Ode to the West Wind - Part 4 + 5 - INCOMPLETE - Shelley

‘If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear’

Dead leaves are a sign of decay, which could reflect on his feelings after his son’s death. However, they are also symbolic of moving forward with life. The speaker, who is assumedly Shelley, is using nature as an outlet of freedom and a way to cope with his death.

‘to fly with thee’

Direct address to nature, creates a relationship between the speaker and nature.

‘A wave to pant beneath thy power’

Alludes to pantheistic ideals. Shelley himself was an atheist, believing in ‘the Spirit of the Universe’ . Recognises human’s inferiority to the power of nature, simultaneously establishing nature as a deity-like power.

‘as were in my boyhood’

Shelley believed in pre-existence. His naturalistic pantheism therefore alludes to a child’s closer relationship to nature, alongside a child’s innate recklessness.

‘the comrade of thy wanderings over Heaven’

Son died prior to this, which could explain why he is so eager to see Heaven. Additionally, him wanting to be nature’s ‘comrade’ suggests Shelley believed in and encouraged a harmonious union between humanity and nature. Shelley was critical of the Industrial Revolution and was deeply concerned about the environmental flowers.

‘I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!’

‘Thorns of life’ evokes an image of Christ on the cross, exaggerating his despondency. Shelley wanted the west wind to lift him from his despondency. Also used to convey the speaker’s suffering. Alludes to the death of Shelley’s son.

Part 5

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‘Make me thy lyre’

The lyre is associated with the Greek God Apollo, and was a source of divine inspiration, and symbolised harmony and poetry. It was a revered tool of musical expression and was used in many ways. Most significantly in philosophical discourses.

Shelley loved Greece: ‘We are all Greeks’ was his quote, and saw it as the root of laws and literature.

‘What if my leaves are falling like its own!’

Comparing his poetry to leaves therefore associating them with nature, who he has previously established as a powerful force/divinity.

‘My Spirit!’

Desperation for his poems to be recognised, creating a personal connection to the west wind. Subverting his own belief that ‘nature cannot be tamed by any man’ by pleading.

‘Drive my dead thoughts over the universe’

Shelley was often frustrated that he had not achieve fame until after his death, as he believed he had important things to say. This importance could explain why Shelley wants them to spread across the broad range of the ‘universe’.

‘the trumpet of a Prophecy!’

Furthering the idea he believed he had important subjects to discuss.

‘unextinguish’d hearth, ashes and sparks’

Fire is a bright part in nature and spreads quickly, which is what Shelley wants his poems to do.

‘if Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?’

Never had recognition from his poem during his lifetime.

Could also be him struggling with his son’s death, which would have caused sadness similar to a winter. he wanted spring/joy.