"To a Skylark"

Poetry | Percy Bysshe Shelley
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How does Shelley idealize the Skylark?

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How does Shelley idealize the Skylark In To a Skylark P B Shelley - idealizes the skylark by describing the bird as a perfect and joyful being He paints the skylark as a happy spirit far far superior to humans The poet idealizes the skylark in the following manner The Skylark is a Happy Spirit Shelley calls the bird a blithe Spirit happy spirit He begins the poem Hail to thee blithe Spirit It is not just a normal bird To Shelley the bird is like an angel or a fairy flying high above the Earth The birth is untouched by sadness or pain unlike humans Humans always mix joy with worries The Bird is Compared to Beautiful Things Shelley idealizes the skylark as a beautiful perfect bird He uses similes to show the skylark s perfection He says the bird is like a poet writing brilliant thoughts a high-born

maiden princess singing love songs from a tower a glow-worm shining unseen or a rose making the air sweet These comparisons make the bird seem like a mix of all the best things in the world Skylark s Song is Better Than Human Art Shelley says that no human song poem or music can match the skylark s song Even the most joyful human songs contain sadness The poet says Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought On the other hand the skylark s song is pure happiness Shelley wishes he could learn from the skylark and capture its joy in his poetry so that people would listen to him just as he listens to the skylark In short Shelley idealizes the skylark as a symbol of perfect happiness and inspiration He sees it as a beautiful perfect joyful spirit that is far beyond human reach

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Percy Bysshe Shelley
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