Summary:
To a Skylark is one of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s most famous odes, written in 1820. The poem is an ecstatic celebration of the skylark, a bird that soars high in the sky, singing joyfully. Unlike humans, the skylark is free from sorrow and suffering, representing unbridled happiness and inspiration. Shelley praises the bird’s song as more beautiful than any human music or poetry. He uses various metaphors, comparing the skylark to a star, a poet, a high-born maiden, and a golden glow in the sky. The poet expresses envy at the bird’s ability to sing without pain, unlike human poets whose greatest works often come from sadness. In the final stanza, Shelley expresses a deep desire to learn from the skylark, hoping that if he could capture even a fraction of its joy, his poetry would have the power to move the world. The poem emphasizes the contrast between the skylark’s pure, instinctive happiness and human beings’ constant struggle with sorrow and imperfection.
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| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | To a Skylark |
| Poet | Percy Bysshe Shelley |
| Year Written | 1820 |
| Year Published | 1820 |
| Poem Type | Lyrical Ode |
| Rhyme Scheme | ABABB |
| Themes | Nature, joy vs. sorrow, poetic inspiration |
| Literary Devices | Metaphor, Simile, Personification |
| Symbolism | The skylark represents pure, divine happiness and inspiration |
| Famous Line | “Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!” |