Ode on Solitude by Alexander Pope

Ode on Solitude by Alexander Pope

Happy the man, whose wish and care

   A few paternal acres bound,

Content to breathe his native air,

                            In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,

   Whose flocks supply him with attire,

Whose trees in summer yield him shade,

                            In winter fire.

Blest, who can unconcernedly find

   Hours, days, and years slide soft away,

In health of body, peace of mind,

                            Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease,

   Together mixed; sweet recreation;

And innocence, which most does please,

                            With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;

   Thus unlamented let me die;

Steal from the world, and not a stone

                            Tell where I lie.

INTRODUCTION -

'Ode On Solitude' is a poem written by Alexander Pope. It was written in 1700. It consists of 20 lines divided into five quatrains having the rhyme scheme of ABAB. The poem is unique because Pope wrote it before his twelfth birthday. The poem - as the title suggests - is a description of solitude and how it is achieved. Every man craves solitude, but there are only a few ways to achieve it. The poet also describes what the bliss of solitude feels like and how he considers a person who has achieved it lucky.

POET -

Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 - 30 May 1744) was considered one of the eighteenth century's most significant English poets. He is best known for his satirical and discursive poetry. His famous works include The Rape of the Lock, The Dunciad, An Essay on Criticism, etc.

SUMMARY -

The poet starts by saying that a man is happiest if he has a few acres of land to grow food and fulfill his needs. He is blessed to breathe air standing in his homeland. His herds of animals provide milk and wool for his clothing. The trees on his land provide him with shade in the summer and firewood in the winter. A man is blessed if he doesn't have to worry about the passing of time in hours or days. He can enjoy his time with bodily health, mental peace, and daily quietness. These things are a blessing for any man, and he can consider himself lucky.

A man who enjoys a good night's sleep and can study or relax both without worrying about overdoing anything is too happy and blessed in the poet's eye. This man enjoys his part of the day meditating, which gives a boost to his innocence. At last, the poet says his hearty wish that he wants to be left alone so that he can enjoy his peace without any distraction. He wants to live this ideal life and then die a simple death with no one to cry over him. He wants to be buried with no show and doesn't want a stone to be put on his grave to remain unknown. In one sentence, we can sum it that he wants to live and die in peace.

THEME -

• The bliss of solitude: The poet draws our attention to a life where a man is not worried about the material or worldly possessions but enjoys his life in comfort in his own home. The peacefulness and mental heath are unmatched. The poet's love for solitude increases to such a level that he craves it even after his death.

END -

We can admit that Pope's poetical genius has shown its way in this poem as he wrote it at such a young age. But we should also acknowledge that it is more or less a youth's fantasy as living such a life would be too tiring and back-breaking. The life that he is imagining is not just full of ecstasy but requires heavy labor. Still, the readers are easily lost in Pope's dream world.