The World Is Too Much with Us Summary and Explanation
CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Poem 5- The World Is Too Much with Us Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from Woven Words Book
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CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Poem 5 – The World Is Too Much with Us
by William Wordsworth
The World Is Too Much With Us is a poem by William Wordsworth that expresses concern about how industrialisation and materialism affect our connection to nature. Written in 1802 and published in 1807, the poem criticises how people have become disconnected from the natural world. It mourns the loss of spiritual and emotional ties to nature.
- The World Is Too Much with Us Summary
- The World Is Too Much with Us Summary in Hindi
- The World Is Too Much with Us Theme
- The World Is Too Much with Us Explanation
- The World Is Too Much with Us Poetic Devices
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The World Is Too Much with Us Summary
William Wordsworth’s “The World Is Too Much with Us” is a sonnet that laments humanity’s disconnect from nature due to an overwhelming focus on material gain and worldly pursuits.
The speaker begins by stating that humans are excessively preoccupied with worldly matters, specifically with “getting and spending” (acquiring wealth and consuming). This constant chase for material possessions, he believes, causes people to squander their natural abilities and spiritual energy. As a result, they hardly notice or appreciate the natural world around them, failing to recognize its inherent connection to humanity. The speaker feels that people have carelessly “given our hearts away” to this pursuit of wealth, calling it a “sordid boon,” implying that this perceived advantage is actually a demeaning and shameful exchange for their true selves.
In the second part of the poem, the speaker highlights the majestic beauty of nature that goes unnoticed. He points to the Sea, which openly offers its beauty to the moon, and the powerful Winds, which, though often howling wildly, are now gathered peacefully like sleeping flowers. Despite these awe-inspiring natural phenomena, the speaker asserts that humans are completely “out of tune” with them, indicating a profound lack of harmony and sensitivity. He sadly concludes that this disconnect means nature’s grandeur “moves us not.”
In a moment of intense frustration and despair, the speaker exclaims that he would rather be a Pagan. He refers to a “creed outworn” (an ancient, no longer practiced religion), suggesting that even an older, polytheistic belief system would be preferable to the current state of spiritual apathy. His desire to be a Pagan stems from the hope that, through such a connection to nature, he might experience visions that would make him feel less lonely and alienated. He longs to see mythical figures like Proteus (a sea god who could change shape) rising from the sea, or hear the ancient sea god Triton blowing his conch shell horn. This yearning for mythical encounters underscores his profound longing for a deeper, more spiritual connection with the natural world, a connection he feels modern society has entirely lost.
Summary of the Poem The World Is Too Much with Us in Hindi
विलियम वर्ड्सवर्थ की “द वर्ल्ड इज टू मच विद अस” एक ऐसा सॉनेट है जो भौतिक लाभ और सांसारिक खोजों पर भारी ध्यान देने के कारण मानवता के प्रकृति से अलग होने पर विलाप करता है।
