The World is Too Much With Us

By: Audrey T 
     Figurative language is one of those things that I always knew was there, but I never really understood it's purpose. I could pick out what was literal and what was figurative, for the most part, because I understood the basic concept, but I usually just stopped at that point. While reading The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth this past week I finally started to see how figurative language adds layer upon layer of deeper meaning to a poem -- or to any piece of literature for that matter.
     When I first read Wordsworth's poem, I'm not going to lie, I was utterly lost. I figured that the author was upset about something and that his point had something to do with nature, but other than that I had no idea what was going on. Poems have never really been my strong suit, so when we were asked to analyze it, I pretty much just gave up and waited to be told what the poem was saying. I was being lazy. I let the Wordsworth intimidate me with his complex ideas, unfamiliar references, and heightened vocabulary.   
     After Mrs. Elliott told us slow down our reading and look at the figurative language one piece at a time, I quickly started to pick up the numerous underlying meanings within the poem. When Wordsworth speaks of nature he is using it as a symbol. Nature stands for everything that has been created by God, and therefore represents our spirituality. The oxymoron "sordid boon" is speaking of our vile blessing which is the way that we "give our hearts away" or devote ourselves too obsessively to our secular world. It is a blessing in the sense that it is good for us, as humans, to be deeply connected with something, but it is shameful because we are devoting ourselves to the wrong thing. Also, when looking more closely at the word "suckled" it is obvious that Wordsworth means more than just feeds. He is using this specific word to symbolize a maternal, intimate connection, and in turn, he is pointing out how people today lack intimacy with nature and spirituality.
     Through his figurative language Wordsworth artfully makes a statement about how people are abandoning their religion for more secular things. His tone conveys just how disappointed he is with people and the way that they are too focused on day to day life, losing sight of spirituality. Wordsworth exhorts his readers to reconnect with nature on a spiritual level in order to be part of something more than their simple secular world.
     When I slowly take apart a poem it doesn't seem so scary. I understand that the figurative language isn't there to further confuse readers, but to help them along to a deeper understanding. It may take longer, but when I finally figure out what the author of a poem is trying to say it is more satisfying. Dealing with poetry isn't as much of a chore anymore, and with a better understanding of figurative language and it's many uses, I am ready for a poetry-filled year.