Ode to the West wind - Analysis

Shelley addressed the Ode to the West wind, a cold wind that comes from West, and, generally, brings with it rain.

The Ode is composed of five stanzas, each one has a definitive function for the poem.

Moreover we could realize that the first three stanzas end with a refrain, that has the role to invite readers to be careful and empathize what the poet had written.

In the first stanza Shelley conveys the effects of the West wind on the Earth, and overall, on the dead leaves. In the second, the effects on the sky, especially on the clouds and the third the effects of the wind on the sea, and in particularly on the waves. The forth stanza put together all the previous elements and the last one contains the invocation to the wind.

• F In the first stanza Shelley describes the movement of dead leaves, that, multicoloured, are flying pushed by the West wind. Leaves are compared to ghosts, that are pursued by an enchanter , and also to a crazy crowd of people that are escaping and are frightened because of the plug.

• F In the second stanza the poet describes the effects of the wind on the clouds, that are compared to the previous leaves. They are also compared to angels, in the meaning of messengers, in fact they are the messengers of the rain.

• F In the third stanza Shelley describes how the West wind break the calm of the Mediterranean Sea, composing waves. Here it's important to notice the change of the tone.

• F In the last two stanzas the poet tell us his reaction and his emotions to the scene. He recalls the leaves and the waves, putting them together. They represented the will of cessation and oblivion that he needs in his poetry. The liberty of the clouds and the power of the waves are what he desired. He feels that he had lost all his youth's freedom, so he does not feel himself like a cloud, and that the time is enslaving him.