'"The World Is To Much With Us; Late and Soon"' by William Wordsworth


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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 wreathed horn.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"The World Is Too Much With Us; Late and Soon" by William Wordsworth: A Critical Interpretation

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the constant noise and chaos of modern life? Do you ever long for a simpler, more peaceful existence, one in tune with nature and the natural rhythms of the world around us? If so, then you may find a kindred spirit in William Wordsworth, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era. In his powerful sonnet, "The World Is Too Much With Us; Late and Soon," Wordsworth expresses his deep sense of alienation from a world that has lost touch with its spiritual and aesthetic roots.

At its core, "The World Is Too Much With Us" is a poem about the human condition, about the ways in which we have become disconnected from the natural world and from our own true selves. In the poem, Wordsworth laments the fact that we have become so obsessed with material wealth and worldly success that we have forgotten the beauty and majesty of the natural world. He longs to be able to connect with nature, to hear the "mighty waters" and feel the "winds that will be howling at all hours" (lines 5-6) in order to regain a sense of his own humanity.

The poem is structured as a Petrarchan sonnet, with an octave and a sestet, and follows the traditional rhyme scheme abba abba cdc dcd. This formal structure helps to give the poem a sense of order and symmetry, even as Wordsworth rails against the chaos and disorder of the world around him. The poem is also notable for its use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence from one line to the next, which helps to create a sense of flow and momentum throughout the poem.

One of the most striking features of "The World Is Too Much With Us" is its use of vivid sensory imagery to describe the natural world. Throughout the poem, Wordsworth uses words like "sea," "rocks," and "shore" to evoke a sense of the power and majesty of nature. He also employs imagery from Greek mythology, referencing the "Proteus rising from the sea" (line 3) and the "Nereids" (line 7), in order to underline the timeless and eternal nature of the natural world.

At the same time, Wordsworth contrasts this sense of the eternal with the fleeting and ephemeral nature of human existence. He notes that "we are out of tune" (line 1) with the natural world, that we have lost touch with our own essential nature, and that we have become "late and soon" (line 10) in our pursuit of material success. This sense of urgency and transience is reinforced by the repeated use of the word "getting" throughout the poem, as if to suggest that we are always chasing after something that is just out of reach.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of "The World Is Too Much With Us" is its sense of moral and spiritual urgency. Wordsworth is not simply lamenting the loss of nature for its own sake; rather, he is using the natural world as a metaphor for the deeper spiritual malaise that afflicts humanity. He sees our obsession with material wealth and worldly success as a symptom of a deeper spiritual emptiness, a lack of connection to the divine and the eternal. When he cries out, "Great God! I'd rather be / A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn" (lines 9-10), he is expressing a deep sense of dissatisfaction with the shallow and materialistic values of his own time, and longing for a more meaningful and authentic way of life.

In conclusion, "The World Is Too Much With Us" is a powerful and timeless poem that speaks to the human experience of alienation and disconnection from the natural world. Through its vivid sensory imagery, its sense of moral urgency, and its use of poetic form and meter, the poem captures the essence of the Romantic sensibility and the deep longing for a more authentic and meaningful existence. Whether we live in the 21st century or the 19th, there is something timeless and profound about Wordsworth's vision of a world in which human beings and the natural world are in harmony, and in which the pursuit of material wealth and success is subordinated to a deeper spiritual calling.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The World Is Too Much With Us; Late and Soon: A Poetic Masterpiece by William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era, wrote "The World Is Too Much With Us; Late and Soon" in 1802. This poem is a powerful critique of the materialistic and industrial society of his time. In this 14-line sonnet, Wordsworth expresses his frustration with the people who are too busy chasing materialistic pleasures and have lost touch with nature. The poem is a call to return to a simpler and more natural way of life.

