“Ode to the West Wind” is a poem written by the English Romantic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley.

According to Shelley, the poem was written in the woods outside Florence, Italy in the autumn
of 1819. In the poem, the speaker directly addresses the west wind. The speaker treats the
west wind as a force of death and decay and welcomes this death and decay because it means
that rejuvenation and rebirth will come soon. In the final two sections of the poem, the speaker
suggests that he wants to help promote this rebirth through his own poetry—and that the
rejuvenation he hopes to see is both political and poetic: a rebirth of society and its ways of
writing.

Ode to the West Wind

“Ode to the West Wind” Summary
Percy Bysshe Shelley
1.
I
O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being, You, the unruly west wind, are the essence of the
Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves
dead Fall. You are invisible, but you scatter the fallen leaves:
Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing, they look like ghosts running away from a witch or

Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red, wizard.

Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O thou,
Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed The leaves are yellow and black, white and wild
Meaning
red. They look like crowds of sick people. You carry the
Pestilence-stricken multitudes (dead and dying
leaves) seeds, as if you're their chariot, down to the earth
chariotest (a two-wheeled, horse-drawn vehicle)
where they'll sleep all winter.
The wingèd seeds, where they lie cold and low,
Each like a corpse within its grave, until They lie there, cold and humble, like dead bodies in
Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow
their graves, until your blue sister, the Spring wind,
Meaning: azure (the blue color of the clear sky)
blows her trumpet and wakes up the earth.
Her clarion o’er the dreaming earth, and fill
(Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)With Then she brings out the buds. They are like flocks of
living hues and odours plain and hill:
sheep; they feed in the open air. And she fills the
Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere; meadows and the hills with sweet smells and beautiful
Destroyer and Preserver; hear, O hear!
colors.

Unruly west wind, moving everywhere: you are both an

exterminator and a savior. Please listen to me!

II
2.

Thou on whose stream, ‘mid the steep sky’s In the high and whirling reaches of the sky, you
commotion, send the clouds twirling: they look like dead
Loose clouds like Earth’s decaying leaves are shed,
Shook from the tangled boughs of Heaven and leaves, shaken loose from the branches of the
Ocean,
heavens and the sea.
Angels of rain and lightning: there are spread
On the blue surface of thine airy surge, They are like angels, full of rain and lightning. Or
Like the bright hair uplifted from the head they are scattered across the blue sky, like the

Of some fierce Maenad, even from the dim verge blond hair of a wildly dancing girl who is a follower
Of the horizon to the zenith’s height, of Dionysus.
The locks of the approaching storm. Thou dirge
The clouds stretch from the horizon to the top of
Of the dying year, to which this closing night
Will be the dome of a vast sepulcher the sky like the hair of the coming storm. West
Vaulted with all thy congregated might
wind,

Of vapours, from whose solid atmosphere you sad song of the end of the year. The night sky
Black rain, and fire, and hail will burst: O hear! will be like the dome of a vast tomb, the clouds you
gathered like archways running across it.

And from the solid top of that tomb, dark rain,

lightning, and hail will fall down. Listen to me!

III 3.
Thou who didst waken from his summer dreams
The blue Mediterranean, where he lay, You woke the Mediterranean from its summer
Lulled by the coil of his crystalline streams,
dreams. That blue sea, which lay wrapped in its crystal-
Meaning: lulled(calm or send to sleep)
clear currents, was snoozing near an island made of
Beside a pumice isle in Baiae’s bay,
And saw in sleep old palaces and towers volcanic rock in the Bay of Baiae, near Naples. In the
Quivering within the wave's intenser day, waters of the bay you saw the ruins of old palaces and

towers, now submerged in the water's thicker form of

All overgrown with azure moss and flowers daylight.
So sweet, the sense faints picturing them! Thou
For whose path the Atlantic’s level powers
These ruins were overgrown with sea plants that looked

like blue moss and flowers. They are so beautiful that I

Cleave themselves into chasms, while far below
faint when I think of them. You—whose path turns the
The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear
The sapless foliage of the ocean, know smooth surface of the Atlantic Ocean into tall
Thy voice, and suddenly grow grey with fear,
And tremble and despoil themselves: O hear! waves, while deep below the surface sea-flowers and

forests of seaweed, which have leaves with no sap, hear

your voice and turn gray from fear, trembling, losing

their flowers and leaves—listen to me, wind!

IV
4.