वक्ता ने यह कहते हुए शुरुआत की कि मनुष्य सांसारिक मामलों में अत्यधिक व्यस्त हैं, विशेष रूप से “प्राप्त करने और खर्च करने” (धन प्राप्त करने और उपभोग करने) के साथ। उनका मानना है कि भौतिक संपत्ति के लिए इस निरंतर पीछा के कारण लोग अपनी प्राकृतिक क्षमताओं और आध्यात्मिक ऊर्जा को बर्बाद कर देते हैं। नतीजतन, वे शायद ही अपने आस-पास की प्राकृतिक दुनिया को नोटिस या सराहना करते हैं, मानवता के साथ इसके अंतर्निहित संबंध को पहचानने में विफल रहते हैं। वक्ता को लगता है कि लोगों ने धन की इस खोज के लिए लापरवाही से “हमारे दिलों को त्याग दिया है”, इसे एक “नीच वरदान” कहते हुए, यह दर्शाता है कि यह कथित लाभ वास्तव में अपने लिए एक अपमानजनक और शर्मनाक आदान-प्रदान है।
कविता के दूसरे भाग में, वक्ता प्रकृति की भव्य सुंदरता पर प्रकाश डालता है जिस पर किसी का ध्यान नहीं जाता है। वह समुद्र की ओर इशारा करता है, जो खुले तौर पर चंद्रमा को अपनी सुंदरता प्रदान करता है, और शक्तिशाली हवाएं, जो अक्सर बेतहाशा चिल्लाती हैं, अब सोते हुए फूलों की तरह शांति से इकट्ठा होती हैं। इन विस्मयकारी प्राकृतिक घटनाओं के बावजूद, वक्ता इस बात पर जोर देते हैं कि मनुष्य उनके साथ पूरी तरह से “तालमेल से बाहर” हैं, जो सद्भाव और संवेदनशीलता की गहरी कमी का संकेत देता है। वह दुख के साथ निष्कर्ष निकालते हैं कि इस विच्छेद का मतलब है कि प्रकृति की भव्यता “हमें प्रेरित नहीं करती”।
तीव्र हताशा और निराशा के क्षण में, वक्ता कहता है कि वह एक मूर्तिपूजक बनना पसंद करेगा। उन्होंने एक “पंथ बहिष्कृत” (एक प्राचीन, अब प्रचलित धर्म नहीं) का उल्लेख करते हुए सुझाव दिया कि आध्यात्मिक उदासीनता की वर्तमान स्थिति की तुलना में एक पुरानी, बहुदेववादी विश्वास प्रणाली भी बेहतर होगी। मूर्तिपूजक बनने की उनकी इच्छा इस आशा से उपजी है कि, प्रकृति के साथ इस तरह के संबंध के माध्यम से, वह ऐसे दर्शनों का अनुभव कर सकता है जो उसे कम अकेला और अलग-थलग महसूस कराएगा। वह प्रोटियस (एक समुद्री देवता जो आकार बदल सकता था) जैसी पौराणिक आकृतियों को समुद्र से उठते हुए देखने के लिए तरसता है, या प्राचीन समुद्री देवता ट्राइटन को अपने शंख कवच के सींग उड़ाते हुए सुनना चाहता है। पौराणिक मुठभेड़ों के लिए यह लालसा प्राकृतिक दुनिया के साथ एक गहरे, अधिक आध्यात्मिक संबंध के लिए उनकी गहरी लालसा को रेखांकित करती है, एक ऐसा संबंध जो उन्हें लगता है कि आधुनिक समाज पूरी तरह से खो चुका है।
Theme of the Poem The World Is Too Much with Us
Humanity’s Disconnection from Nature
This is the central theme of the poem. Wordsworth argues that modern human beings, especially in his time, have lost their deep connection with the natural world. We’re so consumed by our daily lives, particularly by making money and spending it, that we no longer notice or appreciate the beauty and power of nature around us. The speaker feels that people have become “out of tune” with the natural rhythms of the sea, the winds, and the broader environment. This separation means we don’t feel nature’s presence or its ability to inspire us, leading to a sense of emptiness and a loss of our true “powers.”
The Corrupting Influence of Materialism
Closely linked to the first theme is the idea that our focus on material wealth and consumerism (“Getting and spending”) has a damaging effect on our souls and spirits. The poet suggests that this constant pursuit of money and possessions makes us “lay waste our powers,” meaning we squander our spiritual and emotional energy on things that don’t truly enrich us. We’ve “given our hearts away” for a “sordid boon,” implying that this exchange for material gain is shameful and ultimately unsatisfying, costing us our deeper appreciation for the natural world and spiritual experiences.
The Loss of Spiritual and Emotional Fulfillment
Because of this disconnection from nature and obsession with material things, humanity experiences a profound loss of spiritual and emotional fulfillment. The speaker feels that nature no longer “moves us,” indicating a numbness or apathy towards its wonders. He expresses a deep personal regret, feeling “forlorn” (sad and lonely) because of this lack of connection. The poem suggests that true contentment and a sense of belonging come from engaging with the natural world, and without it, we are left feeling empty and detached from something vital.
