ODE TO THE WEST WIND

By

P B SHELLEY

Introduction to the Poet

One among the five great English Romantic poets, Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on 4 th August,
1792 in an affluent family of England. He got his education at Eton and University College
Oxford. But his love for freedom and revolt against tyranny made him publish a pamphlet The
Necessity of Atheism leading to his expulsion from the University. Shelley was an idealist and a
dreamer, a revolutionary and a reformer. He was, in fact a man of ideas and emotions and all his
poetry reflects his true spirit. His celebrated works are 'The Revolt of Islaam, Prometheus
Unbound, Adonais, Queen Mab, Alaster and Cenci. Like other younger Romantics (i.e., Byron
and Keats), Shelley too, died prematurely at the young age of thirty.

Introduction to the Poem

'Ode to the West Wind' is one of the most engaging odes in English literature. The poem is a
forceful, mind blowing description of the West Wind. Shelley, here, presents the West Wind
both as a creative and destructive force. According to Shelley, it is a symbol of healthy
change. It sweeps all that is dead and useless and marks the beginning of new life. The poet
invokes the mighty West Wind to infuse in him poetic inspiration so that he may deliver his
invaluable message to the mankind. The poem is also remarkable for its revolutionary element.
It, in a way, signals an end to decaying monarchies and dwindling autocracies. According to the
poet, the winter season cannot last longer. After every winter, there comes always the spring.
Hence, the poem ends on a strong note of optimisms.

'In Ode to the West Wind' Shelley shows his great love for liberty. He personifies the West
Wind as a powerful and uncontrollable spirit. It is the breath of autumn's being. Its terrible
power is felt by the trees which shed their leaves at its approach. The leaves fly away like the
"pestilence – stricken – multitudes". The West Wind sends the old seeds to their dark wintery
beds. They come to life again in the spring season. In this way the West Wind acts not only as a
destroyer but a preserver as well.

The West Wind is not only powerful at the earth, it is powerful in the sky also. With its force it
spreads dark clouds all over the sky. They are the angels of rain. Even the ocean becomes
helpless before the West Winds' power. It disturbs the calm surface of the ocean. When the
West Wind comes the waves of the Atlantic divide themselves to give way. Even the plants
growing at the bottom of ocean turn grey with fear when they find West Wind approaching.

The poet requests the West Wind to lend him some of its powers. At one time even the poet was
like the West Wind. He was volatile and untamed but now he feels weak and shackled because
of his age. He finds himself fallen on the thorns of life and is bleeding. So, he requests the West
Wind to come to his help. He wants it to lift him as he would lift a wave, a leaf, or a cloud.
The 'poet is a champion of liberty'. He wants to spread his message of hope through all
mankind. His thoughts are like grey withered leaves. He is without hope. He wants the West
Winds to revitalize him. He should give him strength by making his lyre. It should blow through
his ups and bring cheer to all. The poet ends with a prophecy: "if winter comes can spring be far
behind."

Explanation with Reference to the Context

Stanza 1
O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being,
Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,
Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,
Pestilence-stricken multitudes

Word-meanings: 1. Autumn's being = Having the body of autumn; 2. unseen presence =

which is present but cannot be seen; 3. ghosts = evil spirits; 4. enchanter = magician; 5. hectic
red = dark red; 6. pestilencestricken = victims of some deadly disease; 7. multitudes = crowds.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from Shelley's famous poem
"Ode to the West Wind". He is a poet of liberty, revolution and hope. Here, he invokes the West
Wind to bring change in the hopeless and helpless world.

Explanation: In the above lines the poet personifies the West Winds. It is addressed as a
wild spirit of autumn whose unseen presence drives the dead leaves. They are driven as if they
are ghosts being chased by a magician. The yellow, black, pale and dark red leaves look like the
victims of some plague and are seen running away.

