The
World Is Too Much with Us by William
Wordsworth
Type: Sonnet
(Italian / Petrarchan Sonnet)
Year of Composition: Around 1802
Published: 1807 in Poems, in Two Volumes
💬 Text of the
Poem
The world is
too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
📜 Summary
Wordsworth
laments that humanity has become too obsessed with materialism — “getting and
spending.” In doing so, we have lost our connection with Nature and the
spiritual harmony it offers. He says modern man sees nothing of himself in
Nature anymore because he has “given his heart away” to worldly pursuits.
He praises
Nature’s beauty — the sea, the moon, and the winds — but regrets that these no
longer move human hearts. The poet wishes he could be a pagan, worshipping
ancient gods like Proteus or Triton, so that he could at least
feel awe and wonder for Nature again.
🪶 Paraphrase
(Line by Line)
- “The world
is too much with us; late and soon”
→ We are too involved with material and worldly affairs, both now and always. - “Getting
and spending, we lay waste our powers”
→ In earning and spending money, we waste our natural powers and energy. - “Little we
see in Nature that is ours”
→ We hardly notice or connect with Nature anymore. - “We have
given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”
→ We’ve traded our pure feelings for greed — an ugly gift indeed.
5–7. The
sea, the moon, and the winds
→ These natural elements are powerful and beautiful, but humanity ignores them.
- “For this,
for everything, we are out of tune; it moves us not.”
→ We are disconnected from Nature’s harmony; we feel no emotion for it.
9–14. Wish
to be a pagan
→ The poet would rather belong to an ancient, nature-worshipping religion so
that he might experience divine beauty in natural forms like Proteus (a
sea god) or Triton (a messenger of the sea).
💡 Central Idea /
Theme
The poem
expresses Wordsworth’s disappointment with the growing materialism
and industrialization of his time.
He contrasts the spiritual emptiness of modern life with the emotional richness
that comes from being close to Nature.
- Man vs.
Nature: Humans have lost touch with Nature.
- Materialism: Greed has
destroyed our moral and spiritual powers.
- Romantic
Ideal: Nature is divine, sacred, and capable of
restoring the human spirit.
- Alienation: Modern
life isolates man from his true, natural self.
🎭 Form and
Structure
- Type:
Petrarchan Sonnet (14 lines)
- Rhyme
Scheme: ABBA ABBA CDCDCD
- Meter: Iambic
Pentameter
- Division:
- Octave
(first 8 lines): Describes the problem — materialism has
made man indifferent to Nature.
- Sestet
(last 6 lines): Poet’s wish and imagined solution — to
return to a spiritual relationship with Nature.
✍️ Style and Language
- Tone: Mournful,
reflective, nostalgic
- Mood: Regretful
and yearning for reconnection
- Language: Simple
but passionate, filled with personifications and natural imagery.
- Imagery: Sea,
moon, winds, flowers, pagan gods.
🌿 Major Symbols
|
Symbol |
Meaning |
|
The World |
Materialism
and industrial life |
|
Sea, Moon,
Winds |
Power and
beauty of Nature |
|
Pagan Gods
(Proteus, Triton) |
Lost
spiritual connection with Nature |
|
Sordid Boon |
A shameful
gain — worldly success at the cost of purity |
🧠 Literary
Devices
|
Device |
Example |
Explanation |
|
Alliteration |
“world is too
much with us” |
Repetition of
‘w’ sound emphasizes weariness |
|
Personification |
“The Sea that
bares her bosom to the moon” |
Nature shown
as a living being |
|
Metaphor |
“We lay waste
our powers” |
Wasting inner
spiritual energy |
|
Oxymoron |
“sordid boon” |
A shameful
blessing — material gain but moral loss |
|
Allusion |
“Proteus” and
“Triton” |
Greek sea
gods symbolizing nature’s mystery |
|
Apostrophe |
“Great God!” |
Direct
emotional address |
|
Enjambment |
Lines flow
without pause for intensity |
🧩 Critical
Appreciation
- Wordsworth criticizes industrial
civilization for alienating man from the natural world.
