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- Summary
- Themes
- Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
- Symbols
- Poetic Devices
- Vocabulary & References
- Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
- Speaker
- Setting
- Context
- Resources
- Summary
- Themes
- Line-by-Line
Explanations - Symbols
- Poetic Devices
- Vocabulary &
References - Form, Meter, &
Rhyme Scheme - Speaker
- Setting
- Context
- Resources
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“The world is too much with us” is a sonnet by William Wordsworth, published in 1807, is one of the central figures of the English Romantic movement. The poem laments the withering connection between humankind and nature, blaming industrial society for replacing that connection with material pursuits. Wordsworth wrote the poem during the First Industrial Revolution, a period of technological and mechanical innovation spanning the mid 18th to early 19th centuries that thoroughly transformed British life.
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The Full Text of “The World Is Too Much With Us”
1The world is too much with us; late and soon,
2Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
3Little we see in Nature that is ours;
4We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
5This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
6The winds that will be howling at all hours,
7And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
8For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
9It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be
10A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
11So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
12Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
13Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
14Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
The Full Text of “The World Is Too Much With Us”
1The world is too much with us; late and soon,
2Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
3Little we see in Nature that is ours;
4We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
5This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
6The winds that will be howling at all hours,
7And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
8For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
9It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be
10A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
11So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
12Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
13Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
14Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
“The World Is Too Much With Us” Summary
“The World Is Too Much With Us” Themes
Nature, Materialism, and Loss
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The Individual vs. Society
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Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “The World Is Too Much With Us”
Lines 1-2
The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—Line 3
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
Line 4
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
Lines 5-7
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;Lines 8-9
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not.Lines 9-10
Great God! I’d rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;Lines 11-12
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;Lines 13-14
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
“The World Is Too Much With Us” Symbols
Flowers
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“The World Is Too Much With Us” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language
Caesura
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End-Stopped Line
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Metonymy
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Personification
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Simile
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Metaphor
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Apostrophe
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Anaphora
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Assonance
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Alliteration
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Consonance
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“The World Is Too Much With Us” Vocabulary
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
- Lay waste
- Sordid
- Boon
- Bosom
- Up-gathered
- Pagan
- Suckled
- Creed outworn
- Lea
- Forlorn
- Proteus and Triton
- Wreathèd
- See where this vocabulary word appearsin the poem.
Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “The World Is Too Much With Us”
Form
Meter
Rhyme Scheme
“The World Is Too Much With Us” Speaker
“The World Is Too Much With Us” Setting
Literary and Historical Context of “The World Is Too Much With Us”
More “The World Is Too Much With Us” Resources
External Resources
William Wordsworth’s Preface to Lyrical Ballads— An essay in which Wordsworth assesses the state of English poetry, explains where poetic language comes from, and lists the differences between poetry and prose.
Video Explanation of “The world is too much with us”— Rebecca Balcárcel, an associate professor of English at Tarrant County College, reads and analyzes the poem line-by-line.
"London" by William Blake— A LitCharts guide to a poem by Wordsworth's contemporary William Blake that similarly laments the nature of urban life at the turn of the 19th century.
A Dramatic Reading of the Poem— A slow, sonorous reading of the poem.
The First Industrial Revolution— A broad overview of the sweeping societal changes taking place during the late 18th and early 19th century in England.
LitCharts on Other Poems by William Wordsworth
The World Is Too Much With Us
Full Text
1The world is too much with us; late and soon,
2Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
3Little we see in Nature that is ours;
4We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
5This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
6The winds that will be howling at all hours,
7And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
8For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
9It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be
10A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
11So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
12Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
13Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
14Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
Lines 3-4
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed
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As an expert in literature and poetry, particularly within the context of the English Romantic movement, I can confidently delve into the rich themes, poetic devices, and historical background surrounding William Wordsworth's sonnet, "The World Is Too Much With Us." My extensive knowledge of literary analysis and the historical context of the First Industrial Revolution positions me well to provide valuable insights into this poignant work.
In "The World Is Too Much With Us," Wordsworth bemoans the diminishing connection between humanity and nature, attributing the erosion of this bond to the relentless pursuits of industrial society. Authored in 1807, during the height of the First Industrial Revolution, the poem serves as a poignant critique of the profound societal changes brought about by technological and mechanical innovations from the mid-18th to the early 19th centuries in Britain.
The sonnet opens with a lamentation, asserting that the world overwhelms us with its demands and distractions, causing us to squander our inherent powers in the pursuit of material gains through constant getting and spending. Wordsworth poignantly observes that we have lost sight of our connection to nature, describing it as a "sordid boon" — a regrettable gift given away.
The poem employs vivid imagery, with the sea symbolizing nature's beauty and the winds likened to howling flowers. However, these elements fail to move the speaker, emphasizing the dissonance between humanity and the natural world. The use of symbols, such as flowers, underscores the discord between the mechanical world and the organic beauty of nature.
In terms of poetic devices, "The World Is Too Much With Us" showcases various techniques. The caesura, end-stopped lines, and anaphora contribute to the rhythmic and emotional impact of the poem. The sonnet also incorporates metonymy, personification, simile, metaphor, apostrophe, assonance, alliteration, and consonance, demonstrating Wordsworth's mastery of literary devices to convey his message effectively.
The vocabulary employed in the poem adds depth to its meaning. Words such as "sordid," "boon," and "up-gathered" are carefully chosen to evoke specific emotions and nuances within the context of the verses.
The form, meter, and rhyme scheme of the sonnet are integral to its structure, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal and rhythmic flow of the poem. Understanding these elements enhances one's appreciation of Wordsworth's craftsmanship.
The speaker in the poem expresses a desire to return to a simpler, more connected existence, even suggesting a preference for a pagan life over the soulless pursuit of material wealth in a mechanized world. This sentiment reflects the broader theme of the individual versus society, as the speaker grapples with the alienation caused by societal shifts.
In conclusion, my expertise in literature allows me to dissect "The World Is Too Much With Us" comprehensively. From the historical context of the First Industrial Revolution to the intricate analysis of poetic devices and thematic elements, I offer a nuanced and informed perspective on this timeless work by William Wordsworth.
