gently pass! The short answer is… well, no. THEMES Imagination: “The Solitary Reaper” is about the power of the imagination to transform common, everyday events into representations of a larger reality. This poem is unique because while most of … The book in which they all appeared was called Poems, in Two Volumes (not the catchiest of titles, but what are you gonna do?). Romantic poet William Wordsworth’s one of the most popular lyrical poems “The Solitary Reaper” is a fine piece of ballad written in 1805 and published in 1807. Title: Microsoft Word - The Solitary Reaper Summary Analysis.docx Created Date: 1/14/2016 2:09:04 PM Now maybe 15 miles a day for three days is okay, but for 6 straight weeks? More than just a reflection on a strangely beautiful moment, however, the poem is a subtle statement about the multi-ethnic makeup of the British Isles. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The Solitary Reaper Introduction Don't fear the reaper, Shmoopers. Romanticism, in a NutshellCheck out this great overview of the major themes of Romanticism. 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 poem expresses an emotion that the girl’s song has aroused. The speaker is out walking around (he doesn't really say why) and happens upon a Scottish lady tending to her crops ("reaping"). The Solitary Reaper Art and Culture | Shmoop JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The poem is composed in the typical romantic meter of iambic tetrameter along with rhyming couplets, which help in building the sense of … The poet describes a memorable experience of his life he had while out on a walk. Their relationship to natureis passionate and extreme: children feel joy at seeing … Did Wordsworth actually see a woman singing and reaping all along in some highland field? 'The Solitary Reaper' was written on November 5, 1805, and published in 1807 in the collection Poems, in Two Volumes. Reaping and singing by herself; Stop here, or gently pass! The poem, just like Wilkinson's Tour, is all about stumbling upon something that, well, is extraordinarily moving. As you go through this article, you can understand the meaning of the poem and its association with Wordsworth’s ideology. That's because all of the songs are sung in languages that are never, ever in English—like, ever. Free, fun, and packed with the most important details! The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth is a romantic ballad poem that is set in the rural area. Don't fear the reaper, Shmoopers. 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. So, Wordsworth was inspired by his trip to Scotland and all the cool things he saw there and by his buddy's travel book. Summary of The Solitary Reaper Wardsworth came across a lovely maiden at work in the fields all alone during his tour of Scotland. This woman singing a beautiful song is out in a field going about her business. Children form an intense bond with nature, somuch so that they appear to be a part of the natural world, ratherthan a part of the human, social world. Alone she cuts and binds the grain, And sings a melancholy strain; O listen! Nothing William Wordsworth ever wrote even remotely resembles opera either. Most of us will listen to Pavarotti and find ourselves completely floored by the beauty and power of the sounds, even if we don't understand the words. Alone she cuts and binds the grain, And sings a melancholy strain; O listen! Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! William Wordsworth, a Romantic poet, highlights the beauty of a ‘highland lass’ song in this poem. In August of 1803, William Wordsworth, his sister Dorothy, and fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge embarked on a walking tour of the Scottish Highlands. Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! ICSE 8th CLASS English OTHER CHAPTERS . For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. So get out there, Shmoopers, and keep your ears tuned for beauty like our speaker does here. In Wordsworth’s poetry, childhood is a magical, magnificenttime of innocence. Norton Critical EditionHere's a new edition of many of Wordsworth's most famous poems—just fabulous. Apparently our man was also a bit of real estate tycoon. More specifically, it's a poem about how sound can be interpreted even when there are no intelligible words. "The Solitary Reaper" is a classic example of iambic tetrameter, which—as you can probably guess—is lot like iambic pentameter. share Share. Toss in the fact that the part of Scotland they were passing through was relatively rural. The Solitary Reaper: About the Poem. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. While the lyrics are usually quite powerful, understanding the words really isn't that important. The Solitary Reaper Rhyme Scheme and Figure of Speech. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. Now if you think a nice backpacking tour through Scotland sounds like a blast, consider this: the journey lasted about 6 weeks, and covered about 660 miles (that's 110 miles a week, or around 15 miles a day). The poem was inspired by the poet’s trip to Scotland in 1803 with his sister Dorothy Wordsworth. 