Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

The ode, a favorite genre in Romantic poetry, originated in ancient literature, especially in the work of the Greek poet Pindar (circa 552-442 B.C.E.) and the Roman poet Horace (65-8 B.C.E.). Pindaric odes were ceremonious celebrations of public figures—especially victorious athletes. They had a complex, seemingly irregular, structure of lines and stanzas, loosely followed in Wordsworth’s “Ode.” Horatian odes had a more uniform structure and typically more personal and contemplative subject matter. Both traditions influenced the writing of odes in the English language, including those written by Romantic poets. Romantic odes vary in structure and themes, but some of the most famous among them have several features in common with Wordsworth’s “Ode”: emphasis on the beauty and power of nature, both as a general force and in its particular forms; drawing inspiration from nature for serious thoughts on a subject of great personal significance, accompanied by emotions of heightened intensity; and reaching an insight that alleviates the original concern or anxiety that triggered the contemplation. These poems combine vivid description and passionate meditation to powerful effect. (For two more examples of the Romantic ode, see Further Resources.)