The Reaper

The reaper is the primary subject and one of two main characters in the poem. She is described by the speaker as a “Highland Lass,” indicating that she hails from the Scottish Highlands, a mountainous region located in the northwest part of the country (2). As her title would suggest, she spends her days reaping and harvesting grain in the fields. The speaker repeatedly highlights her solitary nature, emphasizing the fact that she does her work alone. It is also suggested that her work is tireless, and that it is important she not be disturbed in her labor or her song.

The speaker’s obsession with the reaper’s song suggests that she is an adept singer. This is also implied by the speaker’s comparison of her song to those of certain songbirds such as the nightingale or the cuckoo bird. Additionally, the fact that the speaker...