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? The Solitary Reaper is one of the most famous poems of William Wordsworth. Older WordsworthHere's a famous depiction of the poet. Now we say "supposedly" because, well, we know Wordsworth actually wrote "The Solitary Reaper" in 1805, nearly 2 years after said tour was completed. The whole valley is filled with her song, echoing her sound. The “Solitary Reaper” is a beautiful poem, the writer hears a lady singing in the distance, “alone she cuts and binds the grain and sings a melancholy strain”, She is cutting and tying up the grain or corn as she sings “oh listen for the vale profound is overflowing with the sound”. Upon returning to England, Dorothy wrote a book about the trip that was published (much later) in 1874. Impatient, t… This article provides a complete summary and analysis of The Solitary Reaper. Animated ReaperShe reads a little fast, but the cool animation makes up for it. Alone she cuts and binds the grain, And sings a melancholy strain; O listen! W.W.'s BioIf you don't feel like reading a whole, book-length biography, this will definitely do temporarily. The relevant passage in Wilkinson, just in case you're wondering, is on page 12: "Passed a female who was reaping alone: she sung in Erse as she bended over her sickle; the sweetest human voice I ever heard: her strains were tenderly melancholy, and felt delicious, long after they were heard no more.". Of course, the highland lass in "The Solitary Reaper" is not Pavarotti. It looks a little scary now, doesn't it? If you're not weeping by the end, well… just watch it again until you are. So many people who have enjoyed opera over the past 500 years haven't understood a thing, and yet they've been moved in ways they never thought possible. In-depth explanations of the themes found in The Solitary Reaper. Poet : William WordsworthBorn: 7th April, 1770Died: April 1850 This poet is about a lady singing song in the field. Okay, so he wanted his readers to believe he wrote the poem while on location, we get that. One of these poems was "The Solitary Reaper," which was first published in 1807 along with all those others supposedly written during the tour. The woman is singing in Erse (Scottish Gaelic) and is culturally and linguistically different from the speaker, who is an Englishman. Wordsworth actually wrote a note to the poem where he talks about where he got the whole idea from: "This poem was suggested by a beautiful sentence in a MS. Tour in Scotland written by a friend, the last line being taken from it verbatim. The Complete WordsworthIt might take you ten years to read all of these, but it would sure be worth it. Try this place, where Wordsworth lived for a long 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. Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, That has been, and may be again? By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. The Solitary Reaper Summary in English by William Wordsworth The Solitary Reaper Summary in English. Now, how many people that listen to opera actually understand Italian, you might ask? A Solitary ReaperThis painting looks pretty Romantic to us, too. The Solitary Reaper Latest answer posted January 16, 2010 at 12:00:58 AM What was the effect of the solitary reaper's song on the poet (William Wordsworth) in the poem "The Solitary Reaper" ? “The Solitary Reaper” is a poem by the English poet William Wordsworth. ", That manuscript (MS) was an early version of a book later published in 1824 as Tours to the British Mountains, by Wordsworth's friend Thomas Wilkinson. for the Vale profound Is overflowing with the sound. (Wordsworth only had to take a short trip up to the Highlands.) The poet is walking in the highlands of Scotland when he comes upon a girl singing in the field. for the Vale profound Is overflowing with the sound. The unity of Man and Nature: The poem dramatizes the reaper amongst natural surroundings as she is bending on the ground and reaping the grain. The reaper herself, for example, sings a song in a language the speaker can't understand, but he can definitely tell that it's a sad song, and he's incredibly moved nonetheless. The speaker implies that you don't have to go that far to have an incredibly moving experience. The Solitary Reaper: Text of the Poem. Nevertheless, the trip was definitely inspiring. Yep, all the legit, famous operas that people pay big money to see—Don Giovanni, Aida, Carmen, La Traviata—are in other languages (usually Italian). 1 0 0 0 0 0 1. Okay, so we've got three words in the title, but only two of them that really matter: "solitary" and "reaper." Get ready friends because "The Solitary Reaper" whisks us away to the beautiful, scenic highlands of Scotland. We're here to break it all down for you. 'The Solitary Reaper' was written on November 5, 1805, ... Shmoop: Click here: Video Lessons: E LEARNING: Click here: Video Lessons: EnglishTeacher: Click here: Worksheets: E notes: Click here: Posted in 8th on February 13 2019 at 03:29 PM. Yeah, we hear you: it's expensive, and you're definitely expected to dress nicely (leave the ripped jeans at home if you plan on going to see Aida anytime soon). "The Solitary Reaper" is a poem all about sound. In August of 1803, William Wordsworth, his sister Dorothy, and fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge embarked on a walking tour of the Scottish Highlands. © 2021 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! In the poem, the speaker tries—and fails—to describe the song he heard a young woman singing as she cuts grain in a Scottish field. "The Solitary Reaper," then, is about diversity and about how strange it is to be a part of the same empire with such vastly different people, but also about celebrating that diversity. 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Edition of many of Wordsworth and Coleridge were used to walking a bit of real estate tycoon herself ; here.