The Influence of the West Wind on Nature: A Visual Journey
Ode to the West Wind
Lecture 11
Part 3 – Effect on Water
Thou who
didst waken
from his
summer dreams
The
blue Mediterranean,
where he lay,
Lulled by the coil of his crystalline streams,
The West Wind disturbs the peace and calm of the
Mediterranean sea while he was slumbering, lulled
by the sound of its own running waters.
Beside a pumice isle in
Baiae's bay,
And
saw in sleep
old palaces and towers
Quivering
within the wave's intenser day,
Baiae – an old Italian town once holiday resort for the
Romans, it sank due to volcanic eruption and now a
lush under water garden.
Pumice – hardened lava
The Mediterranean dreamt of old glory & quivered
under the effect of West Wind.
All
overgrown with azure moss and flowers
So sweet, the sense faints picturing them!
The destroyed city now lay covered in moss and under
water plantation.
Thou
For whose path the
Atlantic's level powers
Cleave themselves into chasms,
The West Wind causes deep chasms in the Atlantic
Ocean by its power.
while far below
The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear
The
sapless foliage
of the ocean,
The plants in the oceans also experience cyclic death in
the autumn season.
Sea foliage is sapless meaning dead.
know
Thy voice, and
suddenly grow grey with fear,
And tremble and despoil themselves:
O hear!
West Wind blows death whistle for the sea foliage also.
PART 4 – Seeking Inspiration
If I were a
dead leaf
thou mightest bear;
If I were a
swift cloud
to fly with thee;
A wave
to pant beneath thy power,
He wishes to be inspired and effected by the West
Wind like everything else.
and share
The
impulse of thy strength
, only less free
Than thou,
O Uncontrollable!
Wants the power and freedom of the West Wind.
If even
I were as in my boyhood, and could be
The
comrade of thy wanderings over Heaven
,
In his youth he could match the speed of the West
Wind.
As then, when to outstrip thy skiey speed
Scarce seemed a vision; I
would ne'er have striven
As thus with thee in prayer in my sore need.
Now he lacks the power and strength to challenge the
West Wind.
Oh! lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!
I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!
Beautiful lines – describe his state of misery and wants
to be lifted by the Wind.
Vision of Christ during crucifiction.
A heavy weight of hours has
chained and bowed
One too like thee:
tameless, and swift, and proud.
Time has changed the poet from what he once was –
like the West Wind.
PART 5 – Seeks Spiritual Inspiration
Make me thy lyre,
even as
the forest is:
What if my leaves are falling like its own!
Eolian lyre or harp is a musical instrument. A box with
strings stretched when wind passes Eolian harp
produces musical sound. Form Eolus, god of winds.
Even as – like
Just like the whole forest is stirred by the West Wind,
he too wants to be part of it.
The
tumult
of thy mighty
harmonies
Will take from both
a deep, autumnal tone,
Sweet though in sadness.
The joy of restoring balances, gives sweet sensation.
Be thou,
Spirit fierce,
My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one!
impetuous: impulsive
Drive my
dead thoughts
over the universe
Like withered leaves
to quicken
a new birth!
Compares his thoughts with leaves.
A new birth – refers to his poetic art.
And, by the incantation of this verse,
Scatter,
as from an unextinguished hearth
Ashes and sparks,
my words among mankind!
Wants his words to have the power to change ideas, to
inspire new thoughts.
Simile of a slow burning, simmering fireplace.
Be through my lips to
unawakened Earth
The
trumpet of a prophecy!
O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
Like the dooms day when the whole earth will awaken
to the sound of trumpet.
SUMMARY
•
The West Wind is used for its power to change
the natural world.
•
Poet too wants reform in society.
•
Themes are: revolutionary spirit, poet’s
expression and personal belief, power of the
natural world, role of poet and poetry,
optimism and hope for better future.
The poetic verses of "Ode to the West Wind" by Percy Bysshe Shelley vividly depict the disruptive and transformative impact of the West Wind on nature. Through captivating imagery, the poem portrays how the West Wind stirs the Mediterranean sea from its slumber, creates chasms in the Atlantic Ocean, and affects sea foliage with its powerful force. The verses evoke a sense of awe and inspiration, emphasizing the profound connection between nature and the elemental power of the wind.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Ode to the West Wind Lecture 11
Part 3 Effect on Water Thou who didst waken from his summer dreams The blue Mediterranean, where he lay, Lulled by the coil of his crystalline streams, The West Wind disturbs the peace and calm of the Mediterranean sea while he was slumbering, lulled by the sound of its own running waters.
Beside a pumice isle in Baiae's bay, And saw in sleep old palaces and towers Quivering within the wave's intenser day, Baiae an old Italian town once holiday resort for the Romans, it sank due to volcanic eruption and now a lush under water garden. Pumice hardened lava The Mediterranean dreamt of old glory & quivered under the effect of West Wind.
All overgrown with azure moss and flowers So sweet, the sense faints picturing them! The destroyed city now lay covered in moss and under water plantation.
Thou For whose path the Atlantic's level powers Cleave themselves into chasms, The West Wind causes deep chasms in the Atlantic Ocean by its power.
while far below The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear The sapless foliage of the ocean, The plants in the oceans also experience cyclic death in the autumn season. Sea foliage is sapless meaning dead.
know Thy voice, and suddenly grow grey with fear, And tremble and despoil themselves: O hear! West Wind blows death whistle for the sea foliage also.
PART 4 Seeking Inspiration If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear; If I were a swift cloud to fly with thee; A wave to pant beneath thy power, He wishes to be inspired and effected by the West Wind like everything else.
and share The impulse of thy strength, only less free Than thou, O Uncontrollable! Wants the power and freedom of the West Wind.
If even I were as in my boyhood, and could be The comrade of thy wanderings over Heaven, In his youth he could match the speed of the West Wind.
As then, when to outstrip thy skiey speed Scarce seemed a vision; I would ne'er have striven As thus with thee in prayer in my sore need. Now he lacks the power and strength to challenge the West Wind.
Oh! lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud! I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed! Beautiful lines describe his state of misery and wants to be lifted by the Wind. Vision of Christ during crucifiction.
A heavy weight of hours has chained and bowed One too like thee: tameless, and swift, and proud. Time has changed the poet from what he once was like the West Wind.
PART 5 Seeks Spiritual Inspiration Make me thy lyre, even as the forest is: What if my leaves are falling like its own! Eolian lyre or harp is a musical instrument. A box with strings stretched when wind passes Eolian harp produces musical sound. Form Eolus, god of winds. Even as like Just like the whole forest is stirred by the West Wind, he too wants to be part of it.
The tumult of thy mighty harmonies Will take from both a deep, autumnal tone, Sweet though in sadness. The joy of restoring balances, gives sweet sensation.
Be thou, Spirit fierce, My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one! impetuous: impulsive
Drive my dead thoughts over the universe Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth! Compares his thoughts with leaves. A new birth refers to his poetic art.
And, by the incantation of this verse, Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind! Wants his words to have the power to change ideas, to inspire new thoughts. Simile of a slow burning, simmering fireplace.
Be through my lips to unawakened Earth The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? Like the dooms day when the whole earth will awaken to the sound of trumpet.
SUMMARY The West Wind is used for its power to change the natural world. Poet too wants reform in society. Themes are: revolutionary spirit, poet s expression and personal belief, power of the natural world, role of poet and poetry, optimism and hope for better future.
