2.6.2 - "The World is Too Much With Us" by William Wordsworth
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Key Concepts
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Industrialization has alienated people from the natural world.
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Romantic poetry emphasizes emotional response to nature.
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Classical myths reinforce the sacredness of nature.
Examples & Applications
Modern Analogy: City life today can make us forget the stars, oceans, or mountains.
Student Response: "Wordsworth sounds like he misses the magic in nature."
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Memory Tools
PMS β Proteus, Materialism, Sea (major symbols/themes).
Analogies
Think of nature like an old friend we no longer visit.
Rhymes
"Too much gold, weβve left the cold, the sea, the sky, the flowers of old."
Flash Cards
Poem "The World is Too Much With Us" by William Wordsworth
1. Form and Structure
- The poem is a Petrarchan sonnet with 14 lines.
- It follows the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDCDCD.
- The sonnet is divided into:
- An octave (first 8 lines): introduces the problem (disconnection from nature).
- A sestet (last 6 lines): offers a personal and mythological perspective.
2. Themes
- Disconnection from Nature: The speaker criticizes society for losing touch with the natural world.
- Materialism: Modern man is preoccupied with money and possessions.
- Romanticism: The poem reflects Romantic ideals such as the appreciation of nature and the use of emotion.
3. Literary Devices
a. Personification
- Nature is portrayed with human traits, such as:
- "The Sea that bares her bosom to the moon."
- "The winds that will be howling at all hours."
- These devices make nature more relatable and emotionally powerful.
b. Imagery
- Strong visual imagery enhances the poem's emotional impact:
- "Sleeping flowers"
- "Sea that bares her bosom to the moon"
- These images reflect beauty and tranquility, emphasizing what is lost.
c. Allusion
- References to classical mythology:
- Proteus: A sea god who could change shape.
- Triton: The son of Poseidon who blows a conch shell.
- These allusions show the speaker's desire to return to a time when nature was revered.
d. Simile
- Compares human disconnection from nature to dormant or lifeless things:
- "And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers"
e. Metaphor
- "Sordid boon": Suggests that materialism, while seemingly beneficial, is actually a corrupt gift.
4. Tone and Mood
- Tone: Reflective, mournful, and critical.
- Mood: Evokes sadness for what has been lost and longing for a more connected existence.