Solitude

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(1850-1919)
● American poet + journalist
● Began writing at a young age and published her first
book, “Drops of Water” in 1872.
● She wrote articles for several newspapers and
magazines including the New York Journal.
● She was also an advocate for women’s suffrage.
● Her writing often covered optimistic and uplifting
themes.
● Wilcox was a spiritualist and believed in communicating
with the dead. She even wrote several books on
spiritualism which were controversial at the time.
 1 Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
2 Weep, and you weep alone.
3 For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
4 But has trouble enough of its own.
5 Sing, and the hills will answer; 17 Feast, and your halls are crowded;
6 Sigh, it is lost on the air. 18 Fast, and the world goes by.
Solitude

7 The echoes bound to a joyful sound, 19 Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
8 But shrink from voicing care. 20 But no man can help you die.
21 There is room in the halls of pleasure
9 Rejoice, and men will seek you; 22 For a long and lordly train,
10 Grieve, and they turn and go. 23 But one by one we must all file on
11 They want full measure of all your pleasure, 24 Through the narrow aisles of pain.
12 But they do not need your woe.
13 Be glad, and your friends are many;
14 Be sad, and you lose them all.
15 There are none to decline your nectared wine,
16 But alone you must drink life's gall.
Summary

● The speaker addresses the reader directly (you),

touching on universal truths – “laugh, and the world
laughs with / Weep, and you weep alone”.
● The poem speaks of the universal human condition in
sharing joys and ‘good times’ but that a person is
alone/solitary in their tough times/sadness.
● The speaker ultimately explores the relationship
between humans and society and how social
connections are influenced by one’s emotional state
 TITLE

Solitude” means a lonely place/isolation/being alone or

away from other people.
 17 Feast, and your halls are crowded;
1 Laugh, and the world laughs with you; A
18 Fast, and the world goes by.
2 Weep, and you weep alone. B
19 Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
3 For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, C
20 But no man can help you die.
4 But has trouble enough of its own. B
21 There is room in the halls of pleasure
5 Sing, and the hills will answer; D
22 For a long and lordly train,
6 Sigh, it is lost on the air. E
Structure

23 But one by one we must all file on

7 The echoes bound to a joyful sound, F
24 Through the narrow aisles of pain.
8 But shrink from voicing care. E

9 Rejoice, and men will seek you;

10 Grieve, and they turn and go.
11 They want full measure of all your pleasure,
12 But they do not need your woe.
13 Be glad, and your friends are many;
14 Be sad, and you lose them all.
15 There are none to decline your nectared wine,
16 But alone you must drink life's gall.
 1 Laugh, and the world laughs with you; A Positive connotation
2 Weep, and you weep alone. B Negative connotation
3 For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, C
4 But has trouble enough of its own. B
5 Sing, and the hills will answer; D 17 Feast, and your halls are crowded;
6 Sigh, it is lost on the air. E 18 Fast, and the world goes by.
Solitude

7 The echoes bound to a joyful sound, F 19 Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
8 But shrink from voicing care. E 20 But no man can help you die.
21 There is room in the halls of pleasure
9 Rejoice, and men will seek you; 22 For a long and lordly train,
10 Grieve, and they turn and go. 23 But one by one we must all file on
11 They want full measure of all your pleasure, 24 Through the narrow aisles of pain.
12 But they do not need your woe.
13 Be glad, and your friends are many;
14 Be sad, and you lose them all.
15 There are none to decline your nectared wine,
16 But alone you must drink life's gall.
Words at the beginning of the
lines creates a parallel and
emphasises the contrast
Stanza 1
semi-colon emphasises
synecdoche (a figure of speech in which a
part is made to represent the whole or vice
the contrast
versa) for peopleSynecdoche = a lot of people
1 Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
cry Laughter = unites
2 Weep, and you weep alone. Weep = sadness or grief
is an isolated experience

Paradox: Happiness is contagious and attracts people. Sadness can be isolating.

 Stanza 1
Personification: Suggests sadness is deeply
ingrained in Nature – it is part of nature.
Happiness is rare Laughter
3 For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
problems
4 But has trouble enough of its own.

