Wednesday 3 February 2021

Ode On Solitude by Alexander Pope


    



   'Ode On Solitude' is a short poem written by Alexander Pope.  ( Click on it)  He was 12 years old while writing this poem. While focusing on its title, it has the word - 'Ode' which means,  A lyrical poem and can have a complex meter. Most importantly it is more like an admiration of something. This ode consist total five quatrains. Which we will see in details.  


        The poem sounds simple in its stature but it contains robust meaning in it. In the very beginning, the narrator familiarizes the reader about the happiness of a person who possesses his own land in a countryside. Here, the anonymous person inherits this  land from his forefathers. In addition the person is content with what he has. For instance the narrator says that there is pure air, green ground and other heavenly things, which is to live with nature, are here to please the person. The narrator describes the solitary life of a person and considers him as a lucky guy.  Which induces the importance of solitude in life. 


          The second stanza focuses upon the daily routine of a common grazier. It shows the independent life of a person. As he doesn't need to go outside to buy milk, bread, clothes and etc,. What we have been told here is that this grazier is far away from madding crowd and to survive, he owns his own herds, which provides milk and attire.  Not only that, he cultivates his own land to get enough yields.  As we move further in this poem, the author emphasizes upon the importance of trees.  Because the same trees becomes the shelter in heat and fire in the winter.


The third phase of this ode takes us into the life of people living in rural area.  Who have nothing to do with the mainstream of nation. They know the alluring desire of city life. However,  the narrator considers them as blessed. It shows the cycle of life. Where everything is connected with each other. For instance, the third stanza speaks about the peaceful, healthy and happy life of countryside. They haven't become the cog in a machine if we say so.  And that's how they are living their austere life.  


     These lyrics connect solitude with the innocence. The narrator describes the another quality of a  solitary life.  The people who have lived in solitude are more patient compared to others as this isolation provides them self introspection.  One can see the powerful insight of the writer as he considers this cycle as a meditation.  And to study hard one needs full isolation where you can obtain peace of mind which helps person to grasp the concept. Moreover, to create something new, a person requires ability to think and which should be free of all other obscurities. 


      The concluding lines are focused on the trivial nature of life. Here writer through the persona of an anonymous person tells us that nothing is stangnant. As a result of it one should live the life at fully. But the person doesn't want to be famous. What he wants is an unlamented death. He knows that how cruel this world is. At the end, the speaker sends one message to the audience. We can say that the last two lines are the epitome of the poem. Which reminds us the different aspects of solitude and loneliness. The narrator says that he is not stone hearted person but sometimes it is more preferable, to reinvent yourself, one should seek the solitude.  

Rhyming Scheme : ABABCDCDEFEFGHGH 


Further Readings : ( Click On It ) 








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