Critical Comments: Shelly is one of the most important romantic poets in English
literature. Here he presents some wonderful concrete images of the powerful West Wind. The
West Wind is personified and is called, "The breath of autumn's being". The grey withered
leaves are compared to ghosts which are running away from a powerful magician. This magician
is no one but the West Wind. The leaves are once again compared to the "pestilence stricken
multitudes".

Stanza 2
O thou,
Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed
The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low,
Each like a corpse within its grave, until
Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow
Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill
(Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)
With living hues and odours plain and hill:
Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from Shelley's famous poem
"Ode to the West Wind". Here Shelley acts as a champion of liberty and freedom. He
personifies the West Wind and hills as an "unseen presence".

Explanation: In these lines Shelley calls the West Wind a mighty force which derives the
withered leaves to the dark earth. There the seeds lie cold and low as if a corpse were lying in i
ts grave. Then the West Wind's sister blows her clarion over the dreaming earth and the
seemingly dead seeds sprouts into buds in colourful shades.

Stanza 3
Angels of rain and lightning: there are spread
On the blue surface of thine aery surge,
Like the bright hair uplifted from the head
Of some fierce Maenad,

Word-meanings: 1. Angels of rain and lightning = the dark clouds; 2. thine aery surge = the
waves that rise in the air or in the sky; 3. hair uplifted = hair lifted in the air; 4. Fierce = full of
anger 5. Maenad = the name of a dancer.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from P.B. Shelley's famous poem
"Ode to the West Wind". In this poem the poet personifies the West Wind calling it as a
powerful agent of liberty.

Explanation: Here in these lines the poet hails the West Wind as a vigorous force that
scatters the dark clouds in the sky. The sky is covered with the dark cloud which seem to be
spread on the powerful waves of the West Wind. These dark clouds seem as if they were the
bright hair uplifted from the head of the angry dancer before God of music.

Stanza 4
Thou who didst waken from his summer dreams
The blue Mediterranean, where he lay,
Lull'd by the coil of his crystalline streams,
Beside a pumice isle in Baiae's pay,
And saw in sleep old palaces and towers
Quivering within the wave's intenser day.

Word-meanings: 1. blue Mediterranean = deep Mediterranean sea; 2. lull'd = laid to sleep

with the help of music and song; 3. crystalline = clear transparent; 4. pumice isle = an island that
is made of rough stones; 5. Baiae = an coastal city in Italy; 6. Quivering = trembling; 7. intenser
day = a day full of brighter light.
Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from Shelley's famous work,
"Ode to the West Wind". In this poem Shelley personifies the West Wind and hails it as a
symbol of liberty and freedom.

Explanation: In these lines the poet describes the power of West Wind over the vast and blue
Mediterranean sea. He says that the sea was sleeping lulled by the clear streams and was
dreaming his summer dreams. Then came the West Wind and it destroyed the sleep of the sea
which it was having near a Pumice island.

Stanza 5
Thou
For whose path the Atlantic's level powers
Cleave themselves into chasms, while far below
The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear
The sapless foliage of the ocean, know
Thy voice, and suddenly grow grey with fear,
And tremble and despoil themselves: oh hear!

Word-meanings: 1. Atlantic level powers = Atlantic ocean's vast water treasure; 2. cleave
= divide; 3. chasm = a deep and crack on the surface of the earth; 4. oozy woods = bushes and
plants full of mud; 5. sapless foliage = leaves and flower with juice; 6. despoil = to destroy.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from the famous poem of
Shelley, 'Ode to the West Wind'. In this poem the poet shows the power of the West Wind over
the earth, sky and ocean.

Explanation: In these lines the poet shows the power of the West Wind over the ocean. When
the mighty West Winds moves, the water level of the Atlantic ocean are divided and look like
deep ravines. Even the plants and the bushes which grow at the bottom of the ocean
recognize its voice. As they hear the West Wind coming, they become grey with fear and
starts trembling.

Stanza 6
If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear;
If I were a swift cloud to fly with thee;
A wave to pant beneath thy power, and share
The impulse of thy strength, only less free
Than thou, O uncontrollable!