If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear; If only I was a dead leaf, you might carry me. You
If I were a swift cloud to fly with thee;
A wave to pant beneath thy power, and share might let me fly with you if I was a cloud. Or if I was
a wave that you drive forward,
The impulse of thy strength, only less free
Than thou, O Uncontrollable! If even I would share your strength—though I’d be less
I were as in my boyhood, and could be
free than you, since no one can control you. If only
I could be the way I was when I was a child,
The comrade of thy wanderings over Heaven,
As then, when to outstrip thy skiey speed
when I was your friend, wandering with you across
Scarce seemed a vision; I would ne’er have striven
the sky—then it didn’t seem crazy to imagine that I

As thus with thee in prayer in my sore need. could be as fast as you are—
Oh! lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!
I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed! then I wouldn’t have called out to you, prayed to
you, in desperation. Please lift me up like a wave, a
A heavy weight of hours has chained and bowed
leaf, or a cloud! I am falling into life’s sharp thorns
One too like thee: tameless, and swift, and proud.
and bleeding!

Time has put me in shackles and diminished my

pride, though I was once as proud, fast, and unruly
as you.

5.

V Make me into your musical instrument, just as

Make me thy lyre, even as the forest is: the forest is when you blow through it. So what
What if my leaves are falling like its own!
The tumult of thy mighty harmonies if my leaves are falling like the forest’s
 leaves. The ruckus of your powerful music
Will take from both a deep, autumnal tone,
Sweet though in sadness. Be thou, Spirit fierce,
My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one! will bring a deep, autumn music out of both me
Drive my dead thoughts over the universe and the forest. It will be beautiful even though
Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth!
And, by the incantation of this verse, it’s sad. Unruly soul, you should become my
soul. You should become me, you
Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth
Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind! unpredictable creature.
Be through my lips to unawakened Earth
Scatter my dead thoughts across the universe
The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? like fallen leaves to inspire something new and
exciting. Let this poem be a prayer that
MEANING
scatters ashes and sparks—as though from a
fire that someone forgot to put out—throughout
the human race. Speak through me, and in that
way, turn my words into a prediction of the
future. O wind, if winter is on its way, isn’t
Spring going to follow it soon?

Analyzing each stanza in detail would require a significant amount of text. However, I can
provide an overview of the poem's themes and structure:

 Stanza 1: The poet describes the power and influence of the West Wind, comparing it to
a "wild spirit." The wind is seen as a symbol of change and transformation.
 Stanza 2: The poet asks the West Wind to inspire him as it has inspired other poets
throughout history. The wind is seen as a source of creative energy.
 Stanza 3: The poet describes the destructive force of the wind, referencing autumn and
stormy weather. He asks the wind to scatter his thoughts and ideas like leaves.
 Stanza 4: The poet reflects on the role of the wind in carrying seeds to new places,
symbolizing the potential for rebirth and regeneration.
 Stanza 5: In the final stanza, the poet contemplates the idea of being both a "dead leaf"
and a "trumpet of prophecy." He hopes that the wind will carry his words to a new
audience and effect change.
"Ode to the West Wind" explores themes of nature, change, inspiration, and the role of the
poet in society. It uses vivid and imaginative language, making use of various literary devices to
convey its message and create a powerful impact.
"Ode to the West Wind" by Percy Bysshe Shelley is a well-known Romantic poem with five
stanzas. Here is an analysis of each stanza, including the literary devices used:
First Stanza:
 Anaphora: The poem opens with an example of anaphora in the repeated use of the
word "O." This repetition emphasizes the speaker's longing for the wind to unleash his
thoughts and make an impact on the world.
 Chiasmus: The lines "Make me thy Lyre, even as the forests" contain a chiasmus, with a
reversal of grammatical structures: "Make me thy Lyre" and "even as the forests."
 Metaphor: The speaker metaphorically likens himself to a lyre, highlighting his desire to
be an instrument through which the wind's power and inspiration can flow.
 Antithesis: The contrasting imagery of the "thou breath of Autumn's being" and the
"Destroyer and Preserver" serves as antithesis, highlighting the wind's dual nature as
both a destructive and preservative force in nature.

Second Stanza:
 Anti-pisosis: This literary device is not explicitly present in this stanza.
 Metaphor: The line "Drive my dead thoughts over the universe" uses a metaphor,
comparing the speaker's thoughts to lifeless or stagnant entities.
 Metaphor: The line "Make me thy Lyre" employs metaphor, as the speaker expresses a
desire to be like an instrument, allowing the wind to play him.
 Hyperbole: The phrase "thou who chariotest to their dark wintry bed" contains
hyperbole, an exaggeration. The wind's influence on the leaves is overstated to
emphasize its power.

