This first stanza of Ode on Solitude begins with a correlation that carries throughout

the poem, seen through the life of a nameless man who is shown as he is an epitome of
happiness. The narrator notices that the man’s deepest desires and wishes extend a few
acres of his own land where he is contented and fairly earning a living. The word
“parental” puts forth the idea that the land that he owns is his ancestral property, and
hence it belongs to him through them. The line “Content to breathe his native air” could
be a note on the man’s happiness with whatever little he has, despite of venting for
more and frowning every now and then (although this might not have been quite a
significant idea back then in the 1700s, when the poem was written, as it may be
interpreted in the present day scenario).
The verse structure and rhyming pattern that is used here is; three lines of eight syllables
each, followed by one line of four syllables, rhyming in ABAB pattern. This is carried
on till the final two stanzas, where the final line lengthens to five syllables.
The second verse is a clear indication that the man is self-sufficient. It gives the readers
a fair idea that his land is enough to fulfil all his needs, added to it, he is able to bake
his own bread and has his herds providing him milk and milk products. He is saved
from the scorching heat of the sun under the shade of his trees during summers, the
woods from the same tress are then lit during the winters to give him warmth and
comfort and to protect him from the cold chilly winters, the wool he derives from his
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cattle is a lot to provide him a woollen attire to endure the winters. The man has no
asset other than his land and he is more than happy in whatever he has.
The narrator has a strong feeling that the farmer is really blessed! The little world
around him fulfils all his needs. Days, hours and years pass by and the man continues
being happy and satisfied in his own little world. The man’s contentment is the prime
reason for his sound health that persists from the beginning to the end of this poem.
There is nothing that can trouble him, how can his peace of mind be hampered in any
way? It seems as if, in a world of war and strife, there is absolutely nothing that could
disrupt the life of this farmer, and the narrator considers it to be an exalted feeling.
The idea of innocence is introduced in the last stanza, it describes the life of a man who
lives in sheer isolation and solitude, yet he is always happy and satisfied. He has no
fear of loss or gain. This could be interpreted in two ways, either he is living a life of
sheer isolation, without knowing enough about the world or maybe he is leading an
ideal life away from the world that is filled with meanness from the crust to the core.
The man could either be too ignorant or he could be too innocent for living a life far
away from all the worldly disruptions. This man can be appreciated as well as criticized
by many readers but he is just too happy and contented to even brood upon the fact.
The narrator of the poem clearly agrees with the latter of the above sentiments — here
he wishes for escapism, and begs for an unseen life, one where he may live in solitude
until his dying days, which will come and go, unnoticed, unremarked, and unadorned,
a perfect life of solitude and peace.