ode to the west wind (246) Flashcards
role of the “west wind”
deifies and worships the wind reflected with the “ode” and use of “o” and capital letters
the wind reflects the divine power to take away the sun and replace it with cold and darkness; wind is presented as a necessary evil to bring spring
speaker is desperate for the winds attention and once they feel the wind has heard them he begs the wind to take him to death for a better life
theme of death
without death there is no rebirth (reflected by the winds bringing of the cyclical seasonal decay before spring)
rhyme pattern
filled with half-rhymes which reflects the desperation of the speaker, unable but trying to keep composure and stability, for answers or the wind
metre
iambic pentameter which reflects the speakers creates a sense that the speaker is saying something important (call for revolution?)
“leaves dead // are driven like ghosts”
enjambment shows power death bring as well as the simile “like ghosts” following the personification action of the leaves; there is a power in death that we are unable to replicate in life
“chariotest”
wind uplifting a symbol of deity as well as general power and wealth
reflective of the greek myth of apollo directing the sun and bringing day on his chariot; emphasising the power of nature and the sky to humanity, how the sublime is deified
“where they lie low and cold”
humanity buried after death reflecting our decay into nature, we are planted the same as seeds
shelley commenting on the pointlessness of all of the injustice, greed and societal rules if we all end up in the same place as every other thing on earth
“some fierce maenad”
juxtaposition of the uncontrolled force of followers of dionysis and the positive “fierce”; giving power to those who believe in the unconventional because thats the only way to incite change
motif of earth, sky and water
reflects the rebellious dedication/devotion the speaker has to the west wind and the nature around us (connects all of us) to create a sense of rebellion and unity
we need all three aspects of nature, just like we need every aspect of society to feel united for revolution
enjambment after “share”
comment on the inequality, creates a brief pause of ambiguity of what could be shared; shelley emphasises there is so much to be shared yet so many people left with not enough or the bare minimum and the corruption of it
“drive my dead”
transition from canto ones “driving” and “driven” into a more impertive and determined movement/call to action
use of “my” creates a stronger sense of control from the speaker rather than being at the mercy of the west winds
