William+Wordsworth

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"Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future" - William Wordsworth

Background
On April 7, 1770, William Wordsworth was born in Cockermouth, Cumbria, England. Wordsworth's mother died when he was eight--this experience shapes much of his later work. Wordsworth attended Hawkshead Grammar School, where his love of poetry was firmly established and, it is believed, he made his first attempts at verse. While he was at Hawkshead, Wordsworth's father died leaving him and his four siblings orphans. After Hawkshead, Wordsworth studied at St. John's College in Cambridge and before his final semester, he set out on a walking tour of Europe, an experience that influenced both his poetry and his political sensibilities. While touring Europe, Wordsworth came into contact with the French Revolution. This experience as well as a subsequent period living in France, brought about Wordsworth's interest and sympathy for the life, troubles and speech of the "common man". These issues proved to be of the utmost importance to Wordsworth's work. Wordsworth's earliest poetry was published in 1793 in the collections An Evening Walk and Descriptive Sketches. While living in France, Wordsworth conceived a daughter, Caroline, out of wedlock; he left France, however, before she was born. In 1802, he returned to France with his sister on a four-week visit to meet Caroline. Later that year, he married Mary Hutchinson, a childhood friend, and they had five children together. In 1812, while living in Grasmere, they grieved the loss of two of their children, Catherine and John, who both died that year. Wordsworth's most famous work, The Prelude (1850), is considered by many to be the crowning achievement of English romanticism. The poem, revised numerous times, chronicles the spiritual life of the poet and marks the birth of a new genre of poetry. Although Wordsworth worked on The Prelude throughout his life, the poem was published posthumously. Wordsworth spent his final years settled at Rydal Mount in England, traveling and continuing his outdoor excursions. Devastated by the death of his daughter Dora in 1847, Wordsworth seemingly lost his will to compose poems. William Wordsworth died at Rydal Mount on April 23, 1850, leaving his wife Mary to publish The Prelude three months later.

Lyrical Comparison Wordsworth's poetry is comparable to the words of the late Barry White in the song "Lets get it on"

"I've been really trying now baby trying to hold back this feeling for so long and if you feel like I feel come on. Let's get it on" Full lyrics

A Character I marvel how Nature could ever find space For so many strange contrasts in one human face: There's thought and no thought, and there's paleness and bloom And bustle and sluggishness, pleasure and gloom.

There's weakness, and strength both redundant and vain; Such strength as, if ever affliction and pain <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Could pierce through a temper that's soft to disease, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Would be rational peace--a philosopher's ease.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">There's indifference, alike when he fails or succeeds, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And attention full ten times as much as there needs; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Pride where there's no envy, there's so much of joy; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And mildness, and spirit both forward and coy.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">There's freedom, and sometimes a diffident stare <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of shame scarcely seeming to know that she's there, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">There's virtue, the title it surely may claim, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yet wants heaven knows what to be worthy the name.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">This picture from nature may seem to depart, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yet the Man would at once run away with your heart; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And I for five centuries right gladly would be <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Such an odd such a kind happy creature as he.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Techniques
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Rhyme - gives poems flow and rhythm, helping the lyricist tell a story and convey a mood. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Metaphor - describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated object. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Romanticism - Using romantic language to convey a message of love or affection. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Effect in poem - These three techniques make the poem very intimate, but simple in structure.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">A Complaint
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">There is a change--and I am poor; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Your love hath been, nor long ago, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">A fountain at my fond heart's door, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Whose only business was to flow; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And flow it did; not taking heed <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of its own bounty, or my need.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">What happy moments did I count! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Blest was I then all bliss above! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Now, for that consecrated fount <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of murmuring, sparkling, living love, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">What have I? Shall I dare to tell? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">A comfortless and hidden well.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">A well of love--it may be deep-- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">I trust it is,--and never dry: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">What matter? If the waters sleep <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">In silence and obscurity. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">--Such change, and at the very door <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of my fond heart, hath made me poor.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Techniques
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Rhyme - gives poems flow and rhythm, helping the lyricist tell a story and convey a mood. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Metaphor - describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated object. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Romanticism - Using romantic language to convey a message of love or affection.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Effect in poem - These three techniques make the poem very intimate, but simple in structure.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">A Farewell
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">FAREWELL, thou little Nook of mountain-ground,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thou rocky corner in the lowest stair

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of that magnificent temple which doth bound

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">One side of our whole vale with grandeur rare;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Sweet garden-orchard, eminently fair,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The loveliest spot that man hath ever found,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Farewell!--we leave thee to Heaven's peaceful care,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thee, and the Cottage which thou dost surround.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Our boat is safely anchored by the shore,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And there will safely ride when we are gone;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The flowering shrubs that deck our humble door

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Will prosper, though untended and alone:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Fields, goods, and far-off chattels we have none:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">These narrow bounds contain our private store

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of things earth makes, and sun doth shine upon;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Here are they in our sight--we have no more.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Sunshine and shower be with you, bud and bell!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">For two months now in vain we shall be sought:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">We leave you here in solitude to dwell

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">With these our latest gifts of tender thought;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thou, like the morning, in thy saffron coat,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Bright gowan, and marsh-marigold, farewell!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Whom from the borders of the Lake we brought,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And placed together near our rocky Well.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">We go for One to whom ye will be dear;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And she will prize this Bower, this Indian shed,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Our own contrivance, Building without peer!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">--A gentle Maid, whose heart is lowly bred,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Whose pleasures are in wild fields gathered,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">With joyousness, and with a thoughtful cheer,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Will come to you; to you herself will wed;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And love the blessed life that we lead here.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Dear Spot! which we have watched with tender heed,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Bringing thee chosen plants and blossoms blown

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Among the distant mountains, flower and weed,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Which thou hast taken to thee as thy own,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Making all kindness registered and known;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thou for our sakes, though Nature's child indeed,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Fair in thyself and beautiful alone,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Hast taken gifts which thou dost little need.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And O most constant, yet most fickle Place,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thou hast thy wayward moods, as thou dost show

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">To them who look not daily on thy face;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Who, being loved, in love no bounds dost know,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And say'st, when we forsake thee, 'Let them go!'

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thou easy-hearted Thing, with thy wild race

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of weeds and flowers, till we return be slow,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And travel with the year at a soft pace.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Help us to tell Her tales of years gone by,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And this sweet spring, the best beloved and best;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Joy will be flown in its mortality;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Something must stay to tell us of the rest.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Here, thronged with primroses, the steep rock's breast

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Glittered at evening like a starry sky;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And in this bush our sparrow built her nest,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of which I sang one song that will not die.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">O happy Garden! whose seclusion deep

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Hath been so friendly to industrious hours;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And to soft slumbers, that did gently steep

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Our spirits, carrying with them dreams of flowers,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And wild notes warbled among leafy bowers;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Two burning months let summer overleap,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And, coming back with Her who will be ours,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Into thy bosom we again shall creep.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Techniques
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Rhyme - gives poems flow and rhythm, helping the lyricist tell a story and convey a mood. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Metaphor - describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated object. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Romanticism - Using romantic language to convey a message of love or affection.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Effect in poem - These three techniques make the poem very intimate, but simple in structure.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Works Cited
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"William Wordsworth." - Poets.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2013