A Longing for a Simpler, More Spiritual Past
The poem also explores a longing for a different, more spiritual way of being, even if it’s considered “outworn” by modern society. The speaker dramatically declares he’d “rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn.” This isn’t a literal desire to become a pagan, but rather a wish for a time when people felt a direct, mystical connection to nature, seeing gods in the sea (Proteus) and hearing them in the winds (Triton’s horn). This “pagan” worldview, though considered old-fashioned, represents a spiritual understanding of the natural world that allows for moments of wonder and awe, which the speaker believes modern society has lost. It’s a desire for a life where humanity felt more at one with the elemental forces of the Earth.
The World Is Too Much with Us Explanation
Stanza
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!
Word meanings
too much with us: the worldly concerns, specifically materialism and consumerism, overly dominate or occupy people’s lives and thoughts.
late and soon: constantly, all the time, or from an early age until late in life. It emphasizes the continuous nature of this worldly preoccupation.
Getting and spending: the acts of earning money and then buying things; essentially, it signifies materialism and consumerism.
lay waste our powers: to squander, deplete, or destroy our natural abilities, spiritual energy, or potential for deeper connection and appreciation.
Nature that is ours: a spiritual or intrinsic connection to nature that humans have lost, rather than a literal ownership of land.
sordid: dirty, ignoble, shameful, or morally degrading
boon: a helpful or beneficial thing; a blessing or an advantage. The poet uses it ironically here, calling the “giving away of hearts” a “boon” but immediately qualifying it as “sordid,” indicating it’s a false or harmful benefit.
Explanation of the above stanza—The poet observes that humanity is overly preoccupied with worldly matters. From early in life until later years, people are constantly focused on earning money and spending it, and in doing so, they waste their inner strengths and spiritual capabilities. As a result of this intense focus on material gain, people notice very little in nature that truly belongs to them in a meaningful or spiritual sense. The poet feels that humans have sacrificed their deepest emotions and spiritual connections, their “hearts”, for what he considers a shameful and degrading false benefit.
Stanza
The 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;
Word meanings
bares her bosom: “bosom” is used to personify the sea, giving it a feminine quality, and it suggests the sea openly and intimately displays itself to the moon, reflecting its light.
howling: making a long, mournful cry, like a wolf or a strong wind. It suggests a powerful, loud, and active presence.
up-gathered: Collected, pulled together, or gathered up. In the poem, it describes the winds settling down and becoming still.
like sleeping flowers: A simile comparing the quiet, still winds to flowers that are at rest. It suggests a gentle, passive state.
out of tune: Not in harmony; not in agreement or synchronization. Like a musical instrument that is not properly adjusted and therefore sounds discordant. In the poem, it means humanity is not in sync with the natural world.
Explanation of the above stanza—The poet observes that nature, specifically the sea and the winds, acts in grand and beautiful ways, but people are disconnected from it. He notes that the sea openly displays itself to the moon, behaving like a living being that reveals its beauty. He then describes the winds as powerful forces that are usually very active and loud, making howling noises at all times. However, at this particular moment, these winds are gathered quietly, just like delicate flowers that are asleep and still. The poet concludes that because of humanity’s focus on material things and their separation from nature’s wonders, people are simply “out of tune” or out of harmony with all of these natural phenomena and with nature itself.
Stanza
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,
Word meanings
moves us not: Does not affect us emotionally.
Great God!: An exclamation expressing strong emotion, like frustration, despair, or a plea.
Pagan: a person whose religious beliefs do not belong to any of the main religions of the world.
suckled: educated or raised within a particular belief system.
creed outworn: An old, outdated, or no longer widely accepted system of religious belief or principles. “Outworn” means worn out, obsolete.
pleasant lea: A nice or enjoyable meadow; an open, grassy field. “Lea” specifically means a piece of grassland or a meadow.
