The Solitary  Reaper

Just reading the title the reader may expect the poem to be set in the country because a reaper generally works in the fields. One interesting element that attract the attention of the reader is the use of the word “solitary”. This choice may anticipates the melancholic atmosphere.

The poem is made up of four eight-line stanzas. In the first one the speaking-voice invites the passer-by to look at the girl, who is working alone in the field, while she is reaping and singing. In the second stanza the reaper’s voice is compared to the nightingale’s chant.  Her song is melancholy and seems to fill all the valley also creating an echo effect. In the third part the poet is wondering the content of her song. Maybe she is singing about pass memories, old battles or pain. In the last stanza, the speaker moves on carrying the music of the young lady in his heart.

Right from the start the reader is lead to focus his or her attention towards the long vowel sounds in the test. The use of these sounds suggest the idea of a typical Scottish open space. The use of the continuous form “ing” in the verbs “reaping and singing” suggest the idea of an action that is stretched in time and convey also the idea of the working girl’s movement. In the first stanza there are three exclamation marks in order to emphasize the emotive aspect of what is told.

Most of the words used by the poet belong to the semantic sphere of nature ( words like field, grain, vale…).Nature is not just landscape, it is also an active force which deserves religious reverence and love. Sentences are made up using past form according to the poet’s aim to reveal a remembrance.

From line 9 to line 13 there are two important similes. The first compares the reaper’s voice to a Nightingale chant: no nightingale did ever chaunt/more welcome notes to weary band. The reaper’s voice is so pleasant that cheers up the poet as an oasis does with the tired travelers. The second simile compares the reaper’s voice to a cuckoo-bird’s one. Both are thrilling: as a matter of fact they sticks into the poet’s  mind very easily. The reader in line 30-31 find a chiasm: as a matter of fact in line 31 the subject I is at the beginning ( this implies that the poet has an active role) while on the following line I is at the end of the sentence: the attention is here focused on the music.

The reaper’s voice is so powerful that locks the poet who isn’t able to move.

This extrat is a typical romantic test because of the presence of the team of nature and the relationship between man and nature.