10 Questions
What does the speaker refer to the skylark as in the first stanza?
Blithe Spirit
How does the speaker describe the skylark's singing in the first stanza?
Abundant and artful
What does the speaker compare the skylark to in the second stanza?
A cloud of fire
How does the skylark behave in terms of singing as it soars higher?
It keeps singing
What is the significance of calling the skylark a 'Spirit' in the first stanza?
It suggests its divine or ethereal nature
What does the poet compare the skylark to in the eighth stanza?
A glow-worm golden
What is the significance of the sun in relation to the skylark's ascent?
It is setting on the horizon, providing a magical ambiance.
In what way does the skylark's song impact those who listen to it?
It forces sympathy and moral improvement on them.
How does the poet describe the skylark's song in stanza nine?
As sweet as love, overflowing her bower.
What does the poet compare the skylark to in the tenth stanza?
A glow-worm golden
Study Notes
"To a Skylark" Poem Analysis
- The poem "To a Skylark" by Percy Bysshe Shelley begins with the speaker reverently addressing a skylark, admiring its joyful spirit and beautiful, unpremeditated song.
- The skylark is described as a "blithe Spirit" that appears to have come from Heaven or near it, signifying its exceptional beauty and joy.
Second Stanza
- The bird is seen flying higher and higher, like a "cloud of fire," and continues to sing while ascending.
- It soars upwards, singing simultaneously, as if returning to its heavenly origin.
Third Stanza
- The skylark is ascending towards the sun, described as "golden lightning," with clouds brightening around it.
- The bird's flight is likened to an "unbodied joy" that has just begun its "race."
Eighth Stanza
- The skylark's song is compared to a poet's hidden, unbidden thoughts, which evoke sympathy and stir hopes and fears in those who hear it.
Ninth Stanza
- The bird is likened to a "high-born maiden" in a palace-tower, soothing her love-laden soul in secret, with music as sweet as love.
Tenth Stanza
- The skylark is compared to a "glow-worm golden" in a dell of dew, scattering its aerial hue among flowers and grass, unseen by the viewer.
Explore the detailed analysis of the first stanza from Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem 'To a Skylark'. Discover insights into the speaker's reverence towards the skylark and their admiration for the bird's song.
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