12th class Poem " The Solitary Reaper"
BY
William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
Original Readings
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.
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Stanza-1
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;
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-1:
Look at her, all alone in the field, that Highland girl working by herself! She’s harvesting and singing by herself. Stop and watch, or pass by quietly. She’s cutting and gathering the crops, singing a sad song.
Stanza-2
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:
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-2:
Listen closely—the whole valley is filled with the sound of her voice. No Nightingale has ever sung sweeter songs to tired travellers resting in the shade in the Arabian desert.
Stanza-3
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.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-3:
Her voice is more beautiful than the sound of a Cuckoo in spring, echoing across the distant Hebrides islands.
Stanza-4
Will no one tell me what she sings?-
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-4:
Can no one tell me what she’s singing about? Maybe her sad song is about things from the distant past, like old struggles and battles long ago.
Stanza-5
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?
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-5:
Or perhaps it’s a simpler song about everyday life—some common sorrow, loss, or pain that has happened before and could happen again.
Stanza-6
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;-
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-6:
No matter what her song was about, the girl sang as if it would never end. I watched her singing while working, bending over her sickle.
Stanza-7
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.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-7:
I stood there, listening quietly and without moving. As I walked up the hill, I carried the music in my heart, even after I could no longer hear it.
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The Summary of “The Solitary Reaper”
by William Wordsworth
In William Wordsworth's poem "The Solitary Reaper" the speaker describes a Highland girl working alone in the field, harvesting grain and singing a sorrowful song. Her voice fills the valley, and the speaker is captivated by its beauty, comparing it to the melodious notes of a nightingale or a cuckoo bird. He wonders about the meaning of her song—whether it tells of past events like battles, or expresses more everyday sorrows. Even though the speaker cannot understand the exact words, the girl's song leaves a deep impression on him, and he carries its memory in his heart long after he can no longer hear it.
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The central idea of the Poem “The Solitary Reaper”
by William Wordsworth
The central idea of William Wordsworth's "The Solitary Reaper" is the powerful and lasting impact of nature and simple human experiences on the human soul. The poem reflects how the song of a lone Highland girl, while working in the fields, deeply moves the speaker. Even though the speaker cannot understand the words of her song, its beauty and emotional depth leave a lasting impression, highlighting the universal power of music and nature to stir the heart and mind.
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