THE SOLITARY REAPER

1. While reading the poem, note down what you are told about:

The characters,

The actions,

The setting.

There are two characters: the speaking voice, a man who is walking in the Highlands, and a lady who is singing and cutting the grain.

2. The second stanza contains two comparisons.

     They tell the reader about the quality of  the

     reaper' s song.

What is being compared to what?

What do the two comparison have in

common  with the reaper' s song?

What kind of landscape do they suggest? Can you relate it to the Highlands?

The lady' s voice is compared to that of a nightingale and of a cuckoo-bird: in the first case, the lady' s notes are more pleasant than the nightingale ones; moreover her voice is more trilling than the cuckoo-bird.

The nightingale is associated to Arabia, the cuckoo-bird is recalls the Hebrides.

The two birds suggest the idea of a wooded and secure landscape too: as a matter of facts the Highlands are a mountainous region in Scotland.

3. The third stanza discusses the possible subjects of the reaper' s song. Say what they are and if they have got anything in common.

The subjects of the reaper' s song may be connected with past or present: in both cases, the song evokes unhappy and painful events.

4. Consider the language the poet uses. What is the tone of the poem? Quote from the text.

The language is simple, even if there are references to two particular kinds of birds connected to specific geographical areas. At the beginning the tone is enthusiastic while in the last two stanzas it becomes more melancholy and sad.