19 pages • 38 minutes read
Ode to the West Wind
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Literary Context: British Romanticism
Romanticism is an ideological movement beginning at the end of the 18th century and ending in the mid-19th century. British Romanticism refers specifically to English-language romantic thinkers, artists, writers, and poets. The term arose well after the movement ended to describe people who never considered themselves a part of a unified collective. In fact, many artists in this period made a point of rejecting convention, adhering instead to their own individual impulses. Nonetheless, these varied styles and approaches share a few key common traits. British Romantic poets considered writing to be a transcendent act, one that brought the writer closer to the divine, unity with all things, and truth. They prioritized individuality, seeing the inner self as the locus of true knowledge. They connected human flourishing with the natural world, imagination with power, and art with social progress.
“Ode to the West Wind” embodies all of these themes to varying degrees. Naturalism crops up in the title and develops throughout the poem. The poem explores individualism and creative achievement through the content as well as the amalgamation of literary devices. Shelley makes extensive use of British Romantic ideas throughout his oeuvre, and “Ode to the West Wind” is a healthy specimen of British Romantic philosophy of art in particular.
In an age when objective methodology and scientific inquiry were sometimes elevated over subjective experience, Romantic era poets had to self-consciously defend the importance of their work. When they created new forms, they did so for the advancement of art as a whole. When critics questioned art’s value in the current moment, they had answers. Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote “A Defence of Poetry” as a response to Thomas Love Peacock’s “The Four Ages of Poetry.” Peacock playfully suggests that poetry is no longer a useful project in the modern era. In his rebuttal, Shelley uses Peacock’s logical argumentation style against him, equating intellect with imagination and literature in true Romantic fashion.
Authorial Context
Prior to his relocation to Italy, Shelley’s work was openly political. Many of Shelley’s personal views were at odds with English society. He was a political radical who advocated for government reform, freedom of speech, and wealth redistribution, among other ideas. He was a vocal atheist who lamented the influence of religious institutions on the government. He was, when not in love, against the institution of marriage, and he was a proponent of vegetarianism.
Shelley’s work took a turn when the Shelleys moved to Italy in 1818. Relieved of the stress of constant opposition to the culture he lived in, his work became more concerned with the human condition and the purpose of art. “Prometheus Unbound” (1820), for example, is a lyrical drama that explores the titular character’s release from eternal torment at the hands of the gods. “Julian and Maddalo” (1818-1819) is a long poem about two men discussing the purpose of life. “Ode to the West Wind” is about personal freedom, the artist’s life, and the true potential of poetry. Themes of power, unrest, and the pursuit of a better life still pervade Shelley’s work, although their connections to 19th-century English politics are less obvious.
Unlock all 19 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 9,150+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
Related Titles
By Percy Bysshe Shelley
