Exercise on “Ode to the West Wind” and “Ode on a Grecian Urn”

ID Number: 1037250.01
February 24, 2022

Part 1. “Ode to the West Wind” by Percy Bysshe Shelley (34 points total)
1. In the fourteen lines of stanza I, Shelley calls the West Wind “Destroyer” and
“preserver.”
a. Describe in two sentences how the West Wind is portrayed in the grim role of a
destroyer in this stanza. (6 points)

The West Wind is portrayed in the grim role of a destroyer in this stanza when it
blows wildly in all directions and makes the beautiful and vibrant summer leaves turn
pale and lifeless, bereft of their former beauty. The role of the West Wind as a
destroyer is confirmed when the poet says the leaves are like “pestilence-stricken
multitudes” (5). The West Wind’s presence, though unseen, is a strong and powerful
force that brings destruction to vegetation and renders nature barren.

b. Describe in two sentences how the West Wind, along with its “sister” wind will
appear in spring, is also portrayed as preserver in this stanza. (6 points)

In contrast, the West Wind along with its “sister” wind will appear again during
spring as a preserver with its gentle breeze of wind that supports growth on earth. The
role of the West Wind with its “sister” as a preserver is confirmed as the poet
describes the winds to be pleasant and “driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air”
(11). The nurturing presence of the wind allows plants and vegetation to grow
abundantly, blossom beautifully, and heal from the cold winter.

2. Read lines 21-28. Write out the phrase that is an example of an oxymoron.
Remember, an oxymoron is phrase of two contrasting words, such as “foolish
wisdom” or “honorable thief.” [No complete sentence is needed] (5 points)

An example of an oxymoron is “solid atmosphere”.

3. In lines 29-31, what effect does the West Wind have on the Mediterranean Sea? (6
points)

The West Wind awakens the Mediterranean Sea from “his summer dreams” and rouses
the sea to create a violent storm. The Mediterranean Sea, which is tame and clear during
the summer, becomes wild and choppy during the cold months as the west wind creates
strong waves and a turbulent atmosphere.
4. In stanza IV, with what three adjectives does the poet describe himself? (6 points)
 In stanza IV, the three adjectives the poet describes himself are “tameless, swift, and
proud”. The poet says that as a child, he is carefree, energetic, proud, and rowdy, just like
the wind that is unpredictable in its direction and is uncontrollable. However, as the poet
grows older, he loses the intensity of these attributes with the west wind as he is “chained
and bowed” by life’s difficult circumstances.

5. In stanza V, to what two things does the poet liken his words? (5 points)

The two things that the poet likens his words to are the lyre and withered leaves. Firstly,
the poet wants to be like a lyre, a musical instrument, where his words will be
inspirational to his readers just like the wind that produces melodic rustling of leaves in
the forest. The poet wants his words to be “sweet though in sadness” (61) like how the
leaves although losing leaves, are still able to produce beautiful sound. The poet hopes to
produce inspiring melodies even when he loses hope and motivation in life. Secondly, the
poet likens his words to are withered leaves. He wants the wind to scatter his “dead
thoughts” (65) around the world so that they may one day have a “new birth” (65). Just
like when withered leaves are scattered on the ground they can still produce new growth
in the spring, the poet wants his old ideas to bring in new ideas in the future.

Part II. “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats (30 points total)
6. In what sense is the urn a “Sylvan historian” (6 points)

A “Sylvan historian” is a historian who studies rural scenes, therefore the urn is a “Sylvan
historian” because it depicts a variety of rural scenes from the past. The rural scenes
depicted in the urn are a group of mean pursuing some maidens, a man playing the pipe
while under the tree with his lover, and a group of villagers making a sacrifice. The urn
expresses the stories and lives of different people living at that time.

7. In a complete sentence, state the obvious, literal reason that the trees on the urn
cannot shed their leaves. (6 points)

The obvious literal reason that the trees on the urn cannot shed their leaves is because it is
not a real tree. It is simply just a painting of trees on an urn and therefore making it
impossible for them to ever shed their leaves.

8. Read lines 17-20 in the second stanza. Keats uses his imagination to sympathize
with the two lovers painted on the urn.
a. In a complete sentence, use your own words to summarize a reason Keats gives
for why the “Bold Lover” might have cause to be sad. (6 points)
A reason Keats gives for why the “Bold Lover” might have cause to be sad is since
they are frozen in time, he can never be able to kiss his lover since they remain stuck
lying under the tree. Additionally, the “Bold lover” might have a cause to be sad since
 the scenery cannot change, the trees are forever there, the “Bold Lover” can never
stop playing his song and cannot move on to the next stage of his life with his lover.
b. In one or two complete sentences, use your own words to summarize a reason
Keats gives for why the “Lover” should be happy and “not grieve.” (6 points)
Keats reasons that the “Lover” should be happy and “not grieve” since his lover will
never fade. Although time will never pass for the lovers and they cannot experience
anything else other than staying under the tree, the “lover” should “not grieve” since
their love is unchanging and permanent. Since time can never move forward, they are
permanently with each other and can forever love each other in that point in time.

9. For the “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” give the 10-letter rhyme scheme of the first
stanza. (Note: The rhyme scheme varies in the ode. This question is asking only for
the rhyme scheme of the first stanza. In this stanza, lines six and eight should be
considered as rhyming together, as should lines seven and ten.) (6 points)
The first stanza has an ABABCDEDCE rhyme scheme. In the first stanza, lines 1 and 3
rhyme together with “quietness” and “express”, lines 2 and 4 with “time” and “rhyme”,
lines 5 and 9 with “shape” and “escape”, line 6 and 8 with “both” and “loth”, and lines 7
and 10 with “Arcady” and “ecstasy”.

Part III. Both Odes (36 points total)

10. Who or what is called “desolate”? (6 points)
The “little town”
11. Who or what is called “a friend to man”? (6 points)
The Grecian Urn
12. Who or what is called a “dirge”? (6 points)
The West Wind
13. Who or what is called “unwearied”? (6 points)
Spring
14. Who or what is called “The comrade of thy wanderings”? (6 points)
Percy Bysshe Shelley
15. Which season of the year is primarily depicted in “Ode to the West Wind” (6
points)
Autumn