Explanation of the above stanza—The poet observes that the grand and powerful natural elements, like the calm sea or the quiet winds, no longer stir any emotion or feeling in people. He exclaims his deep frustration, saying that he would much rather be someone who follows an old, outdated, non-Christian religion (a Pagan) who was brought up believing in those ancient ways. He imagines that if he were such a person, standing on a beautiful, open grassy field, he might then be able to experience moments of spiritual insight or connection with nature that would make him feel less sad and isolated.
Stanza
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
Word meanings
glimpses: Brief, quick views or sudden, brief experiences.
forlorn: Feeling lonely and miserable; sad and abandoned.
Proteus: a character in Greek mythology who had the gift of prophecy but who, when questioned, would assume different shapes to elude their grasp.
Triton: a sea-deity in Greek mythology, who is generally represented as blowing a shell, his body above the waist being that of a man, below it of a dolphin.
wreathèd horn: A horn (in this case, a conch shell) that is twisted or coiled, like a wreath. It refers to Triton’s characteristic shell horn.
Explanation of the above stanza—The poet wishes that by being a Pagan, he could experience moments of spiritual insight that would make him feel less sad and isolated. He longs to be able to actually see ancient mythical sea-gods, like Proteus, emerging from the ocean. Or, he would wish to hear the sound of old Triton blowing his decorated shell horn, a sound that would connect him directly to the power and magic of nature. Essentially, the speaker desires to regain a deep, almost mystical connection with the natural world, a connection that he believes modern society has lost.
The World Is Too Much With Us Poetic Devices
Personification
Personification is when human qualities or actions are given to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Wordsworth uses personification to bring nature to life. In the poem, ‘The World’ is not just the planet, but represents human society, its materialistic concerns, and its preoccupations. It is personified as being overly present or demanding, almost intruding upon or overwhelming humanity. In the line, “The Sea that bares her bosom to the moon”, the sea is given the human action of “baring her bosom,” making it seem like a nurturing, feminine figure openly displaying itself to the moon. In the line, “The Winds that will be howling at all hours”, the winds are given the human-like ability to “howl,” suggesting a wild, mournful, or powerful sound. In the line, “And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers”, the winds are also described as being “up-gathered,” a human action, and compared to “sleeping flowers,” giving them a sense of gentle repose. In the line “It moves us not.”, the “It” here refers to nature’s grand displays (the sea, the winds), which are implicitly personified by the very idea that they could or should “move” human beings emotionally or spiritually. The statement highlights humanity’s failure to be affected by nature, as if nature is trying to exert an influence that humans are resisting.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things, stating that one is the other, without using “like” or “as.” In the line, “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”, the act of excessive consumerism and materialism is compared to a destructive force that “lays waste” or squanders our natural human abilities and spiritual energy. Our spiritual strength is being treated like a resource that can be depleted. In the line, “We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”, our “hearts” (representing our emotional and spiritual core, our capacity for wonder and connection) are metaphorically given away in exchange for worldly pursuits. The “sordid boon” is an ironic metaphor – it’s called a “boon” (a blessing) but is described as “sordid” (dirty, shameful), highlighting the terrible cost of this exchange.
Simile
A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.” In the line, “And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers”, the winds, which are usually boisterous, are compared to “sleeping flowers.” This simile creates an image of gentle, temporary stillness, emphasizing nature’s quiet power when not active.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together. The alliteration used in the poem is ‘Great God!’
Apostrophe
Apostrophe is when the speaker directly addresses someone or something (often an abstract idea, an absent person, or an inanimate object) that cannot respond. For an instance, “Great God! I’d rather be / A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn”, the speaker directly addresses “Great God!” This is a moment of intense emotion and frustration, a direct plea or exclamation to a divine power, emphasizing the depth of his despair over humanity’s detachment from nature.
Exclamation
An exclamation is a sudden cry or remark, especially expressing surprise, anger, or pain. “A sordid boon!” and “Great God!” are the exclamations that highlight the speaker’s strong feelings of disappointment, disgust, and a yearning for something more profound than material pursuits.
