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Marshall Zobel
McGee
AP English Literature
March 23, 2011
Explication on “Ode to the West Wind”
In Percy Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind,” the speaker uses apostrophe to glorify the
powerful yet regenerative forces of the wind and express a desire to emulate, to be possessed
by, and to become the West Wind. The speaker is in awe of the wind’s dominance over
various entities of the earth, air, and sea. The speaker himself, beleaguered by the heavy
weight and responsibilities of age, looks hopefully to the wind as a source of new life. This
theme of rebirth is illustrated by the West Wind’s unique ability to facilitate creation by
means of destruction: the scattering of dead leaves also serves to deposit the dormant seeds
safely in their “wintry bed” until springtime; the shredded clouds regroup to form a fearsome
storm “of black rain, and fire, and hail;” the sleeping ocean is reawakened “from his summer
dreams;” and “dead thoughts…quicken a new birth” as the speaker searches for inspiration
(Napierkowski).
To emphasize the independence of the wind, Shelley (a nonconformist) ignored
traditional poetic styles and crafted “Ode to the West Wind” using a unique combination of
the sonnet and terza rima (Napierkowski). The many run-on lines within each sonnet mimic
the “feeling of the whirling breeze” (Napierkowski). Unity is established throughout the poem
with the repetition of key natural images to which the speaker can relate. He is especially
worried that his “leaves are falling like [the forest’s] own.” The power of the wind that the
speaker so admires is evident in the reaction of the other elements of nature that are “driven,”
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“shook” loose, and “cleave[d]…into chasms” before it. Several classical allusions (to the
Maenad, to Baiae, and to the lyre, likely a reference to an Aeolian harp) show that old
thoughts still have relevance and can spur inspiration, and the “heavy weight” that causes the
speaker to “fall upon the thorns of life” and “bleed” presents a striking Christ-like image, both
of which reinforce the theme of rejuvenation and rebirth.
When analyzing the meaning of Shelley’s poem, it is important to consider Shelley’s
personal situation at the time of authorship. He had lost two of his children in the year prior to
publication, causing his wife to suffer a nervous breakdown; he was “plagued by ill health,
creditors, rumors of illegitimate children, and the failure of his political hopes;” and much of
his writing had been received unfavorably by the public (Napierkowski). Like the speaker in
the poem, Shelley sought to be free of the “heavy weight of hours” that he felt “chained and
bowed” by, and he found inspiration in the “tameless,” “swift,” “proud” West Wind.
However, the poem does not conclude with a resolution; the speaker, and likely Shelley as
well, is still troubled because he fears that his plea has fallen upon deaf ears. He goes so far as
to question the unwavering regularity of the seasons, wondering “if Winter comes, can Spring
be far behind?” (Napierkowski, my emphasis) The speaker is afraid of death, but must face
this fear in order to hope for rebirth.
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Works Cited
Napierkowski, Marie Rose, and Mary K. Ruby. "‘Ode to the West Wind’ by Percy Bysshe
Shelley." Poetry for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context and Criticism on
Commonly Studied Poetry. Vol. 2. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1998. 160-70. Print.
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