17 pages • 34 minutes read
The Solitary Reaper
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Further Reading & Resources
Related Poems
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth (1807)
Arguably Wordsworth’s most famous lyric poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” appears in the same 1807 collection as “The Solitary Reaper”: Poems, in Two Volumes. The poem also features a speaker out on a walk and suddenly dazzled by a moment of transportive beauty—in this case, the source of beauty is not a maiden’s song but a bunch of blooming, dancing daffodils. Furthermore, as with the speaker in “The Solitary Reaper,” the beauty of the moment stays with the speaker long after the encounter has ended.
“The Skylark” by John Clare (1835)
Although far less famous than Wordsworth in his own lifetime, John Clare (1793-1864) remains one of English Romanticism’s greatest nature poets, sharing many similar themes with Wordsworth in terms of his love for the natural world and his valorization of a more traditional, agrarian way of life. “The Skylark” depicts a group of schoolboys, out walking together in nature, who are charmed by the beauty of the skylark’s singing and its apparent freedom.
“Bright Star, would I were as stedfast as thou art” by John Keats (1838)
This poem is among the most famous in English Romanticism, written by John Keats (1795-1821), a member of the “second generation” of Romantics who followed in the footsteps of Wordsworth and his contemporaries. In this sonnet, Keats uses the natural imagery of a star to reflect upon the nature of love and loyalty, while also alluding to the timelessness and beauty of the natural world, embodied in the “bright star” of the poem’s title.
Further Literary Resources
“William Wordsworth: English Poet” by Encyclopedia Britannica
Written by the authoritative Britannica, this encyclopedia entry is a relatively straightforward and reasonably brisk overview of Wordsworth’s life and work. As an overview, it’s a good starting-point for readers wishing to understand the main events of Wordsworth’s life, as well as those seeking some basic information about his most influential poetic works.
“Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1802)” by William Wordsworth (1802)
A monumental essay in the history of English Romanticism—and even English literature broadly—Wordsworth’s “Preface” to the 1802 edition of the Lyrical Ballads is essential for deeply understanding the philosophical underpinning of much of his work. The Preface explains his approach to poetic form and subject matter, arguing for his and Coleridge’s approach to poetry (an approach that was, at the time, controversial).
Wordsworth.org by Wordsworth: Gramere
This aesthetic website focuses on celebrating Wordsworth’s life, work, and enduring legacy in England’s Lake District. The website features information regarding historical attractions the reader can visit (particularly Dove Cottage, where Wordsworth lived and worked for nearly a decade), facts about Wordsworth’s life and work, and online collections open for browsing.
Listen to Poem
Acclaimed actor Michael Sheen performs a clear and emotionally expressive reading of Wordsworth’s “The Solitary Reaper.” The audio is of very good quality.
Sheen performs another crisp and expressive interpretation of Wordsworth’s poetry, this time the much-lengthier “Odes on Intimations of Immortality.” This recording will be of interest to readers wishing to delve deeper into Wordsworth’s work, and/or those who prefer exploring poetry with the aid of audio.
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By William Wordsworth
