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ODE TO THE WEST WIND

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

In the Partial Fulfillment of the Course Requirement in EL 111 - Survey of

English and American Literature

Prepared by:
TABAQUERO, Angeline T.

BACHELOR OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, MAJOR IN ENGLISH, 2B

2nd Semester 2023-2024

Submitted to:
Ms. Frincess Flores
El 111 Instructor

March 11, 2024

TITLE Ode to the West Wind
I. INTRODUCTION Ode to the West Wind, Percy Shelley creates a
speaker that seems to worship the wind. He always refers
to the wind as “Wind” using the capital letter, suggesting
that he sees it as his god.
INSTRUCTION TO THE For the better comprehension of the lesson, these are the
LEARNERS following components that the students will be able to
accomplish during and at the end of the discussion:

A. Introduction
B. Learning objectives
C. Preparatory activity
D. Lesson Proper

a. A brief introduction on what is Ode to the West

Wind.
b. The Author of the poem.
c. Explain each Canto of the poem.

E. Closure Activity
F. Generalization
G. Evaluation
H. Assignment

PRE-TEST
II. LEARNING By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
OBJECTIVES
1. To analyze the poem's structure, including its
division into cantos and use of terza rima.
2. To appreciate the emotional and philosophical
impact of the poem on the reader.
3. To relate the poem's themes to personal experiences
and broader societal contexts.
III. CONTENT Instruction:
A. PREPARATORY
ACTIVITIES 1. The reporter will play a song while the student
holding the dice must past it to the next classmate.
2. When the music stops, the student holding it must
throw or roll the dice to get a number.
3. The number obtained has a corresponding question
that must be answered.
B. DEVELOPMENTAL ‘Ode to the West Wind’ was written by Percy Bysshe
ACTIVITIES Shelley in 1819 in Cascine Woods, outside of Florence,
Italy. It was originally published in 1820 by Charles
Ollier in London. It focuses on death’s necessary
destruction and the possibilities of rebirth.

Shelly known just for writing poetry with a strong lyric

structure. Ode to the West Wind is a strong example in
which his imaginative explanation of nature proves that
he writes structural poetry with lyrics.

In his poem, Shelly with his imaginative powers creates

a romantic sensation. He creates beautiful natural
paintings in the form of words that his readers can easily
imagine. No doubt, Shelly’s powerful imagination like
other romantic poets helps him to express an idea in the
form of poetry.

In this poem, ‘Ode to the West Wind,’ Percy Shelley

creates a speaker who seems to worship the wind. He
always refers to the wind as “Wind” using the capital
letter, suggesting that he sees it as his god. He praises the
wind, referring to its strength and might in tones similar
to the Biblical Psalms, which worship God. He also
refers to the Greek God Dionysus.

The speaker continues to praise the wind and to beseech

it to hear him. When he is satisfied that the wind hears
him, he begs the wind to take him away in death in hopes
that there will be a new life waiting for him on the other
side.

The poem can be divided into two:

The first three parts are about the qualities of wind and
each ends with the invocation “Oh hear!”.
The last two parts give a relation between the wind and
the speaker.
"Ode to the West Wind" consists of five sections (cantos)
written in terza rima. Each section consists of four tercet
(ABA, BCB, CDC, DED) and a rhyming couplet (EE).
The ode is written in iambic pentameter.
Canto 1

The speaker addresses the wild West Wind, describing it

as the breath of Autumn. The leaves, like ghosts, are
driven by its unseen presence. These leaves represent
decay and death.

In the first stanza of the poem the poet describes a

natural phenomena journey of life from birth to death. In
apparent meanings the poet talks about the capabilities of
the wind, the wind is invisible yet it can scatter the
leaves he describes colors of leaves as yellow, black,
white, and red. The wind moves them like sick people,
he uses this example in his ode for the purpose of
explanation of the role of the West Wind leaves cannot
move spontaneously therefore it is the wind which helps
them to move from one point to another. Almost every
person in the earth has felt the West Wind but no one has
ever felt in such a way as the poet shows explanation in
his ode. it is the wind that spreads the seeds in Autumn
and buries them, subsequently the seeds start growing in
the spring season if the west wind is melancholic at the
same it causes the growth of new plants on the Earth.
Apart from this wind also spreads the fragrance of
flowers while scattering them here and there.