- He believes spiritual peace
lies in harmony with Nature, not in material gain.
- The wish to be a pagan
shows his desperation to feel emotionally connected again — not literal
paganism but spiritual awakening through Nature.
- The sonnet captures the Romantic
spirit: emotion over reason, nature over industry, and imagination
over intellect.
🗣️ Critics’ Views
- Matthew
Arnold: Called Wordsworth “the high priest of
Nature” — this poem shows his moral earnestness.
- F. R.
Leavis: Described the poem as “a cry of the heart
against the mechanization of man.”
- C.M.
Bowra: Said Wordsworth’s Nature poems “restore
man’s lost sense of harmony.”
Questions
⚡ Short Answer Questions
1.
Who wrote the poem “The World Is Too Much with Us”?
Answer:
The poem was written by William Wordsworth, one of the greatest English
Romantic poets.
2.
What type of poem is “The World Is Too Much with Us”?
Answer:
It is a Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet with 14 lines, written in iambic
pentameter.
3.
What is the central theme of the poem?
Answer:
The poem criticizes materialism and industrialization, which have made
people spiritually empty and disconnected from Nature.
4.
What does the phrase “The world is too much with us” mean?
Answer:
It means people are too absorbed in worldly and material affairs, neglecting
spiritual and natural life.
5.
What does the poet mean by “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”?
Answer:
Wordsworth says humans waste their spiritual and emotional powers in pursuing
money and material possessions.
6.
What does “We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!” mean?
Answer:
It means we have traded our pure emotions and connection with Nature for greed
and profit — a shameful gain.
7.
What is the mood of the poem?
Answer:
The mood is mournful, regretful, and reflective, as the poet laments
man’s alienation from Nature.
8.
What is the tone of the poem?
Answer:
The tone is complaining yet yearning, expressing grief at materialism
and longing for spiritual unity with Nature.
9.
What kind of life does the poet condemn?
Answer:
Wordsworth condemns a materialistic life, centered on wealth, trade, and
consumption.
10.
What kind of life does the poet admire?
Answer:
He admires a simple, natural life, where humans live in harmony with
Nature.
11.
What does the sea symbolize in the poem?
Answer:
The sea symbolizes Nature’s beauty, power, and life-giving force,
which humans ignore.
12.
Who are Proteus and Triton?
Answer:
- Proteus: A sea
god in Greek mythology who could change shapes.
- Triton: Another
sea god who blew a wreathed horn to calm or stir the waves.
They symbolize ancient
harmony with Nature and spiritual vision.
13.
Why does the poet wish to be a pagan?
Answer:
Because pagans worshipped Nature and saw divinity in it; the poet feels that
would be better than the lifeless modern attitude.
14.
What does the poet mean by “It moves us not”?
Answer:
It means that Nature no longer affects or inspires us emotionally — we
are spiritually numb.
15.
What is meant by “out of tune”?
Answer:
It means out of harmony — humans have lost sync with Nature’s rhythm and
beauty.
16.
What emotion dominates the poem?
Answer:
Sorrow and longing dominate the poem — sorrow for man’s loss of
spiritual connection and longing to regain it.
17.
What figure of speech is used in “We have given our hearts away, a sordid
boon”?
Answer:
Oxymoron — “sordid” (dirty) and “boon” (blessing) are opposite in
meaning, creating contrast.
18.
What does the phrase “a creed outworn” refer to?
Answer:
It refers to ancient pagan religion, which the poet calls “outworn” (no
longer practiced).
19.
What do “sleeping flowers” symbolize?
Answer:
They symbolize peace, rest, and stillness, showing how Nature pauses but
still remains beautiful.
20.
What contrast does Wordsworth present in the poem?
Answer:
He contrasts modern man’s materialism with ancient man’s spiritual
connection with Nature.
✍️ Long Answer Questions (5–8 Marks Each)
1.
