Lines Written in the Spring
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
William Wordsworth 1770-1850
William was born in Cumberland, England to be
the son of John Wordsworth. William was sent to
Hawkshead Grammer School as a child and boardered
there as both his parents died when he was young. After
graduating he furthered his education at Cambridge.
William then moved on to France where he explored the
French revolution and radical ideas. He returned to
England to team up with Samuel Taylor Coleridge in
publishing an Lyrical Ballads. Coleridge and
Wordsworth spent years together creating poetry and
maintaining a solid friendship. William then married
Mary Hutchinson and lived in the lake district of
England. After years of friendship Coleridge and
Wordsworth meet heads and ended their poetic past.
Wordsworth published a few more poems and then died
in 1850 at the age of 80.
William Wordsworth Famous Poems
 I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud
 Composed Upon Westminster Bridge
 Lines Written In Early Spring
 London, 1802
 Resolution And Independence
 Written In March
 Resolution And Independence
Title
Lines Written in the Spring
When just looking at the title of the poem we can
speculate:





Nature is going to play a key role in the poem
Wordsworth is influenced by the spring
The literal translation is Wordsworth wrote the poem in the
spring
Romantics qualities will be shown in the poem
The poem will use the aspects of spring to convey a deeper
theme
Lines Written in the Spring
I heard a thousand blended notes
While in a grove I sat reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.
To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What Man has made of Man.
Through primrose tufts, in that sweet
bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And 'tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.
The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
The budding twigs spread out their fan
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.
If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature's holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What Man has made of Man?
Paraphrase
I heard the sounds of spring
While I was relaxing in the forest
In my happy mood I had joyful thoughts
Which then brought me saddening thoughts
Nature creates beautiful elements
I have human qualities
It pains me to think about
How man has destroyed man
Paraphrase
Through the green perennials came a clumping
of primroses
The periwinkles (flowers) produced luscious
vines
And I believe that every flower should
Enjoy their natural life
The birds around me hop and play
I cannot hear their thoughts
Though the less movement they make
Brings them more joy and excitement
Paraphrase
The new stems grow wide
To grasp the fresh air
And I must assume
That there is happiness in this nature
If this joyful nature was sent from heaven
If this is nature’s ultimate plan
Then that is why I regret
The changes humans have made to humankind
Paraphrase
Next four stanzas are a repetition
of the previous four.

Connotation
 In the first line there is a hyperbole that tells the reader
that the sounds are from spring “I heard a thousand
blended notes”.
 At the end of the first stanza there is a paradox as
Wordsworth writes “ when pleasant thoughts bring sad
thoughts to mind” (indicating that his happy thoughts
make him reflect and think of his sad realities)
 In the second stanza Wordsworth uses personification as
he says “To her fair works did nature link”. He continues
to personify nature in the stanzas to come.
Connotation
 In the third stanza Wordsworth shows some sublime
qualities as he heightens his observations of nature.
“through primrose tufts, the green bower”.
 Both forth and fifth stanza highlight the use of
personification as Wordsworth writes “The budding
twigs spread out their fan”.
 Wordsworth uses one last device that is probably
most significant as uses Godification ( made that
word up, yet it works ) “If such be nature’s holy
plan”. He sees nature as a God and/or creator.
Attitude
William Wordsworth shows two different attitudes
in “Lines Written in the Early Spring”

A vibrant, peaceful and consoling tone towards
nature and all it’s surroundings. Ex. “The budding twigs
spread out their fan, To catch the breezy air; And I must think, do all I
can, That there was pleasure there.”

However, Wordsworth clearly conveys a regretful,
concerned and despairing tone when referring to
humankind and human qualities. Ex. “And much it
grieved my heart to think, What Man has made of Man.”
Shifts
 The first shift happens at the end of the second stanza
when a semi-colon is used and then Wordsworth
explains his regret of humans destroying humans. He
writes
“The human soul that through me ran; And much it
grieved my heart to think, What Man has made of
Man”.
 Another major change happens in the fifth stanza when a
semi-colon is used again and Wordsworth changes from
consoling tone to a fearful tone as he says
“To catch the breezy air; And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there” . (do all I can do)
Title
Now looking at the title “Lines Written in Early
Spring” we can interpret:

Wordsworth was comparing elements of spring
to humankind.

Many observations of spring were made,
therefore the title indicates that spring was an
influence of the poem.

William Wordsworth probably actually wrote the
poem in the spring as the title conveys.
Theme
William Wordsworth theme in “Lines Written in Early
Spring” is humans have, and continue, to destroy
themselves.
 He uses the comparison of nature to humankind to
convey this theme. He demonstrates how nature is
happy and simple, in contrast to man with wars and
violence.
 Wordsworth shows regret that humans do not have
the elements nature does.