Word-meanings: 1. thou mightest bear = you might make me fly; 2. pant = to be breathless;
3. impulse = effect; 4. uncontrollable = that cannot be controlled.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from P.B. Shelley's marvellous poem,
"Ode to the West Wind". In this poem Shelley hail the West Wind as a symbol at might or
power which affects the whole world.
Explanation: In the lines under explanation the poet appeals the cloud to revitalize him. It
must give him a new life. He pleads with the cloud saying that if he we were a dead leaf it must
carry him in the air. If he were a swift cloud the West Wind must carry him with it in the
same way if the poet were a wave the West Wind must stimulate him. In this manner he
could have a feel of its power.

Stanza 7
Oh, lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!
I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!
A heavy weight of hours has chain'd and bow'd
One too like thee: tameless, and swift, and proud.

Word-meanings: 1. thorns of life = pains of life I bleed, I suffer; 2. heavy weight of hours = life
that is dull.
Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from the Romantic poet, P.B. Shelley's
"Ode to the West Wind". In it the poet talks of the might and power of the West Wind and his
own helplessness.
Explanation: In these lines the poet speaks of his weakness, both physical and spiritual. He
thinks that the negative circumstances have chained and tamed him. He has fallen on the thorns
of life and is bleeding. He makes a request to the West Wind that it should pick him as he picks a
wave or a leaf or a cloud and fill life in him once again.

Stanza 8
Make me thy lyre, even as the forest is:
What if my leaves are falling like its own!
The tumult of thy mighty harmonies
Will take from both a deep, autumnal tone,
Sweet though in sadness. Be thou, Spirit fierce,
My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one!
Drive my dead thoughts over the universe
Like wither'd leaves to quicken a new birth!

Word-meanings: 1. lyre = a stringed musical instrument; 2. tumult = disturbance; 3.

autumnal tone = the serious tone of autumn season; 4. impetuous = defiant one.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from P.B. Shelley's famous poem,
"Ode to the West Wind". In this poem Shelley describes the West Wind as a powerful symbol of
freedom and liberty. He thinks that the West Wind can regenerate his life as it can regenerate
the physical world.

Explanation: The poet requests the West Wind to make his lyre. It should ignore the
weaknesses of the poet. He appeals to the West Wind to blow through the poet's verses as it
does through the forest. He should drive away the dead thought in the poet's mind and give
birth to new ideas. Thus the poet appeals to the West Wind to infuse new life in him.

Stanza 9
And, by the incantation of this verse,
Scatter, as from an unextinguish'd hearth
Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!
Be through my lips to unawaken'd earth
The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

Word-meanings: 1. incantation = recitation; 2. scatter = spread out; 3. unextinguish hearth

= still burning fire place; 4. unawaken'd earth = still sleeping; 5. trumpet = a loud musical
instrument; 6. prophecy = to foretell future events.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from P.B. Shelley's poem, "Ode to the
West Wind". In it Shelly calls the West Wind powerful and symbolises it as liberty and freedom.
He makes an appeal to the West Wind to regenerate his life and fill his life with freshness.

Explanation: In these lines Shelley appeals to the West Wind to infuse new life in him and like
the ambers of an extinguished fire-place. His verses should also be spread all over the world. He
urges the West Wind to become a trumpet of prophecy through his poetry. Infact the last line is
full of hope as Shelley suggests that winter does not mean the end of life. The arrival of spring is
must. So after pain and suffering there will be hope of joy. Thus the poem expresses the sense or
tone of hope and optimism.

Short-Answer Questions
Q. 1. Describe the effect of the West Wind on the leaves, the clouds and the sea waves?

Ans. As the West Wind comes the leaves of trees turn pale in fear. They fall from the trees. They
fly away like ghosts running away from a magician. Their hue turns yellow, black and hectic red.
They look like pestilence driven multitudes. The West Wind scatters the dark clouds which look
like the bright hair uplifted from the head of fierce maenad. The West Wind disturbs the ocean
also.

