"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” (1820), P. B. Shelley (1792-1822) 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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