1. In Shelley’s “A Defence of Poetry,” he states that “poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the World.” What do you think he means by this?
2. Compare Shelley’s attitude toward nature with that of Wordsworth. What do these two Romantic poets seem to share and where do they differ in their relationships with the natural world?
3. “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” the concluding line of “Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines. What do you think it means?
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”, although one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines, is important. I believe that the line is optimistic. Winter is most of the time seen as dull and one of the more depressing seasons, while spring is seen as a vibrant and full of life season. Shelley is trying to say that whenever something is down or depressing there always is something better to come soon. It also ties into the theme of the poem “Ode to the West Wind” that it was written in. One of the main themes in the poem is that the wind is a destroyer and a preserver, and the line “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”, shows that even though winter is the destroyer and kills all plants and leaves, spring comes along as the preserver and replenishes all the plants and leaves, letting them grow with vibrant not colors and life.
Both Shelley and Wordsworth seem to have a very glorified view on nature that they use to project their interior emotions upon. As Romantic poets, both gentlemen value nature in a way that is akin to worship. Wordsworth draws upon his memories in Tintern Abbey and takes delight in them since he finds himself in such a deep level of contentment in the nature of that landscape. He finds peace and elevation there, whereas Shelley’s encounter on a beach in Nepal is the opposite. Where Wordsworth finds peace, Shelley lacks it. He feels as though the beauty of the beach is the polar opposite of the state of dejection that he is in. So even though both poets highly value and deeply care the nature that surrounds them, Wordsworth and Shelley differ in that one aligns his happiness to the landscape while the other’s emotions juxtaposes the one he is in.
Shelley and Wordsworth both share similar views of nature. They both appreciate it greatly and speak about it in their poems. Both authors give you a visualization of the place they are in. However, they both share different experiences. Wordsworth is happy with life and is appreciating nature. He believes nature is a gift given to the people. On the other hand, Shelley describes nature but also his severe depression. “Even as the winds and water are; I could lie down like a tired child.” He uses nature as a way to tell his story. He says he will lay down on the water like a child and die. He doesn’t seem to fit into this beautiful nature.
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” the concluding line of “Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines. What do you think it means?
It is a means to stay positive during the darkest of times. As we know Shelley suffered depression. Depression is cyclical; sometimes you’re very sad other times you are happy. During the sad moments, it is very hard to get rid of the sadness. “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind” says that during those sad moments all one need to do is to survive until the spring comes, which always eventually does.
Just as William Wadsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelly uses nature to allow him to write his deepest thoughts. Both he and Wadsworth leave the city limits to contemplate life and let poems flow from themselves. While Shelly does not use his experience in nature to lead him into pantheism however, he strongly embodies a romantic poet. He used his poem, just as Wadsworth, to criticize popular culture. Furthermore, like Wadsworth Shelly gives a tremendously descriptive title to his poem, “Stanzas Written in Dejection – December 11, 1818, Near Naples”. The significance of the title allows the reader to understand that his recollection of his time on the beach allowed him to carry on his life just as Wadsworth. The amount of detail within these titles bring a greater sense of meaning to the poems themselves.
Towards the end, Shelly states “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”. What i understood from this, is that Shelly dreads the Winter season and it might be the cause to his depression. From this we see, that his cycle from happy to depressed emotions cycle based on the seasons. Winter being the most depressed, and the Spring/Summer being the happiest.
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” the concluding line of “Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines. What do you think it means?
The line implies to be optimistic and situations will change like seasons from dark days to bright days. Winter is seen as a dark and dull time, whereas spring is a brighter and vibrant time of the year. So no matter what one might be going through, there will be better days ahead even though it may feel like a long time.
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” the concluding line of “Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines. What do you think it means?
As in Shelleys other poem, Stanzas written in Dejection, we see a state of depression that had washed over as he described himself ruining such a beautiful day with his depressive thoughts. I feel the line “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” follows through with his other work perfectly. By showing sadness is only a temporary state and the hurt/broken feeling will repair over time as what winter destroys/withers, spring later repairs/rejuvenates. The line serves as a feeling of hope that will always follow after bad times.
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” the concluding line of “Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines. What do you think it means?
This quote can mean many things. If we look at it in a literal sense, then it means that cold winters come & spring is right after it. Another way we can look at it is that winter is deemed dull/gray and depressing where as spring is bright/happy and cheerful. Both seasons can symbolize ones mood or even life. The quote can mean that if someone is sad and depressed and has a lot of stress or has had alot of bad things happen in their life they can assure them selfs that soon it will all go away.
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” what this line means is that there is always room for optimism. Winter which dampens life with its coldness will soon give rise to beauty once the spring warmth rolls in.
3. “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” the concluding line of “Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines. What do you think it means?
Winter is a time of rest and hibernation while spring is a time of bloom and worth. This means the cycle of life is ever lasting, it will never fade and always continue.
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” the concluding line of “Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines. What do you think it means?
The line shows a positive thinking of the passage of seasons. In winter, almost everything is dull; life is not as high-spirited or quick or enthusiastic. Springs brings about with it color and life; there’s more of a “spring” to nature and people, alike. And when Winter is here, it only means that there is little to wait for there to be life once again. Winter may destroy nature, but it only gives way to Spring that can revive it once again.