The Solitary Reaper - English Literature

Summary
"The Solitary Reaper" is a delightful lyric by William Wordsworth. Wordsworth is known as a great lover and preacher of nature. He impresses us by the imaginative and philosophical quality of his thoughts.

This poem is a result of his visit to Scotland where he came across a lovely maiden in the fields all alone. Her lovely person and her sweet song had a deep impression on the poet and moved him to compose these verses. The lovely singer appeared to be a part of that beautiful scene of nature.

A highland girl was reaping grain in the field and singing a song at the same time. The poet did not understand the contents of the song as it was in a foreign language. He guessed that it was the tale of old and tragic events of the past. It could also be an account of some recent calamity or mishap. Whatever the theme of the song, it was sung in a beautiful, rich voice. The song seemed to be endless. The poet was bewitched by the thrilling notes of the lonely reaper. The whole valley was ringing with her silvery sound. Even the spring bird Cuckoo could not produce such a magical effect as the maiden's song cost on the poet.
The poet stood still and listened to that golden voice for some time. After words, when he was climbing the hill he could not hear that song any longer. But he was still feeling the sweet vibrations of that music in his heart. The sweet memory of that song had become a permanent source of joy.

Sample Q's And A's

Question (1): What were the poet's first thoughts when he saw the solitary reaper?

Answer: The poet was so moved by the reaper working all alone in the fields, singing her song, that he felt the scene should not be disturbed. The slightest noise would be jarring. So he stood there quietly watching her at her work.

Question (2): What kind of song was the girl singing?

Answer: The girl was singing a sad and lonesome song.

Question (3): Why was the valley filled with music?

Answer: The song was very intense and melodious. The beauty of the girl's voice was so deep, that the entire valley echoed with the song.

Question (4): To what does the poet compare the reaper's song?

Answer: The young maiden's song was inspiring and welcome to the poet, just as the nightingale's song in the desert which is indicative of an oasis nearby. The song is also compared to the cuckoo's song in the far off islands of the Hebrides.

Question (5): Why was the poet puzzled with the song?

Answer: The girl was singing in a language that the poet did not understand. He was puzzled about the meaning of the song.

Question (6): How did the reaper's song affect the poet?

Answer: The reaper's song made such an impact on the poet that he carried the music with him. He could feel the beauty of the song long after he had passed the valley.

Question (7): Read the following and answer the questions:-
Alone she cuts, and binds the grain
And sings a melancholy strain
O listen! for the vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

a. Who is 'she'?

b. What is meant by 'melancholy strain'?

c. What does the 'vale profound' refer to?

Answer: a. 'She' is the solitary reaper.

b. 'Melancholy strain' means a sad song.

c. 'Vale profound' refers to a deep valley.

Question (8): "Will no one tell me what she sings
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far- off things
And battles long ago

a. Why does the poet ask the question in the first line?

b. What is meant by 'plaintive numbers'?

c. What could have been one of the themes of the song?

Answer: a. The poet asks this question because he is unable to understand the meaning of the song, as the language in which she was singing was not familiar to the poet.

b. 'Plaintive numbers' means sad songs.

c. One of the themes could have been about battles fought long ago or some sad event of the past.

Question (9): 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.

a. How did the poet react to the song?

b. Did the song affect the poet greatly?

Answer: a. The poet stood very quiet and still, listening to the beautiful song.

b. Yes, the song made a very deep impact on the poet. He was so touched by it, that he carried the whole wonderful experience with him as he moved on.

Question (10): Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

No nightingale did ever chant,
More welcome notes to weary bands,
Of travellers in some shady haunts,
Among Arabian Sands.

a) For whom did the nightingale sing? Why?

Answer: a) The nightingale sang to welcome the tired traveller. They are weary as their journey through the desert Arabian Desert is long and exhausting, so singing to them would help relax them slightly.

Question (11): Where did the poet meet the solitary reaper?

Answer: In Scotland, while walking in the hills, the poet saw an ordinary Scottish girl, single in the field, reaping the crop and singing to herself. It sounded sad and melancholic. The entire valley was echoing and overflowing with her sweet song. The poet stood still and listened silently. He was greatly affected by the sheer melodiousness and found her song sweeter than that of a nightingale and the cuckoo.

He guessed that the topic of her song probably about old, unhappy events in her life or of battles and struggles. She has experienced long ago; it may be about some natural sorrow loss or pain. Long after she completed her singing, the poet could hear her voice resounding in his ears - the impact was very great indeed

Question (12): Why did the poet compare the song of the solitary reaper with those of the nightingale and the cuckoo - bird? What did he think of the maiden's song?

Answer: The poet was deeply moved by the sweet melancholic song of the Highland lass. It was so profound that be compared it with the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo - bird. The nightingale sings to welcome weary travellers in the Arabian Desert - the maiden's singing is compared to the soothing effect of the nightingales singing on the travellers. Similarly the cuckoo - bird's song announces the onset of spring in the Hebrides island and this singing is so pleasant that it breaks the silence of the gloomy winter - the maiden's singing has the same effect on the poet. The entire valley was overflowing with this music and the melody lingered on in the poets ears long after she had completed singing her song.