Ode to the West Wind

(1)

Ode to the West Wind

Percy Bysshe Shelley

First Canto

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I

nterpretation of the Poem

I

nterpretation of the Poem

I

I_{n this first of the five sections of the poem, the speaker}_{n this first of the five sections of the poem, the speaker} I

I_{n this first of the five sections of the poem, the speaker}_{n this first of the five sections of the poem, the speaker}

begins to define the domains and the powers of the West begins to define the domains and the powers of the West begins to define the domains and the powers of the West begins to define the domains and the powers of the West Wind. While stanza

Wind. While stanza IIII _{addresses the winds influence on the}_{addresses the winds influence on the}

Wind. While stanza

Wind. While stanza IIII _{addresses the winds influence on the}_{addresses the winds influence on the}

sky, and stanza

sky, and stanza IIIIII _{discusses its effects on the sea, stanza}_{discusses its effects on the sea, stanza} II

sky, and stanza

sky, and stanza IIIIII _{discusses its effects on the sea, stanza}_{discusses its effects on the sea, stanza} II

describes the winds effects on the land. The autumn breezes describes the winds effects on the land. The autumn breezes describes the winds effects on the land. The autumn breezes describes the winds effects on the land. The autumn breezes scatter dead leaves and seeds on the forest soil, where they scatter dead leaves and seeds on the forest soil, where they scatter dead leaves and seeds on the forest soil, where they scatter dead leaves and seeds on the forest soil, where they eventually fertilize the earth and take root as new growth. eventually fertilize the earth and take root as new growth. eventually fertilize the earth and take root as new growth. eventually fertilize the earth and take root as new growth. Both Destroyer and Preserver (line 14), the wind ensures Both Destroyer and Preserver (line 14), the wind ensures Both Destroyer and Preserver (line 14), the wind ensures Both Destroyer and Preserver (line 14), the wind ensures the cyclical regularity of the seasons. These themes of

the cyclical regularity of the seasons. These themes of the cyclical regularity of the seasons. These themes of the cyclical regularity of the seasons. These themes of

regeneration and the interconnectedness of death and life, regeneration and the interconnectedness of death and life, regeneration and the interconnectedness of death and life, regeneration and the interconnectedness of death and life, endings and beginnings, runs throughout Ode to the West endings and beginnings, runs throughout Ode to the West endings and beginnings, runs throughout Ode to the West endings and beginnings, runs throughout Ode to the West Wind.

Wind. Wind. Wind.

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O wild West Wind,

thou breath of

Autumns being,

The wind is, of course, more The wind is, of course, more The wind is, of course, more The wind is, of course, more than simply a current of air. than simply a current of air. than simply a current of air. than simply a current of air.

I

I_{n Greek and Latin}_{n Greek and Latin} I

I_{n Greek and Latin }_{n Greek and Latin }__

languages with which languages with which languages with which languages with which Shelley was familiar Shelley was familiar Shelley was familiar 

Shelley was familiar  tththethehee words for wind,

words for wind, words for wind, words for wind,

inspiration, soul, and inspiration, soul, and inspiration, soul, and inspiration, soul, and spirit are all related. spirit are all related. spirit are all related. spirit are all related.

Shelleys West Wind thus Shelleys West Wind thus Shelleys West Wind thus Shelleys West Wind thus seems to symbolize an

seems to symbolize an seems to symbolize an seems to symbolize an inspiring spiritual power inspiring spiritual power inspiring spiritual power inspiring spiritual power that moves everywhere, that moves everywhere, that moves everywhere, that moves everywhere, and affects everything. and affects everything. and affects everything. and affects everything.

First Canto

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Lines 2

Lines

2-Lines 2-

-3

3

3 Thou, from whose

Thou, from whose

unseen presence the

leaves dead

Are driven, like ghost

from an enchanter

fleeing,

These lines ostensibly These lines ostensibly These lines ostensibly These lines ostensibly

suggest that, like a sorcerer suggest that, like a sorcerer suggest that, like a sorcerer suggest that, like a sorcerer might frighten away spirits, might frighten away spirits, might frighten away spirits, might frighten away spirits, the wind scatters leaves. the wind scatters leaves. the wind scatters leaves. the wind scatters leaves.

But one might also interpret But one might also interpret But one might also interpret But one might also interpret leaves dead as forgotten leaves dead as forgotten leaves dead as forgotten leaves dead as forgotten books, and ghosts as

books, and ghosts as books, and ghosts as books, and ghosts as writers of the past; in this writers of the past; in this writers of the past; in this writers of the past; in this sense, the winds of

sense, the winds of sense, the winds of sense, the winds of

inspiration make way for inspiration make way for inspiration make way for inspiration make way for new talent and ideas by new talent and ideas by new talent and ideas by new talent and ideas by driving away the memories driving away the memories driving away the memories driving away the memories of the old.

of the old. of the old. of the old.