The poem begins with the line "The world is too much with us; late and soon." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Wordsworth is saying that the world is too overwhelming and that people are too consumed by it. The use of the word "late" suggests that it is too late for people to change their ways, and the use of "soon" suggests that the world is moving too fast for people to keep up.

In the second line, Wordsworth says, "Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers." This line is a powerful critique of the materialistic society of his time. Wordsworth is saying that people are too busy chasing after money and material possessions, and in doing so, they are wasting their true potential. The line "Little we see in Nature that is ours" suggests that people have lost touch with nature and are no longer able to appreciate its beauty.

In the third line, Wordsworth says, "We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!" This line is a powerful statement about the state of society. Wordsworth is saying that people have given their hearts away to material possessions, and in doing so, they have lost touch with their true selves. The use of the word "sordid" suggests that the pursuit of material possessions is a dirty and shameful thing.

In the fourth line, Wordsworth says, "This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon." This line is a reference to the sea and its natural beauty. The use of the word "bosom" suggests that the sea is a nurturing and motherly figure. Wordsworth is saying that people should appreciate the beauty of nature and not take it for granted.

In the fifth line, Wordsworth says, "The winds that will be howling at all hours." This line is a reference to the power of nature. The use of the word "howling" suggests that nature is a force to be reckoned with. Wordsworth is saying that people should respect the power of nature and not try to control it.

In the sixth line, Wordsworth says, "And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers." This line is a reference to the beauty of nature and its ability to renew itself. The use of the word "sleeping" suggests that nature is dormant and waiting to be awakened. Wordsworth is saying that people should appreciate the beauty of nature and not take it for granted.

In the seventh line, Wordsworth says, "For this, for everything, we are out of tune." This line is a powerful statement about the state of society. Wordsworth is saying that people are out of tune with nature and are no longer able to appreciate its beauty. The use of the word "everything" suggests that people have lost touch with all aspects of nature.

In the eighth line, Wordsworth says, "It moves us not." This line is a reference to the fact that people are no longer moved by the beauty of nature. Wordsworth is saying that people have become desensitized to the beauty of nature and are no longer able to appreciate it.

In the ninth line, Wordsworth says, "Great God! I'd rather be a Pagan suckled in a creed outworn." This line is a powerful statement about the state of society. Wordsworth is saying that he would rather be a Pagan, someone who worships nature, than be a part of the materialistic society of his time. The use of the word "outworn" suggests that the current society is outdated and needs to be replaced.

In the tenth line, Wordsworth says, "So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, have glimpses that would make me less forlorn." This line is a reference to the fact that nature can provide comfort and solace to people. Wordsworth is saying that if he were standing in a pleasant meadow, he would be able to see glimpses of the beauty of nature that would make him feel less lonely.

In the eleventh line, Wordsworth says, "Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea." This line is a reference to the Greek god Proteus, who was able to change his shape at will. Wordsworth is saying that nature is constantly changing and evolving, and people should appreciate its beauty.

In the twelfth line, Wordsworth says, "Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn." This line is a reference to the Greek god Triton, who was the messenger of the sea. Wordsworth is saying that people should listen to the sounds of nature and appreciate its beauty.

In the thirteenth line, Wordsworth says, "That came from out the sea." This line is a reference to the fact that all life on earth came from the sea. Wordsworth is saying that people should appreciate the fact that they are a part of nature and not separate from it.

In the final line, Wordsworth says, "The world is too much with us; late and soon." This line is a powerful statement about the state of society. Wordsworth is saying that the world is too overwhelming and that people are too consumed by it. The use of the words "late" and "soon" suggest that it is too late for people to change their ways, and the world is moving too fast for people to keep up.

In conclusion, "The World Is Too Much With Us; Late and Soon" is a powerful critique of the materialistic and industrial society of Wordsworth's time. The poem is a call to return to a simpler and more natural way of life. Wordsworth is saying that people should appreciate the beauty of nature and not take it for granted. The poem is a reminder that we are a part of nature and not separate from it.

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