In this stanza readers do not only realize Shelley's

treatment of nature as an object of prime inspiration but
also as a source of natural phenomena. We see wind as
an alive object of nature which performs an action for the
welfare of society and Humanity. He imagines the power
of wind and show to his readers that wind is definitely a
source of ingenuity.

Canto 2

Wind not only scatters the leaves but also moves the
clouds in the sky, without wind clouds are helpless just
like the leaves and flowers are powerless on Earth. It
seems that the poet just praises the beauty and duty of the
West Wind which helps the clouds to move to a specific
location and cause rain on Earth
In this stanza of the poem the readers observe that the
clouds and wind are not full of actions but also act as if
they are alive human beings.

Canto 3

To begin this Canto, the speaker describes the wind as

having woken up the Mediterranean sea from a whole
summer of peaceful rest. The sea, here, is also
personified.

In this stanza of Ode to the West Wind, the speaker

simply implies that the sea was dreaming of the old days
of palaces and towers and that he was “quivering” at the
memory of an “intenser day”.

The speaker continues to describe the sea’s dreams as

being of slower days when everything was overgrown
with blue “moss and flowers”. Then, he hints that
something is about to change when he mentions to
Atlantic’s “powers”.

Canto 4

He wishes to fly it with the West Wind and wants to see

each and every place explanation of which he gives in
the last stanza of the ode. He requests the wind to take
him with it, reality is harsh because expectations hurt a
person too much hence escapism is the only solution of
every such problem. This stanza evidently shows
escapism as the most important characteristics of
romantic poetry, poet's desire to fly to a far away land
which is free from the pains and miseries of life is
evident that he loves fantasies thus he prays to the West
Wind to lift him and take him away from the stubborn
miseries of life.

Canto 5

Again, the speaker begs the wind to make him be at its

mercy. He wants to be like a lyre (or harp) played by the
wind. He wants to be like the dead leaves which fall to
the ground when the wind blows.

In some religions, particularly the Christian religion,

there is the belief that to have a new life, one must
 receive the Holy Spirit into his bodily being. This is
precisely what the speaker is asking the wind to do to
him.

The speaker asks the wind to “drive [his] dead thoughts

over the universe” so that even as he dies, others might
take his thoughts and his ideas and give them “new
birth”. He thinks that perhaps this might even happen
with the very words he is speaking now.

“Like the West Wind, may our trials be the catalyst for
change, sweeping away the old and birthing new
beginnings.”
C. CLOSURE Instructions: Divide the class to 4 groups. Each group
ACTIVITIES should discuss the following questions:

1. What are the central themes of “Ode to the West

Wind”?
2. How does Shelley use the wind as a symbol in the
poem?
3. What impact does the poem have on you personally?
IV. SYNTHESIS/ Ode to the west wind summary is a poem that shows us
GENERALIZATION the power of the wind which brings a change in the
natural world. Similarly, the poet wishes for reform in
society. Moreover, the poem has underlying themes of
optimism and hope for a better future.
V. EVALUATION
1. What is the central theme of "Ode to the West Wind"?
a) The beauty of nature
b) The power of the wind and its transformative force
c) The speaker's childhood memories
d) The tranquility of the sea

2. How does the speaker address the wind throughout the

poem?
a) As a destructive force
b) As a deity or divine being
c) As a symbol of tranquility
d) As a metaphor for human emotions

3. Which poetic form does "Ode to the West Wind"

follow?
a) Sonnet
b) Haiku
c) Terza rima
d) Free verse
 4. What does the speaker compare the dead leaves to in
the first canto?
a) Colorful decorations
b) Symbols of life and vitality
c) Signs of impending spring
d) Corpses within graves

5. What does the speaker desire from the wind in the

final canto?
a) Destruction and chaos
b) Guidance and protection
c) Transformation and renewal
d) Silence and stillness
4. ASSIGNMENT / Instruction:Create your own poem inspired by "Ode to
AGREEMENT the West Wind." You may choose to mimic Shelley's
style or incorporate similar themes and imagery into your
own work. Share your poem with the class and explain
how Shelley's poem influenced your writing.
REFERENCES Ode t Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley Summary

& analysis. (2020, April 15). Lit Priest.

