M.A English (Literature and Linguistic)

1. ODE TO THE WEST WIND
It is one of Shelley’s greatest poems. It has been called a “matchless
ode” But it is not easy to understand. The main difficulty in
understanding it arises from the abundance of similes and
metaphors which follow one another with an astonishing quickness.
In the course of the poem, Shelley passes from a magnificent
realization of nature’s storm and peace to equally great self
description. Finally he mingles nature and himself together in order
to sing of the Golden Age of mankind.
Stanza 1 the opening stanza describes the activities of the West Wind
on land. The west wind drives the dead leave before it just a
magician drives a ghost by his approach. The poet addresses the
west wind as wild spirit moving everywhere and as a destroyer and a
preserver.
Wild spirit, which art moving everywhere
Destroyer and preserver; hear oh hear
Stanza 2. It describes the activities of west wind in the air. The poet
calls upon the west wind to listen to him. The clouds floating on the
surface of the west wind are messengers of rain and lightning. The
stanza is an example of the abstract imagery which characterizes
much of Shelley’s poetry. It is remarkable also for its similes and
metaphors.
Stanza 3.It describes the effect of the west wind on water. The stanza
is remarkable for its vivid imagery and for the manner in which two
oceans___the Mediterranean and Atlantic___ are personified. In
note, Shelley pointed it out that the vegetation at bottom of the sea,

2. of rivers, and of lakes, sympathizes with that of the land in the
change of the season, and is consequently influenced by the winds
which announce that change.
Stanza 4.The here establishes a link between his own personality and
the personality of the west wind. He recalls his boyhood when he
was swift, energetic and uncontrollable as the west wind. The poet
says that in his boyhood he could excel the speed of the west wind
and cloud accompany it on its wandering over the sky.
Oh ,lift me as wave, leaf ,a cloud
I fall upon the thorns of life I bleed
A heavy weight of hours has chained and bowed
Once too like thee: tameless and swift and proud.
Stanza 5.The final stanza includes the whole universe in its sweep.
The poet appeals to the west wind to treat him as lyre and to blow
on him as it blows in the forest, like the forest, he too is passing
through the autumn of his life.
The west wind blowing on him and on the forest will produce a sad
but sweet music. He would like the west wind to broadcast over the
whole world his prophecy about the coming of the golden age. If
winter comes can spring be far behind? In this stanza we find a clear
expression of Shelley’s idealism, his believe in the perfectibility of
human nature, and hid believe in the Golden Age of mankind. .