Explain how “The World Is Too Much with Us” criticizes materialism.
Answer:
Wordsworth criticizes the modern world for being overly focused on money and possessions
— “getting and spending.” He laments that people have lost touch with Nature
and the divine spirit within it. Instead of appreciating the beauty of the sea,
moon, and winds, humans are preoccupied with material gain. This has made life
spiritually empty. The poem warns that if humanity continues on this path, it
will lose its moral and emotional depth.
2.
What is Wordsworth’s attitude toward Nature in this poem?
Answer:
Wordsworth sees Nature as divine, pure, and life-giving. He believes
that closeness to Nature restores peace, harmony, and spiritual strength. In
the poem, he mourns how humans have become “out of tune” with Nature’s music.
He even wishes to be a pagan, for ancient people revered Nature and saw gods in
natural elements. His attitude shows deep reverence, love, and spiritual
longing for Nature.
3.
How does Wordsworth use imagery to convey his message?
Answer:
Wordsworth uses vivid imagery of the sea, moon, and winds to show the
beauty and vitality of Nature.
- “The Sea that bares her bosom
to the moon” — personifies the sea as a loving mother.
- “The winds that will be howling
at all hours” — shows Nature’s restless energy.
- “Sleeping flowers” — symbolize
calmness.
These images contrast with the dull, material life of humans, emphasizing how disconnected we have become from Nature’s wonders.
4.
What is the significance of the poet’s wish to be a pagan?
Answer:
The poet’s wish to be a pagan is symbolic. He does not literally want to
abandon Christianity, but he envies the emotional and spiritual vitality
of pagan beliefs. Ancient pagans saw divine presence in Nature — gods in the
sea, sky, and earth. Wordsworth longs for that lost sensitivity, which made
life rich and meaningful. His wish reflects the Romantic belief that Nature
itself is sacred.
5.
Discuss the structure of the poem as a Petrarchan sonnet.
Answer:
The poem follows the Petrarchan sonnet structure:
- Octave
(first 8 lines): Presents the problem — man’s separation
from Nature due to materialism.
- Sestet
(last 6 lines): Expresses the poet’s emotional response
and wish for spiritual renewal.
The volta (turn) comes at line 9 — “Great God! I’d rather be…” — marking the shift from despair to longing for spiritual connection. The sonnet’s structure thus mirrors the poet’s thought progression from criticism to yearning.
6.
What message does Wordsworth want to give through this poem?
Answer:
Wordsworth’s message is that materialism has made human life shallow and
joyless. True happiness lies in being emotionally and spiritually connected
with Nature. When we “give our hearts away” to wealth and power, we lose peace
and inner harmony. The poet urges humanity to return to the simplicity,
purity, and divine beauty of Nature to regain balance and meaning in life.
💬 Extra
Analytical Questions
1.
How does this poem reflect Romanticism?
Answer:
It reflects Romanticism through its focus on:
- Emotion
over reason
- Nature as
divine and spiritual
- Criticism
of industrial civilization
- Imagination
and longing for lost harmony
2.
What kind of contrast is drawn between man and Nature?
Answer:
Man is shown as materialistic, restless, and self-centered, while Nature
is peaceful, powerful, and harmonious. The contrast emphasizes man’s
moral decline and loss of inner joy.
3.
Explain the phrase “a sordid boon” as an oxymoron.
Answer:
It combines two opposite words — “sordid” (dirty) and “boon” (blessing). The
phrase suggests that worldly gain (a “boon”) is spiritually dirty (“sordid”)
because it leads to loss of purity and peace.
4.
What is the emotional appeal of the poem?
Answer:
The poem moves readers through its deep sadness and nostalgia for
a purer, more natural world. Wordsworth’s longing for reconnection with Nature
creates a universal emotional appeal.
5.
What does Wordsworth mean by “We are out of tune”?
Answer:
He means modern humans have lost the ability to respond emotionally to Nature’s
music — they live in discord with the natural order.
