The World Is Too Much with Us

1
The World Is Too Much with Us

• By
• William Wordsworth

2
Structure of the Sonnet

• Meter
• Predominantly Iambic Pentameter
• The world/ is too/ much with/ us late/ and soon

3
Structure of the Sonnet

• Rhyme Scheme
• Italian Sonnet
• abbaabba cdcdcd

4
OctetLines 1-2

• The world is too much with us late and soon,/
  Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers
  (1-2)
• Synonym for world?
• Materialism

5
OctetLines 1-2

• Displays a negative tone regarding the world
• As a result of our too intimate knowledge of the
  world, our powers go to waste

6
OctetLines 1-2

• How do we regain our powers?
• What is the antithesis of the world?
• Nature

7
OctetLines 3-4

• Little we see in Nature that is ours/ We have
  given our hearts away, a sordid boon! (3-4)

8
OctetLines 3-4

• Separation or distinction between humanity and
  nature
• Composed upon Westminster Bridge
• Relationship with nature must be intimate
• We cannot be mere observers of nature
• Our existences must intermingle

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OctetLines 3-4

• Poet suggests that we have given our hearts away
• Hearts
• Traditionally define who we truly are

10
OctetLines 3-4

• The giving up of our hearts was a sordid boon
• Sordid
• Dirty
• Boon
• A favor asked or granted

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OctetLines 5-7

• This sea that bares her bosom to the moon/ The
  winds that will be howling at all hours,/ And are
  upgathered now like sleeping flowers (5-7)

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OctetLines 5-7

• Personification
• Sea
• bares her bosom
• Winds
• will be howling
• Personifying the elements of nature is a
  characteristic of Romantic poetry

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OctetLine 8

• For this, for everything, we are out of tune
  (8)
• Peoples concern with materialism has diminished
  their appreciation of nature

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SestetLine 9

• It moves us not. (9)
• What is it?
• Nature
• Humanity is no longer moved by nature because of
  our focus on materialism
• Composed Upon Westminster Bridge
• Nature brings out the best in us
• Nature teaches us about who we are

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SestetLines 9-12

• Great God! Id 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 (9-12)

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SestetLines 9-12

• The poet suggests that he would rather be a pagan
• The pagan world
• Reference to ancient Greece
• Understood the spiritual significance of nature
• Demonstrated by their worship of the gods of
  nature

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SestetLines 13-14

• Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea/ Or
  hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn. (13-14)

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SestetLines 13-14

• Pagan Imagery
• Proteus and Triton
• Sea gods in Greek mythology