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In the poem, which phrases describe the song of the solitary reaper?

William Wordsworth's poem "The Solitary Reaper" describes a girl, alone, off in the distance ("Yon solitary Highland Lass") who is working in a field and singing.


The phrases from the poem that most directly describe the song are "a melancholy strain," "welcome notes," "plaintive numbers," and "humble lay."


Here is a complete list of the phrases that describe her song:


1. "a melancholy strain"


"Melancholy" means "sad and mournful," and a "strain" is a piece of music. So this phrase describes the song as a sad little tune.


2. "the Vale profound / Is overflowing with the sound."


These lines mean that the deep surrounding land is filled (even over-filled) with the sound of the reaper's song.


3. "No Nightingale did ever chaunt / More welcome notes to weary bands / Of travellers in some shady haunt, / Among Arabian sands:"


Above, the speaker describes the song as made up of "welcome notes," or musical notes that are a joy to hear.


4. "A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard / In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,"


This means that the song is being sung with a voice that thrills, or excites and enchants, the listener, even more so than the song of a cuckoo-bird would.


5. "Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow / For old, unhappy, far-off things, /And battles long ago:"


Above, the sections of the song are described as "plaintive numbers," meaning they are sad, mournful songs, specifically songs about sad things from the past.


6. "Or is it some more humble lay, / Familiar matter of to-day?"


One meaning of "lay" is a song that tells a narrative story, so in the line above, the speaker describes the song as perhaps an everyday little song about normal life--nothing overly proud or showy.


7. "Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang / As if her song could have no ending;"


Above, the speaker means that the song seems never-ending. Even though it does end, it continues to echo in the speaker's mind:


8. "The music in my heart I bore, / Long after it was heard no more."

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