WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Lines Written in the Spring

William Wordsworth 1770-1850

William was born in Cumberland, England to be the son of John Wordsworth. William was sent to Hawkshead Grammer School as a child and boardered there as both his parents died when he was young. After graduating he furthered his education at Cambridge. William then moved on to France where he explored the French revolution and radical ideas. He returned to England to team up with Samuel Taylor Coleridge in publishing an Lyrical Ballads. Coleridge and Wordsworth spent years together creating poetry and maintaining a solid friendship. William then married Mary Hutchinson and lived in the lake district of England. After years of friendship Coleridge and Wordsworth meet heads and ended their poetic past. Wordsworth published a few more poems and then died in 1850 at the age of 80.

William Wordsworth Famous Poems

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Lines Written In Early Spring London, 1802 Resolution And Independence Written In March Resolution And Independence

Title

Lines Written in the Spring When just looking at the title of the poem we

can speculate: Nature is going to play a key role in the poem Wordsworth is influenced by the spring The literal translation is Wordsworth wrote the

poem in the spring Romantics qualities will be shown in the poem The poem will use the aspects of spring to convey

a deeper theme

Lines Written in the Spring

I heard a thousand blended notesWhile in a grove I sat reclined,In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughtsBring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature linkThe human soul that through me ran;And much it grieved my heart to thinkWhat Man has made of Man.

Through primrose tufts, in that sweet bower,The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;And 'tis my faith that every flowerEnjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,Their thoughts I cannot measure - But the least motion which they madeIt seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fanTo catch the breezy air;And I must think, do all I can,That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,If such be Nature's holy plan,Have I not reason to lamentWhat Man has made of Man?

Paraphrase

I heard the sounds of springWhile I was relaxing in the forestIn my happy mood I had joyful thoughtsWhich then brought me saddening thoughts

Nature creates beautiful elementsI have human qualitiesIt pains me to think aboutHow man has destroyed man

Paraphrase

Through the green perennials came a clumping of primroses

The periwinkles (flowers) produced luscious vines

And I believe that every flower shouldEnjoy their natural life

The birds around me hop and playI cannot hear their thoughtsThough the less movement they makeBrings them more joy and excitement

Paraphrase

The new stems grow wideTo grasp the fresh airAnd I must assume That there is happiness in this nature

If this joyful nature was sent from heavenIf this is nature’s ultimate planThen that is why I regretThe changes humans have made to

humankind

Paraphrase

Next four stanzas are a repetition of the previous four.

Connotation

In the first line there is a hyperbole that tells the reader that the sounds are from spring “I heard a thousand blended notes”.

At the end of the first stanza there is a paradox as Wordsworth writes “ when pleasant thoughts bring sad thoughts to mind” (indicating that his happy thoughts make him reflect and think of his sad realities)

In the second stanza Wordsworth uses personification as he says “To her fair works did nature link”. He continues to personify nature in the stanzas to come.

Connotation

In the third stanza Wordsworth shows some sublime qualities as he heightens his observations of nature. “through primrose tufts, the green bower”.

Both forth and fifth stanza highlight the use of personification as Wordsworth writes “The budding twigs spread out their fan”.

Wordsworth uses one last device that is probably most significant as uses Godification ( made that word up, yet it works ) “If such be nature’s holy plan”. He sees nature as a God and/or creator.

Attitude

William Wordsworth shows two different attitudes in “Lines Written in the Early Spring”

A vibrant, peaceful and consoling tone towards nature and all it’s surroundings. Ex. “The budding twigs spread out their fan, To catch the breezy air; And I must think, do all I can, That there was pleasure there.”

However, Wordsworth clearly conveys a regretful, concerned and despairing tone when referring to humankind and human qualities. Ex. “And much it grieved my heart to think, What Man has made

of Man.”

Shifts

The first shift happens at the end of the second stanza when a semi-colon is used and then Wordsworth explains his regret of humans destroying humans. He writes

“The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think, What Man has made of Man”.

Another major change happens in the fifth stanza when a semi-colon is used again and Wordsworth changes from consoling tone to a fearful tone as he says

“To catch the breezy air; And I must think, do all I can,That there was pleasure there” . (do all I can do)

Title

Now looking at the title “Lines Written in Early Spring” we can interpret:

Wordsworth was comparing elements of spring to humankind.

Many observations of spring were made, therefore the title indicates that spring was an influence of the poem.

William Wordsworth probably actually wrote the poem in the spring as the title conveys.

Theme

William Wordsworth theme in “Lines Written in Early Spring” is humans have, and continue, to destroy themselves.

He uses the comparison of nature to humankind to convey this theme. He demonstrates how nature is happy and simple, in contrast to man with wars and violence.

Wordsworth shows regret that humans do not have the elements nature does.