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Lines 4

Lines

4-Lines 4-

-5

5

Y

ellow, and black, and

Y

ellow, and black, and

pale, and hectic red,

Pestilence

Pestilence-Pestilence-

-stricken

stricken

multitudes! O Thou,

The colors named here might The colors named here might The colors named here might The colors named here might

simply indicate the

simply indicate the differentdifferent simply indicate the

simply indicate the differentdifferent shades of the leaves, but it shades of the leaves, but it shades of the leaves, but it shades of the leaves, but it is also possible to interpret is also possible to interpret is also possible to interpret is also possible to interpret the leaves as symbols of the leaves as symbols of the leaves as symbols of the leaves as symbols of humanitys dying masses. humanitys dying masses. II_n_n

humanitys dying masses. humanitys dying masses. II_n_n

this analysis, the colors this analysis, the colors this analysis, the colors this analysis, the colors represent different

represent different represent different represent different cultures. This idea is cultures. This idea is cultures. This idea is cultures. This idea is

supported by the phrase supported by the phrase supported by the phrase supported by the phrase Each like a corpse within Each like a corpse within Each like a corpse within Each like a corpse within its grave in line 8 that its grave in line 8 that its grave in line 8 that its grave in line 8 that could indicate that each could indicate that each could indicate that each could indicate that each person takes part in the person takes part in the person takes part in the person takes part in the natural cycle of life and natural cycle of life and natural cycle of life and natural cycle of life and death.

death. death. death.

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Lines 6

Lines

6-Lines 6-

-7

7

7 Who chariotest to

Who chariotest to

their dark wintry

bed

The winged seeds,

where they lie old

low,

Here, the wind is

described as a chariot

that carries leaves and

seeds to the cold earth.

This comparison gives

the impression that the

wind has some of the

aspects of those who

are associated with

chariots

chariots 



go

gods

gods and

ds

an

and

d

powerful rulers.

(7)

Line 8

Each like corpse

within its grave,

The leaves are

personified as people

within their graves,

an image that

harkens back to lines

4 and 5, where the

leaves are considered

as diseased

multitudes of

people.

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Lines 9

Lines

9-Lines 9-

-12

12

12 Thine azure sister of the

Thine azure sister of the

Spring shall blow

Her clarion oer the

dreaming earth and fill

(Driving sweet buds like

flocks to feed in air)

With living hues and

odours plain and hill:

I

I_{n Greek and Roman}_{n Greek and Roman} I

I_{n Greek and Roman}_{n Greek and Roman}

mythology, the spring west mythology, the spring west mythology, the spring west mythology, the spring west wind was masculine, as was wind was masculine, as was wind was masculine, as was wind was masculine, as was the autumnal wind. Here, the autumnal wind. Here, the autumnal wind. Here, the autumnal wind. Here, the speaker refers to the the speaker refers to the the speaker refers to the the speaker refers to the spring wind as feminine, spring wind as feminine, spring wind as feminine, spring wind as feminine, perhaps to stress its role as perhaps to stress its role as perhaps to stress its role as perhaps to stress its role as nurturer and life

nurturer and life nurturer and

life-nurturer and life--giver. She-giver. Shegiver. Shegiver. She is pictured as awakening is pictured as awakening is pictured as awakening is pictured as awakening Nature with her energetic Nature with her energetic Nature with her energetic Nature with her energetic clarion, which is a type of clarion, which is a type of clarion, which is a type of clarion, which is a type of medieval trumpet.

medieval trumpet. medieval trumpet. medieval trumpet.

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Lines 13

Lines

13-Lines 13-

-14

14

14 Wild Spirit, which art

Wild Spirit, which art

moving

everywhere;

Destroyer and

Preserver; hear, O

hear!

At the conclusion of the first At the conclusion of the first At the conclusion of the first At the conclusion of the first stanza, the speaker

stanza, the speaker stanza, the speaker stanza, the speaker

identifies the wind as the identifies the wind as the identifies the wind as the identifies the wind as the powerful spirit of nature powerful spirit of nature powerful spirit of nature powerful spirit of nature that incorporates both that incorporates both that incorporates both that incorporates both

destruction and continuing destruction and continuing destruction and continuing destruction and continuing life.

life. II_{n fact, these two}_{n fact, these two}

life.

life. II_{n fact, these two}_{n fact, these two}

processes are said to be processes are said to be processes are said to be processes are said to be related; without

related; without related; without related; without

destruction, life cannot destruction, life cannot destruction, life cannot destruction, life cannot

continue. At the end of line continue. At the end of line continue. At the end of line continue. At the end of line 14 is the phrase Oh hear! 14 is the phrase Oh hear! 14 is the phrase Oh hear! 14 is the phrase Oh hear! that will be repeated at the that will be repeated at the that will be repeated at the that will be repeated at the end of stanzas 2 and 3. This end of stanzas 2 and 3. This end of stanzas 2 and 3. This end of stanzas 2 and 3. This refrain emphasizes sound, refrain emphasizes sound, refrain emphasizes sound, refrain emphasizes sound, which seems appropriate which seems appropriate which seems appropriate which seems appropriate given that wind, an invisible given that wind, an invisible given that wind, an invisible given that wind, an invisible force, is the poems central force, is the poems central force, is the poems central force, is the poems central subject.