https://litpriest.com/poems/ode-to-the-west-wind-

summary/?

fbclid=IwAR0EWoIJyYVPSVL7TwLTHp9u2QZquy9r

W3BdcNzD9LDbfyoC_3C4sjk7WmE

Poetry Foundation. (n.d.). Ode to the West Wind by Percy

Bysshe Shelley | Poetry Foundation.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45134/ode-to-

the-west-wind

Ode to Ode to the West Wind Poem Summary and analysis |

LitCharts. (n.d.). LitCharts.

 https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/percy-bysshe-shelley/o

de-to-the-west-wind

This ode is composed by Percy Bysshe Shelly in 1819 and it was published in 1820 by Charles
as part of the collection, Prometheus Unbound.
Shelly is considered as a revolutionary poet which can be clearly seen in his poem “Ode to the
West Wind”. Shelly, throughout the poem, appeals to the west wind to destroy everything that is
old and defunct and plant new, democratic and liberal norms and ideals in the English society.
This poem is written to make the people of the society realize that they are shackled in the chains
of materialistic pursuits and how they can bring freedom and calmness in their lives.
It also refers to the monarchic system of romantic era when people were slaves of monarchs and
did not raise their voice to end the monarchy. It tries to awake the people from slumber and to
fight for freedom and peace.
Some also believe that it was written in response to the loss of his son, William.

ODE TO THE WEST WIND SUMMARY

In this poem, the speaker appeals to the west wind to make him as powerful as itself so that he
can spread his ideas and thoughts across the globe. In order to show the power of wind he uses
many examples of things that are affected by wind; it drives away the dead leaves, places new
seeds in the earth, brings thunderstorms with it and can make mighty waves in the oceans.

Afterwards, the speaker wishes that the west wind could help him spread his ideas in the world
the way it drives the dead leaves, clouds and waves. He also asks wind to make him its musical
instrument (harp) and play the tune of his ideas of bringing change so that the world could hear
them.
Moreover; the west wind of Autumn brings winter with it which is the sign of death. But after
every winter there is spring (Ray of hope) which brings good times with it.
THEMES OF THE POEM
MORTALITY:
In this poem, the west wind is considered as the wind of autumn that brings the season of winter
with itself. As winter is the sign of death, the speaker tries to portray the image that west wind
will become the reason of the death of old conventions and defunct norms from the English
society.
Additionally, speaker says that after every winter there is spring. Similarly, after the death of old
ideas, the spring will arrive and the flowers of freedom, peace and change will bloom.
Speaker refers to the monarchic system of his society where people were becoming materialistic
and immoral.
REVOLUTION:
Shelly is a revolutionary poet of Romantic era, so this theme is obvious in his poetry. He
believes that his ideas can bring a huge change in the society and he can bring revolution by
spreading his word throughout the world.

In this poem, he addresses to the west wind to help him spread his revolutionary ideas
throughout the world so that people can break the chains of slavery and set themselves free. He
wishes that west wind could treat him the way it drives the leaves, clouds and waves so that he
share his thoughts wherever the wind takes him. He also asks wind to make him its harp and play
the music on him, the music of his ideas, that everyone will listen to and act upon.

THE POWER OF HUMAN MIND AND IDEAS:

Shelly believes that the thoughts and ideas can change the world. He considers poets as the
influencers who can influence people with their great views.
We can clearly understand how the speaker appeals the west wind to spread his word across the
world so that it brings a change in the old conventional society of his time. It shows his belief
that human mind has the power to make positive changes in the world; one’s way of thinking can
mold the society and can bring a change. Especially poets because they influence people through
their powerful poetry.

ODE TO THE WEST WIND LITERARY ANALYSIS

The poem can be divided into two:
The first three parts are about the qualities of wind and each ends with the invocation “Oh hear!”.
The last two parts give a relation between the wind and the speaker.
This poem consists of five sections written in terza rima. Each section consists of four tersest
( ABA, BCB, CDC, DED and followed by rhyming couplet EE). The ode is written in iambic
pentameter.

