Download Q1). Provide a brief sketch of the solitary reaper as described by the

FAQ
Q1). Provide a brief sketch of the solitary reaper as described by the poet.
Ans). The solitary reaper is lost in her work – the reaping of the harvest. She is
singing as she is working. All the valleys around are filled with the music of her
song.
Q2). What words in the poem tell us that she is indeed ‘solitary’?
Ans). The words that the poet uses to us that she is solitary are: single, solitary, by
herself, alone.
Q3). Why does the poet ask us to “stop here or gently pass”?
Ans). The poet invites us to pause there so that we could partake of the overflowing
melody of her song that fills the deep valleys around. If we do not have the patience
or the inclination to stop by, we should at least pass gently so that we do not
distract the singer who is engrossed in her work and engulfed in her music.
Q4). According to the poet, the solitary reaper’s song is sweeter and more
comforting than some other songs. What comparisons does the poet draw?
Ans). The poet now compares the song of the solitary reaper to the melodious notes
chanted by a nightingale that soothe the tired travellers that traverse the sultry,
lonely deserts of Arabia.
Q5). What soothes the tired travellers of the Arabian sands?
Ans). Indeed the song of the solitary reaper is more mellifluous than the soul-filling
tunes of the cuckoo that intones so excitedly that the waters of the silent oceans
resonate with its thrilling music.
Q6). How do we know that the poet does not know what the reaper is singing
about?
Ans). The melodious music of the song of the nightingale comforts the tired
travellers who pass through the hot sands of the deserts of Arabia. These travellers
rest for a while in some shady ‘haunt’ and the song of the nightingale relaxes these
exhausted travellers.
Q7). What guesses does the poet make about the theme and content of the
reaper’s song?
Ans). The poet wonders what the content and the theme of the solitary reaper’s
song could be. He thinks aloud and asks: “Will no one tell me what she sings?”
Q8). What words in the poem tell us that the reaper is singing a sad song?
Ans). The poet is unable to follow the content of the song of the solitary reaper; all
that he can understand is that it is melancholic and wonders what makes it a sad
song. Could she be singing about wars waged long ago or about some unhappy past
events? Or, could it be that her song mourns the loss and sorrow that are so
characteristic of every day human life?
The words are: plaintive, old, unhappy, sorrow, loss, pain etc
Q9). How can we say that the reaper is really engrossed in her singing?
Ans). She is singing as if there is no ending. She is working with the song on her lips
and the sickle in her hand and she lost to the world, lost in time, lost in the melody
of the music of her own song.
Q10). Give the meaning of the last four lines of the poem.
Ans). The poet stood spellbound and listened to the soulfully rendered song of the
solitary reaper. He was drenched in the showers of the reaper’s song and he did not
realize that. The music of the song haunted him for days to come.
Q11). The poet was deeply touched by the reaper’s song. Justify this
statement.
Ans). Because the poet was deeply touched by the song, he could not forget it soon.
The music of the song made a lasting impression on him; the memory of that
incident stayed on with him even though the event itself is just one moment in the
everlasting flow of time.
Q12). Briefly present Wordsworth’s philosophy of life based on your
understanding of the poem.
Ans). There is so much that we can learn from humble people and simple events of
life that surround us. The song of the solitary reaper, for instance, teaches us that
work is worship and the sad theme of the song of the reaper tells us that life goes on
in its relentless flow despite the pain and sorrow that it is replete with. We must
never let go of the simple pleasures of life in our rush for fulfilling our
commitments; at times we need to pause and relax. The beauty of nature has the
power to soothe our tired souls, and music which is hauntingly melodious can come
to our aid.