The Solitary Reaper

by William Wordsworth

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Student Question

Why was the valley filled with music in "The Solitary Reaper"?

Quick answer:

The valley is filled with music because a young woman sings while harvesting grain alone in the Scottish Highlands. Her plaintive and melancholy song captivates the speaker, who compares it to the beautiful songs of a nightingale or cuckoo. Although he cannot decipher the words, the melody's emotional impact lingers with him. This reflects Wordsworth's celebration of nature and ordinary life, highlighting the enduring joy found in simple, everyday experiences.

Expert Answers

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The valley is filled with music because a young woman is singing as she works harvesting grain.

The woman is all by herself in a lonely place in the Scottish Highlands when the speaker, passing by, stops to listen to her song. He can't make out the words, but the melody is plaintive and melancholy.

The young woman's song reminds the narrator of the song of a nightingale or a cuckoo, but it is more beautiful. The narrator states:

A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard

The narrator likens the woman to a natural creature as she bends and reaps and ties her bundles without ever stopping her song. He listens to her and comments that her song stays in his heart long afterwards.

The poem is quintessential Wordsworth because it celebrates an ordinary laboring woman, likens her to nature, and finds joy remembering the song long after he has finished hearing it.

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