Oxymoron
A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (a compressed paradox). The phrase “a sordid boon!” is a powerful instance of both. A “boon” is something beneficial, a blessing, or an advantage. “Sordid” means morally ignoble, dirty, or contemptible. Calling something that is supposedly a “boon” (a good thing, like material wealth or convenience) “sordid” is a direct contradiction. This paradox highlights the speaker’s bitter realization that what society considers a gain (material acquisition) is, in fact, a shameful loss of spiritual vitality.
Enjambment
Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause indicated by punctuation. In the sonnet, “The 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;” These lines flow into each other, creating a continuous thought about nature’s grandness. Moreover, the lines, “So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, / Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;” flows to complete the idea of seeing nature with new eyes. Enjambment creates a sense of natural speech flow, preventing the poem from becoming too rigid and allowing the ideas to build momentum.
Consonance
Consonance is a literary device that refers to the repetition of consonant sounds in nearby words. Some of the instances of consonance are ‘Getting and spending, ‘pleasant lea’, ‘sight of Proteus rising from the sea’ and ‘Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn’.
Assonance
Assonance is a poetic device characterized by the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words, even if the words do not rhyme and their consonant sounds differ. Some of the instances of Assonance in the sonnet are ‘We have given our hearts’, ‘Little we see in Nature’, ‘pleasant lea’ and ‘Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn’.
Imagery
Imagery uses descriptive language that appeals to the five senses, creating vivid mental pictures or sensory experiences. “The Sea that bares her bosom to the moon” is a visual imagery that creates a beautiful visual of the vast sea under moonlight, possibly showing the gentle swell of waves. “The Winds that will be howling at all hours,/And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers” evokes a peaceful, delicate visual of flowers closed in slumber. The “glimpses that would make me less forlorn” evokes fleeting but impactful visions that uplift the spirit. The “sight of Proteus rising from the sea” creates a powerful and majestic visual of a mythical figure emerging from the ocean, suggesting grandeur and awe. William Shakespeare has used auditory Imagery in the line “hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn”, which vividly brings to mind the distinct sound of a conch shell horn, connecting the reader directly to the imagined sound of the sea god. The line “The Winds that will be howling at all hours”, directly appeals to the sense of hearing, creating the distinct sound of powerful, vocal winds. The phrase “pleasant lea” provides a gentle visual image of a “pleasant” (agreeable, enjoyable) “lea” (a meadow or grassy field). This simple, serene setting is where the speaker wishes to stand, suggesting a desire for peace and direct connection with nature.
Caesura
Caesura is a strong pause or break within a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation. “It moves us not.—” The dash after “not” creates a distinct pause, emphasizing the shocking lack of emotional response from humanity before the speaker’s outburst. This dramatic break highlights the central problem.
Allusion
Allusion is an indirect or passing reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. ‘A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn’ is an allusion to ancient pagan religions, which predate Christianity and were often characterized by a worship of nature and its deities. The phrase “suckled in a creed outworn” suggests being nurtured or raised within an old, discarded belief system. This allusion immediately brings to mind a worldview where nature is sacred and alive with divine presence, contrasting sharply with the materialistic modern world. “Proteus rising from the sea” is an allusion to Proteus, a minor sea deity in Greek mythology. He was known for his ability to change shape and his knowledge of the past, present, and future. Seeing him would signify a deep, mystical connection to the ancient, powerful, and mysterious forces of nature that are beyond human control or understanding. The “old Triton blow his wreathèd horn” is an allusion to Triton, the merman son of the sea god Poseidon in Greek mythology. He is typically depicted blowing a conch shell (his “wreathèd horn”) to calm or raise the waves. Hearing him would signify a direct auditory connection to the voice and power of the sea, again emphasizing a lost, ancient spiritual bond with nature.
Conclusion
The World Is Too Much With Us is a poem by William Wordsworth that expresses concern about how industrialisation and materialism affect our connection to nature. The poem criticises how people have become disconnected from the natural world and mourns the loss of spiritual and emotional ties to nature. Students can take help from this post to understand the poem and also learn the difficult word meanings to get a better grasp of The World Is Too Much With Us. This lesson includes a summary of The World Is Too Much With Us, which will help students in class 11 to get a quick recap of the poem.