The analysis of Ode to the West Wind
Ode to the West Wind is the most classical works of Shelley. The poet came up with the thought when he is walking in a forest and a strong storm seemed to come soon. And the storm came together with wind and hails. In such weather Shelley thought of many things of the society. Under this atmosphere he wrote the poem “Ode to the West Wind”.
The poem is written by Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1819 and this poem most representative of Shelley’s feelings and thoughts at the time. The poem expresses the hope that its words will inspire and influence those who read or hear it. He is the famous British democracy poet, and the poem was written in the year when he was living in Italian. It conveyed the spirit of the times. The poet came up with the thought when he is walking in a forest and a strong storm seemed to come soon. And the storm came together with wind and hails. In such weather Shelley thought of many things of the society. Under this atmosphere he wrote the poem “Ode to the West Wind”. The poem is the most classical works of Shelley.
In the poem, Shelley tries to show his wishes for transcendence, by explaining that his thoughts and ideas, like the 'winged seeds' are trapped. The West Wind acts as a force for change and forward movement in the human and natural world.
I believe that anyone who read the poem will be inspired an influenced by it. As Shelley wanted the belief of reform and revolution to be heard, the wind became the horn to call people to fight for their freedom.
Shelley sees winter not just as the last season of vegetation but as the last period of life. Shelley witnessed the changing of the weather from autumn to winter and its effects on the environment. Shelley is trying to show that a man’s ideas can spread and live on beyond his lifetime by having the wind carry his 'dead thoughts' which through destruction, will lead to a rebirth in the imagination, and in the natural world.
Shelley begins his poem by addressing the 'Wild West Wind'. He then introduces the theme of death and compares the dead leaves to 'ghosts'. The imagery of 'Pestilence-stricken multitudes' makes the reader aware that Shelley is addressing more than a pile of leaves. His claustrophobic mood is shown when he talks about the 'wintry bed' and 'The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low. Each likes a corpse within its grave, until. Thane azure sister of the spring shall blow'. In the first line, Shelley used the phrase 'winged seeds' which presents I.
What’s more, the 'closing night' is used also to mean the final night. The 'pumice' shows destruction and creation because when the volcano erupts it destroys. This acts as an introduction and a foreshadow of what
is to come later. ?Also helps the reader prepare for the climax which Shelley intended. It seems that it is only in his death that the 'Wild Spirit' could be lifted 'as a wave, a leaf, a cloud' to blow free in the 'Wild West Wind'. He writes like a mourning song 'of the dying year, to which this closing night. Will be the dome of a vast sepulcher, Vaulted with all they congregated might'. Percy sees his ‘dome’ as a volcano and when the 'dome' does 'burst,' it will act as a 'Destroyer and Preserver' and creator. In 'Ode to the West Wind,' Shelley uses the wind to represent driving change and a carrier for his ideas.
Meanwhile the poem is also a lyric poem which the poet use many symbols to express his belief. It addresses the west wind as a powerful force and asks it to scatter the poet's words throughout the world. In 'Ode to the West Wind,' Shelley uses the wind to represent driving change and a carrier for his ideas.
The poem consists of five cantos and it can be divided in two parts: the first three cantos and the last two cantos .The three canto describing the wind's effects upon earth, air, and ocean. The last two cantos are Shelley speaking directly to the wind, asking for its power, to lift him like a leaf, a cloud or a wave and make him its companion in its wanderings. Throughout the 5 sections of the poem, we can see a free and tough soul which dared to challenge the tradition and authorities. The poet viewed the west wind as a metaphor clearing all the evils.