The Solitary Reaper

by William Wordsworth

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Student Question

What makes the maiden's song in "The Solitary Reaper" extraordinary?

Quick answer:

The maiden's song in "The Solitary Reaper" is extraordinary due to its timeless and universal beauty, captivating the poet with its eternal nature. The poet is deeply moved by the song's emotional depth, suggesting themes of ancient battles or common human experiences like sorrow and loss. Ultimately, the specific content is irrelevant, as the song's profound impact lingers in the poet's heart, symbolizing its enduring and universal appeal.

Expert Answers

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In The Solitary Reaper, what makes the maiden's song extraordinary is that it never seems to die; it is eternal in nature and universal in its beauty.

Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang / As if her song could have no ending;

The maiden's song so entrances the poet that he maintains

A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard; In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird...

The poet pleads for someone to tell him what the maiden is singing about. He imagines that her songs are about old, unhappy incidents, or perhaps, even about ancient battles. He surmises that the topics of her songs may be more mundane than anyone suspects and that they concern themselves with the common human experiences of 'natural sorrow, loss, or pain.' In the end, the poet concludes that it doesn't really matter what she is singing about, as he will always bear her extraordinary music in his heart even when he cannot hear it anymore.

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