Ode to the West Wind

 

Ode to the West Wind

Dr. Ila Gupta 

Ode to the West wind is a poem by Shelly. The poet is writing this ide it prayer to the WW. He bows to the mighty power of the WW and wishes to be as liberal and strong as the WW. 

There are five sections of this Ode. The first, 2nd and 3rd sections are dedicated to the Earth, Air and Ocean. The poet invokes the WW of Autumn to scatter the dead leaves and spread the seeds so that when Spring comes, it can be rejuvenated. Here, it is important to note that the WW is addressed as both destroyer in Autmn and a reason of rejuvenation in Spring.

The West wind has seen unseen presence and it takes away death by taking away the old or dead. For example replenshing the old by giving birth to the new leaves.Poets use of dead, old in several ways like: Use of color by poet like " yellow, black and pale red" conveying a deathly sense. The use of "pestilence stricken multitudes" for fall (leaves). The WW carries it "to their dark wintry bed" which is a symbol of grave. "The winged seed"  is used as a  "metaphor" by poet, "where they lie cold and low" (rhyme).  The subtle use of simile " each leaf to a corpse within it's grave". 

Poet lays his focus on the clouds and says the WW as "dirge of the dying year" which stirs up violent storms. The clouds acts a medium of rainfall and thunder. The effect of this mighty WW on water is great, it stirs up the Mediterranean from his "summer dreams".

In the next part the poet takes a remarkable turn and express the WW into a metaphor or muse for his own Art and addresses the Weat Wind directly as a wave, a leaf and a cloud. The stanza four introduces new life to the readers. "Wild spirit, which art moving everywhere; Destroyer and preserver; hear, O hear! The poet then praises the wind for it's power when he addresses " sky's commotion" as psalm. WW is angel of " rain and lightening" and it is compared as a "fierce Maenad". 

Poet personifies the Sea now, after the WW and other symbols. He uses blue for "moss and flowers" hinting something is about to change when he mentions to Atlantic's powers". Poet uses expressions like dead thoughts like whispered leaves and quicken a new birth indicates departure of Autumn for the arrival of Spring.Poet is using Autumn and spring as metaphors to deliver the human pattern of new consciousness as spring and obsolete dead thoughts as withered leaves of Autumn.

The speaker then seeks mercy of the WW as he speaks about himself. Poet appeals the WW to make him it's lyre. The final two sections of poem suggests that the poet wants to promote this rebirth through his own poetry and rejuvenation. The theme is important and the below line gives it a complete address and meaning " if winter has come, Can Spring be far behind."

Structure and form:  the final two lines rhyme as a couplet in every stanza. Eg., 13th and 14th line "everywhere", " hear". The poem is written in Iambic pentameter. Literary Devices: Alliteration "lie, low" The alliteration in the opening line "Wild west wind". 

• Several use of Images and Metaphors.

• The Personification of the WW, the Sea and everything else too. 

• Enjambment– transition between line 2 and 3 of stanza one.

• Use of terza rima: That is a series of triplets with interlocking rhymes and, bcb, cdc, etc.

• "Uncontrollable" is used for the WW, and that is compared  with his childhood.

• Ode begins with prayer: "Oh lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!

• The WW is addressed as strongest or mighty by poet whom he seeks mercy in line:  "Tameless, and swift and proud". 

• The trumpet of prophecy is expressed in line that shows poet's Optimism:  " O wind, if Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"