Lines-1-4

Behold her, single in the field.

..............................................
..............................................
Stop here or gently pass!

At the outset the poet tells us to look at a girl who is single in the field.
The word Single and Solitary makes us aware about the hushed atmosphere of the valley.
She is simultaneously singing and reaping.
stop here or gently pass

Critics have evaluated the line in different ways. Firstly The poet is so mesmerised with the
effect of the Solitary Reapers song that he could not decide whether to stop or gently pass.
 Secondly The poet was elated by the song of the Solitary Reaper and did not want the song
to come to an end for him. If he stops or passes by, in both cases the girl might see him and
stop singing. So he was in confusion whether he would stop or gently pass.

Thirdly- The poet addresses to the passersby not to be reason of disturbance. He advises
them either to stop or pass gently (This seems impractical as the poet stated already that the
reaper was lonely and in secluded atmosphere)

Poetic Devices in use: -

I) Antitheses Stop here or gently pass!

ALSO READ- THE SOLITARY REAPER TEXT BOOK ANSWERS AND

SOLUTIONS CBSE CLASS IX ENGLISH

Line 5-8

Again we are acquainted with the loneliness of the Solitary Reaper. She cuts and binds the
grain alone and sings melancholy songs. Then the poet urges us to listen and feel the effect of
the song. According to the poet, the whole valley is overfilled with the enchanting song of the
Solitary Reaper.
Poetic Devices in use: -
I) Inversion alone she cuts and binds the grain.
II) Antithesis cuts and binds
III) O listen! For the vale profound (Apostrophe)
IV) O listen! for the vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound (Hyperbole, Enjambment)

Line 9-12

At the outset of the second stanza the poet went on comparing the song of the Solitary Reaper
with the song of nightingale. He did so only to establish the superiority of the song of Solitary
Reaper. The song of the nightingale is welcome song to the tired group of travellers in the
 oasis of Arabian Desert. Wordsworth here has chosen consciously the nightingale, the best
singing bird only to make us aware about the superiority of the song of Solitary Reaper.
Poetic Devices in use: -
I) Alliteration No Nightingale, Some Shady, Among Arabian.
II) Metaphor The Solitary Reapers song has been compared with the song of Nightingale.
III) Enjambment More welcome notes to weary bands of travellers..................

Line-13-16

After comparing the song of the Solitary Reaper with the nightingale, Wordsworth goes on
describing and comparing with cuckoo, another acclaimed sweet singing bird. Wordsworth
takes us to the Hebrides where the silences of the remote islands are broken by the voice of
the cuckoo bird.
At the same time Wordsworth consciously states that the voice of the Solitary Reaper
was a thrilling one and he had never heard such a voice as this.
Poetic Devices in use: -
I) Inversion a voice so thrilling never was heard.
II) Metaphor - here the song of the nightingale is compared to that of cuckoo.
III) Hyperbole Breaking the silence of the seas.

ALSO READ-- THE SOLITARY REAPER TEXT BOOK ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS
CBSE CLASS IX ENGLISH

Line 17-20

Now Wordsworth goes on guessing what the song means. This is to be kept in mind that the
Solitary Reaper song in Erse (Local Gaelic Language). So Wordsworth had a little knowledge
about what was the theme of the song. He concluded the song to be a melancholic one. He
further guessed that the reason of the sad songs of the Solitary Reaper to be the deceased
kinsmen in the battle. The poet also hinted at for old unhappy, far-off things. This part of
the sentence may relate to natural disasters and diseases which might have become the reason
for the end of many lives.
 Poetic Devices in use: -
I) Nothing as such.
Lines-21-24

They the poet asserts the song to be an ordinary song. The reason of the song did have any
special reason. He opined that the song was nothing but an ordinary one. And the reason of
the song is based on day to-day issues that we generally face. These sad incidents were
existing before hand and still those prevails and will be found in future too. It could be related
to natural deaths in family and friends; loss of near and dear ones; separation between the
loved ones etc.
Poetic Devices in use: -
I) Nothing as such.
Lines-25-28

At this point Wordsworth quits guessing the theme of the song. He was so exhilarated by the
melody of the song; he felt as if the song with never end. Again the poet reminds us how she
sang the song while bending over sickle. He was completely engrossed with the song. He was
motionless and still as the song had captured his basic consciousness. The effect of the song
was such that it was the indelible one. He bore the music in his heart and carried it as
treasure. Wordsworth admits in the concluding line that such music was never heard by him
again thus acclaiming it to be a heavenly one.

ALSO READ- THE SOLITARY REAPER TEXT BOOK ANSWERS AND

SOLUTIONS CBSE CLASS IX ENGLISH

Poetic Devices in use: -

I) Alliteration the theme.
II) Inversion and over the sickle bending
III) Tautology I listened , motionless and still
IV) Inversion the music in my heart I bore
Inversion Long after it was heard no more.