Q. 2. How is the West Wind harbinger of a new life?

Ans. It destroys all that is dead. The dead leaves are taken away by the West Wind. Along with
the dead leaves the seed are also transported to new places on the right opportunity. These
seeds sprout into new buds. In this way the West Wind becomes the harbinger of a new life.

Q. 3. What effect does the West Wind have on the ocean?

Ans. The West Wind creates a storm in the ocean. It divides the waves of the ocean. Even the sea
flowers at the bottom of the ocean are disturbed.

Q. 4. What is the effect of the West Wind in the sky?

Ans. It scatters the clouds in the sky. It brings about rain. It comes near the end of the year and
seems to be the mourning song for the dying ear. The poet feels that West Wind brings
rain, shiver andthunder.

Q. 5. How does the poet compare himself to the West Wind?

Ans. The West Wind is very powerful. It cannot be tamed. The poet was also equally powerful
when he was young. He was also untamed and wild. But now because of the burden of time he
has become weak. He has fallen on the thorns of life and he is bleeding.

Q. 6. How is the West Wind both a destroyer and a preserver?

Ans. According to the poet the West Wind is both a destroyer and preserver. When it
blows it drives away the dead and dry leaves. But it is a preserver as well. It takes the seeds
also with it and burries them in distant places. Given the right condition these seeds grow into
big trees. In this sense the West Wind is a preserver also.

Q. 7. What is the message the poem gives at the end?

Ans. The poet wants to suggest that after grief there will be joy. After winter there will be
spring. He seeks the help of the West Wind to bring a message of hope and joyful life.

Essay Type Questions

Q. 1. Write a critical summary of the poem, “Ode to the West Wind” bringing out its
theme.

Or

Trace the development of the thought in “Ode to the West Wind”.

Ans. Shelley was a rebellious poet. He greatly loved liberty and wanted all mankind to be free
from all kinds of bondage. In this poem he gives a loud and clear message that joy would follow
grief. After despair there would be hope.

The poet uses the West Wind as a symbol of wild untamed energy. He personifies it and shows
its impact on the earth, the sky and the ocean. He calls it the breath of autumn. It drives away
the dead and rotten seeds. They fly away like pestilence driven multitudes. But while the West
Wind brings death to old and rotten leaves, it carries seeds to distant places thus bringing
rebirth.

The West Wind scatters the clouds all over the sky. They look like bright hair uplifted from the
head of some fierce maenad. The West Wind awakens the ocean sleeping peacefully. It ruffles its
waves and clefts them. Even the plants at the bottom of ocean feel its power. They turn grey on
hearing its terrible thunder.

The poet requests to the West Wind to lend him some of its power. These were a time when the
poet was as wild and untamed as the West Wind but now the life has tamed him. He has fallen
on the thorns of life and is bleeding. Now he needs the help of the West Wind to give support. He
wants the West Wind to lift him as a wave or a lead or a cloud.

The poet wants to spread his message of hope throughout the world. But his thoughts are dull
and grey like the dead leaves. That is why the poet wants West Wind to make him his lyre. In
this way he would be able to spread his message of hope and joy to the whole world.

Objective Type Questions

Q. 1. What is the wintry bed?
Ans. The cold earth is the wintry bed.
Q. 2. Why are the leaves called pestilence-stricken multitudes?
Ans. They are dead and rotten and they are in large numbers.
Q. 3. Who is the azure sister of the West Wind?
Ans. Spring is the azure sister.
Q. 4. Who are the angles of rain and lightning?
Ans. The clouds are the angles of rain and lightning.
Q. 5. For whom the Atlantic waves part?
Ans. They part for the West Wind.
Q. 6. Why do the plants at the bottom of the ocean turn grey?
Ans. The plants turn grey out of the fear for the West Wind.
Q. 7. What is message of the poem?
Ans. The message of the poem is to have hope for the future.

Punith