Hunting Song

Name: Hunting Song
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The poem presents a lively call to action, urging women and young girls to leave their domestic duties and venture into the meadows. The imagery evokes a pastoral setting where the characters are tasked with tending to flocks and protecting crops from small birds. The repeated refrain emphasizes the necessity for everyone to participate in the day's activities, particularly the men who are preparing to hunt a wolf threatening their livestock. The work captures the essence of rural life, highlighting the communal effort required to safeguard their way of living. The shepherds, armed with lances and bows, symbolize the courage and responsibility of the community in facing external threats. The contrast between the domestic sphere, represented by the hearth and the elderly, and the active, adventurous spirit of the hunt underscores the balance between nurturing and protecting. The poem's rhythmic structure and repetitive elements create a sense of urgency and excitement, inviting readers to visualize the vibrant life of the countryside. The call to abandon the home for the wild reflects a deeper connection to nature and the cycles of life, where every member of the community plays a vital role in maintaining harmony and safety. The work ultimately celebrates the spirit of collaboration and the importance of each individual's contribution to the collective well-being.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1798 · Genre: Poetry, Pastoral, Romanticism · 173 words

First lines

[_ZAPOLYA_, ACT IV. SCENE 2]

Up, up! ye dames, and lasses gay! To the meadows trip away. 'Tis you must tend the flocks this morn, And scare the small birds from the corn. Not a soul at home may stay: For the shepherds must go With lance and bow To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day.

Leave the hearth and leave the house To the cricket and the mouse: Find grannam out a sunny seat, With babe and lambkin at her feet. Not a soul at home may stay: For the shepherds must go With lance and bow To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day.

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Hunting Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1798 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Date: 1798 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Pastoral, Romanticism, Lyric, Ballad
Length: 173 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhythm and imagery.
Pastoral — The themes revolve around rural life, shepherds, and nature, typical of pastoral literature.
Romanticism — The work reflects the Romantic era's emphasis on nature, emotion, and individual experience.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.