An Analysis Of Percy Bysshe Shelley's Ode To The West Wind

Shelley: The Most Revolutionary of the Most Romantic Poets

“Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.” “Fear not for the future, weep not for the past.” “O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” These powerful quotes all come from a single poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Born in 1792, Shelley has joined the Romantic movement, whose common themes include the appreciation of nature and emotional inspirations from it. On the other hand, Shelley also differentiates himself from the rest of Romantic poets with his revolutionary ideals. Specifically, his poems, most notably “Ode to the West Wind,” depict natural beauty through detailed imagery, reveal his admiration for nature through apostrophe, and express his radicalism through not only nature but also the supernatural.

Shelley’s excellent imagery presents the most beautiful side of nature. In his “Ode to the West Wind,” the Mediterranean Sea is “[l]ull’d by the coil of his crystalline streams” (31) and sees “old palaces and towers” (33) that are “overgrown with azure moss and flowers” (35). The scene of crystal clear sea with occasional waves creates a calm and relaxing mood. On the other hand, the scene of ancient ruins adds a sense of sorrow and nostalgia, more so when their once extravagance has

In “Ode to the West Wind,” Shelley’s narrator addresses the strong west wind, “O thou, / Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed / The winged seeds” (5-7). To him, the wind drives an invisible chariot that sends the seed to the right place, fulfilling its role of “preserver.” The use of “chariotest” emphasizes the speed and power of the wind, which completes its duty without hesitation (Wilcox 636). The narrator cannot help but exclaim his appreciation of the powerful image, displaying his excitement at seeing it. Similarly, in Shelley’s “To a Skylark,” the speaker tells the bird the scene from his