What are the figures of speech used in the poem solitary reaper, and where are they used in the poem?
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In lines 1 and 2, the poet, William Wordsworth has introduced us to the solitary reaper.
He has added a dramatic touch with the use of the words, ‘Behold her’. He has further pointed out that the solitary reaper was standing alone in the field. ‘Yon’ is short for ‘yonder’, a word used in old English which means ‘there’. He has referred to the reaper as a ‘Highland Lass’. Here, ‘highland’ refers to the Scottish Highlands, and ‘lass’ is a Scottish term for a girl or a young woman.
In line 3, he has told us that the young woman was reaping the corn and singing. There is an element of internal rhyming (‘reaping’ and ‘singing’).
In line 4, Wordsworth has addressed the reader. He has stated that the moment was such that one could either stand still and experience the song of the solitary reaper, or gently pass by without a sound.
In line 5 and 6, the poet has stated that she cut and bound the grain by herself as she sang a sad and sorrowful tune.
In lines 7 and 8, the poet has beckoned us to listen to the song of the solitary reaper. It seemed to the poet that the entire deep valley was overflowing with the solitary reaper’s song. The poet has also used alliteration (‘sings’ and ‘strain’, line 8).
In lines 9-12, William Wordsworth has transported the reader to the Arabian Desert. Here, ‘shady haunt’ refers to an oasis in the desert. Bands of travelers, exhausted and drained from traveling over the desert, would be welcomed into the oasis by the pleasant notes of a nightingale’s song. The poet has stated, that the song of the solitary reaper was so beautiful, that it surpassed the song of the nightingale.
Several examples of alliteration can be seen here: ‘No’ and ‘nightingale’ (line 9), ‘welcome’ and ‘weary’ (line 10), ‘some’ and ‘shady’ (line 11), ‘among’ and ‘Arabian’ (line 12).
In the lines 13 to 16, the poet has talked about the spring song of the cuckoo bird. The Hebrides are a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland. In the spring, the cuckoo birds in these islands break into beautiful tunes. The cuckoo bird’s tune appears to break the silence and stillness of the surrounding seas. Yet the voice of the young reaper is more thrilling to the poet’s ears that that of the cuckoo bird.
The poet has used alliteration (‘silence’ and ‘seas’)
In line 17, the poet has wondered aloud whether no one would tell him what the solitary reaper was singing about. The poet was unfamiliar with the language of the reaper’s song and hence he could not understand the meaning of the words.
In the next few lines the poet has speculated about the possible subjects of the young woman’s song.
In line 18, William Wordsworth has used alliteration (‘perhaps’ and ‘plaintive’).
He has conjectured that the song of the reaper may be about sad things that may have occurred a long time ago in some far off place (“old unhappy far off things”, line 19).
In line 20, Wordsworth has remarked that the song might also have something to do with a battle in the past.
In the next few lines however, the poet has wondered whether the song was about some simple, day to day occurrence in the life of the solitary reaper (lines 21 and 22).
The poet has used internal rhyming (‘familiar and ‘matter’, line 22)
The poet has further speculated whether the song was about some naturally occurring “sorrow, loss or pain” that has been there in the past and may return in the future (lines 23 and 24).
Regardless of what the song’s theme may have been, it seemed to Wordsworth that the solitary reaper's song did not have an ending (lines 25 and 26).
The poet continued to observe the solitary reaper bending over her sickle and singing at her work (lines 27-28).
The poet has used alliteration in line 27 (‘saw’ and ‘singing’).
In line 29, the poet has remarked that as he listened to the reaper’s song he was completely transfixed by it.
In the last three lines 30, 31 and 32, the poet has stated that as he slowly walked up the hill, the music of the solitary reaper’s song continued to be in his heart long after it could not be heard anymore.
He has added a dramatic touch with the use of the words, ‘Behold her’. He has further pointed out that the solitary reaper was standing alone in the field. ‘Yon’ is short for ‘yonder’, a word used in old English which means ‘there’. He has referred to the reaper as a ‘Highland Lass’. Here, ‘highland’ refers to the Scottish Highlands, and ‘lass’ is a Scottish term for a girl or a young woman.
In line 3, he has told us that the young woman was reaping the corn and singing. There is an element of internal rhyming (‘reaping’ and ‘singing’).
In line 4, Wordsworth has addressed the reader. He has stated that the moment was such that one could either stand still and experience the song of the solitary reaper, or gently pass by without a sound.
In line 5 and 6, the poet has stated that she cut and bound the grain by herself as she sang a sad and sorrowful tune.
In lines 7 and 8, the poet has beckoned us to listen to the song of the solitary reaper. It seemed to the poet that the entire deep valley was overflowing with the solitary reaper’s song. The poet has also used alliteration (‘sings’ and ‘strain’, line 8).
In lines 9-12, William Wordsworth has transported the reader to the Arabian Desert. Here, ‘shady haunt’ refers to an oasis in the desert. Bands of travelers, exhausted and drained from traveling over the desert, would be welcomed into the oasis by the pleasant notes of a nightingale’s song. The poet has stated, that the song of the solitary reaper was so beautiful, that it surpassed the song of the nightingale.
Several examples of alliteration can be seen here: ‘No’ and ‘nightingale’ (line 9), ‘welcome’ and ‘weary’ (line 10), ‘some’ and ‘shady’ (line 11), ‘among’ and ‘Arabian’ (line 12).
In the lines 13 to 16, the poet has talked about the spring song of the cuckoo bird. The Hebrides are a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland. In the spring, the cuckoo birds in these islands break into beautiful tunes. The cuckoo bird’s tune appears to break the silence and stillness of the surrounding seas. Yet the voice of the young reaper is more thrilling to the poet’s ears that that of the cuckoo bird.
The poet has used alliteration (‘silence’ and ‘seas’)
In line 17, the poet has wondered aloud whether no one would tell him what the solitary reaper was singing about. The poet was unfamiliar with the language of the reaper’s song and hence he could not understand the meaning of the words.
In the next few lines the poet has speculated about the possible subjects of the young woman’s song.
In line 18, William Wordsworth has used alliteration (‘perhaps’ and ‘plaintive’).
He has conjectured that the song of the reaper may be about sad things that may have occurred a long time ago in some far off place (“old unhappy far off things”, line 19).
In line 20, Wordsworth has remarked that the song might also have something to do with a battle in the past.
In the next few lines however, the poet has wondered whether the song was about some simple, day to day occurrence in the life of the solitary reaper (lines 21 and 22).
The poet has used internal rhyming (‘familiar and ‘matter’, line 22)
The poet has further speculated whether the song was about some naturally occurring “sorrow, loss or pain” that has been there in the past and may return in the future (lines 23 and 24).
Regardless of what the song’s theme may have been, it seemed to Wordsworth that the solitary reaper's song did not have an ending (lines 25 and 26).
The poet continued to observe the solitary reaper bending over her sickle and singing at her work (lines 27-28).
The poet has used alliteration in line 27 (‘saw’ and ‘singing’).
In line 29, the poet has remarked that as he listened to the reaper’s song he was completely transfixed by it.
In the last three lines 30, 31 and 32, the poet has stated that as he slowly walked up the hill, the music of the solitary reaper’s song continued to be in his heart long after it could not be heard anymore.
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