Third Stanza:
 Oxymoron: The phrase "The decaying roots" contains an oxymoron, contrasting the
concept of decay with the idea of roots that typically represent growth and life.
 Lightesis: The word "shook" is an example of lightesis, a rhetorical device that
emphasizes a single word for dramatic effect. In this context, it conveys the idea of
shaking the leaves and clouds.
 Oxymoron: The line "The sapless foliage of the ocean" uses oxymoron, combining
"sapless" (lacking sap or life) with "foliage" (typically associated with greenery) to create
a paradoxical image.
 Chiasmus: The phrase "Thou on whose stream, mid the steep sky's commotion" is an
example of chiasmus, a rhetorical figure where two clauses are related in reverse order
to create a balanced structure.

Fourth Stanza:
 Metaphor: The line "The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind" uses a metaphor, likening the
wind to a trumpet that heralds a prophecy. It suggests the wind's ability to bring
messages or signs of change.
 Synecdoche: The line "Make me thy Lyre" uses synecdoche by referring to the whole
person (the speaker) as a part (the lyre). This implies that the speaker wants to be an
instrument for the wind's influence.
  Synecdoche: The phrase "The locks of the approaching storm" employs synecdoche, as
"locks" represent a part of the storm, and in this case, it's used to evoke the storm's
approach.
 Lightness: The image of the "winged seeds" being "lifted in billows" conveys a sense of
lightness and upward motion.

Fifth Stanza:
 Hyperbole: The line "O, lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!" employs hyperbole by
exaggerating the desire to be elevated and carried away by the wind.
 Understatement: The line "A heavy weight of hours has chained and bowed" uses
understatement. It downplays the significant impact of time as if to say that the effect of
time is mere to "chain and bow" rather than devastating.
 Understatement: The phrase "If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear" uses
understatement to suggest that the wind's power could do much more than just carry a
dead leaf.
 Metaphor: The line "If even I were as in my boyish days" is a metaphor, comparing the
speaker's present state to his youth.

In "Ode to the West Wind," Shelley's use of various literary devices and metaphors reflects the
theme of transformation and the power of nature, particularly the west wind. The poem
expresses the speaker's desire to be an instrument through which the wind's force and
inspiration can bring about change and renewal. Each stanza presents different aspects of this
theme, emphasizing the wind's influence on the speaker's thoughts, emotions, and the world
around him.

1. Anaphora: Anaphora is a rhetorical device where a word or phrase is repeated at the

beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It is often used for emphasis or to create a
rhythmic and impactful effect.
2. Chiasmus: Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which the order of words or phrases in one
clause is reversed in the next. This creates a "criss-cross" effect and is often used for
emphasis or to create a memorable phrase.
3. Antiphrasis: Antiphrasis is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used in a way that
is opposite to its literal or usual meaning. It's often used for irony or humor.
4. Oxymoron: An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory or opposite
terms. It is used to create a paradox or to highlight a complex idea.
5. Litotes: Litotes is a figure of speech in which understatement is used to emphasize a point
by denying the opposite. It's often used to create an ironic effect.
6. Metaphor: A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things by saying one
is the other. It's used to make a description more vivid or to convey a deeper meaning.
7. Synecdoche: Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to
represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part. It's a form of figurative
language often used for conciseness and emphasis.
8. Hyperbole: Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or
effect. It's often used to create a vivid or dramatic impact.
 9. Understatement: Understatement is a figure of speech that intentionally downplays or
minimizes the importance or severity of something. It's often used for ironic or comedic
effect.

THEME: DEATH AND REBIRTH

"Ode to the West Wind" describes the West Wind as a destructive force that drives away
summer and brings winter storms, chaos, and death. The speaker associates the West Wind
with the breath of Autumn, causing chaos and death. The West Wind transforms fall colors into
scary, sickly creatures, and makes clouds wild and drunk, creating chaos. (REBIRTH) Despite its
destructive power, the speaker celebrates it as it leads to renewal and rebirth. The West Wind
is both a destroyer and a preserver, merging the opposites of Shiva and Vishnu, as death is
required for life and winter for Spring. The speaker acknowledges that the West Wind is
necessary for the beautiful renewal and rebirth that Spring promises.

What Are the Characteristics of Romanticism?

Central features of the Romantic era include:

 Emotion and passion

 The critique of progress
 A return to the past
 An awe of nature
 The idealization of women
 The purity of childhood
 The search for subjective truth
 The celebration of the individual
 A break from convention
 Spirituality and the occult
https://prowritingaid.com/romanticism-characteristics