CANTO 1:
The first stanza begins with the alliteration “wild west ”. The poet describes this wind as a
breathe of autumn. West wind drives away the dead or fallen leaves which is compared to a
magician who drives away the evil spirits. Here sweeping of leaves by wind is refer to the
elimination of defunct ideas present in society.
At the same time wind carries the fallen seeds to deposit them in a different place where they
will bloom in spring season after being safely preserved during cold season. From this the
speaker wants to nurture the inside abilities of people which have been faded away by calamities
of life. As well as, poet wants to awake the English people from slumber.
West wind here is described both as ‘destroyer and preserver’ because at one point it destroys
everything and affects nature. However, it also helps to create a new life as it helps to blow away
the seeds and land them on safe place.
From this we can say that seeds are the poet’s piece of art which he hopes to land on the people’s
mind and will help to nurture new growth. Old ideas are like dead leaves which are futile and
should be changed. Poet wants to finish monarchical system and instead of it, he wants to bow
the sapling of democratic ideas.

CANTO 2:
Shelley vividly describes the stormy clouds which are formed at the horizon (“tangled boughs of
heaven and ocean”). The poet says the west wind drives clouds along just as it does dead leaves
after it shakes the clouds free of sky and the ocean.
Storms are compared to angels that bring the rain with them. They announce their arrival by fiery
flashes of dazzling lightning which reach up into the sky from the ocean at the horizon. Flashes
of light are compared to the bright hair of maenad (Greek myth frenzied spirit which attends on
the Greek God Dionysus). Brilliant colors and violent winds emphasize the passionate and
intense nature of poet.
Spirits and ghosts in this poem are the supernatural elements that repeatedly appear which might
suggests the possibility of a world, beyond the world in which we live.
The poet compares the west wind to a funeral song sung at the death of a year and says the night
will become a dome erected over the year’s tomb with all the winds gathered might. From that
dome will come black rain, fire, and hail. Again, the poet asks the west wind to continue to listen
to what he has to say.

Nature provides inspiration to the poet. Shelley as well recognizes that nature’s power is not
wholly positive. Nature destroys as often as it creates or inspires. Probably, poet here wants to
highlight the industrialization.

CANTO 3:
Shelley describes the action of the west wind on the Mediterranean Sea and on the Atlantic
ocean. The west wind announces to the Mediterranean Sea that summer is over and autumn has
arrived. The clear view on a bright summer day of the under water palaces and towers in Baiae’s
Bay off the coast of Naples near the island made up of volcanic rock is disturbed by the west
wind which blows across it. Similarly, the west wind creates deep valleys as it blows across the
level of Atlantic ocean and reminds the underwater vegetation deep below that is autumn and
that they too must disintegrate like the vegetation on the earth above.

CANTO 4:
Here we can see the earnest plea made by the speaker to the west wind to infuse him with its raw
power and liberate him from the depression which has overwhelmed him (most probably caused
by the death of his son William in 1819).
Poet tells the west wind that when he was a boy he was also as amok or uncontrollable as the
west wind is now and he would have easily matched the west wind in its speed. However, now
he is depressed and weighed down by the calamities of life and pray to the west wind to liberate
him. He beseeches to the west wind that just like how it lifts up the leaves on the earth, the
clouds on the sky and the waves on the sea it should free him also from the troubles that prick
him like thorns and cause him to bleed. He is now carrying a heavy burden (though he is proud
and swift like the west wind) that has shackled him and bowed him down.

CANTO 5:
Speaker directly and explicitly asks west wind to make him an instrument and tool of political
and moral change. Poet says if his piece of art blows in the wind like the leaves from the forest
trees, there will be heard a deep autumnal tone (time of change) that is both sweet and sad.
Poet asks the wind to be his spirit and drive his ideas across the world in order to prepare a way
for new birth in spring. Scatter his words around the world, as if they are ashes from burning fire.
To the awakened earth, they will become blasts from trumpet of prophecy. In other words, the
poet wants the wind to help him disseminate his views on politics, philosophy, literature and
other fields. The last line expresses optimism that if it seems like his poems will die and be
ignored (winter) there will still be spring where his poems will help create a new (intellectual)
life among people( call for revolution).
Shelley often represents a poet as a Christ. Martyred by society and conventional values. The
Christ figure is resurrected by the power of nature and spreads his prophetic views on the earth.
In his view, poet has ability to change the world for the better. Poet, in Shelley’s work, has
doomed to suffer because their visionary power isolates them from other men, because they are
misunderstood by critics, because they are persecuted by a tyrannical government.