Suggests people often look for happiness and joy outside themselves.
 Stanza 1
Associated with happiness
Celebrate with you
5 Sing, and the hills will answer;
Associated with Sadness
6 Sigh, it is lost on the air.

Paradox: Sing (show happiness) and society will respond to it, but sigh (show sadness)
and there will be no response or acknowledgment
Emphasises that positive emotions have the power to spread.
 Stanza 1
Joyful singing reverberate
Bouncing movements/ Move/Spread
7 The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
Suggests avoidance – negative connotation
8 But shrink from voicing care.
society withdraws/pulls back - lacks empathy –
Avoids difficulties

The echoes are attracted to happiness but avoids those who show pain.
 Stanza 2

Express joy
9 Rejoice, and men will seek you;
feel sorrow
10 Grieve, and they turn and go.

Paradox: If you are optimistic people will want to be around you. If you are sad, people
distance themselves.
Emphasises the fickle and superficial nature of society and the value placed on happiness.
 Stanza 2
Implies that society prefers to benefit from ones’ happiness
In abundance/All
11 They want full measure of all your pleasure,
Have enough of their own sadness
12 But they do not need your woe.
Suggests a lack of empathy / compassion. Only interested in their own happiness.

highlights how selfish and self-serving society is

 Stanza 2
Be = warning /advice
People will associate with you In abundance
13 Be glad, and your friends are many;
everyone
14 Be sad, and you lose them all. Choice of diction
You are completely abandoned emphasizes the difference
 Stanza 2
Sweetness of joy /happiness
refuse
15 There are none to decline your nectared wine,
Metaphor bitterness = sadness/depression/difficulties
16 But alone you must drink life's gall.
forced

Nobody will refuse you to be happy, but if you are sad you will be forced to
experience it on your own.
 Stanza 3
metaphor - suggests
abundance + celebration brings people together
17 Feast, and your halls are crowded;
metaphor - suggests deprivation does not take notice
18 Fast, and the world goes by.

Contrast emphasises the ficklenature of life and the fickleness of human relationships.
Line 18 suggests that when one is in a state of sorrow or hardship, the world seems to
keep moving without regard for their pain.
 Stanza 3

Being generous attracts support and attention and therefore sustains your life
19 Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
provide support
20 But no man can help you die.

These lines suggest that Success and generosity can contribute to a fulfilling life.
Death is a solitary experience that cannot be influenced by others. Death is inevitable
 Stanza 3
metaphor -good times in life
21 There is room in the halls of pleasure
a grand procession of people who are able to partake in these pleasures
22 For a large and lordly train,
inevitable
23 But one by one we must all file on
24 Through the narrow aisles of pain. Metaphor
metaphor - Happiness is compared to a building with spacious rooms that can
accommodate many guests.
Sadness / PAIN is compared to a narrow passage that people have to move through alone.
 Themes

Happiness vs Pain Society's reaction to

emotions

Individual vs
Solitude
Outside World
 Themes
Happiness vs Pain
The poem explores the contrast between happiness
and pain, suggesting that both are inevitable aspects
of life, but that society tends to value happiness more
than pain. This is seen in lines such as "But they do not
need your woe" and "But alone you must drink life's
gall."
 Themes
Society's reaction to emotions
The poem suggests that society tends to react more
positively to happiness and joy, while avoiding or
rejecting expressions of sadness or pain. Lines such as
"Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you
weep alone" and "Be sad, and you lose them all"
highlight this theme.
 Themes
Individual vs Outside World
The poem also touches on the tension between
individuality and conformity. It suggests that individuals
who are happy and successful may be more accepted
and valued by society, while those who express pain or
sadness may be rejected or left out. However, the poem
also suggests that individuals must ultimately confront
their pain and suffering alone, emphasizing the
importance of personal strength and resilience.
 Themes
Solitude

The poem highlights the feeling of isolation that people

can experience when they are sad or unhappy. It
suggests that when people are feeling down, they tend
to withdraw from others and become more solitary,
which can compound their sense of loneliness.