Poetry

GCE O/L - New syllabus

She dwelt among the untrodden ways

by William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth is considered "the greatest of the romantics" during the age of romanticism the poets showed their reaction against "the critical intellectual spirit and formal language of the Augustan age".

The Romantics were influenced by "the ideals of the French and American Revolutions and their work reflects a delight in all that is spontaneous and unaffected in nature and in man" "Wordsworth's poetry is a spontaneous overflow of emotion and thoughts recollected in tranquillity."

Wordsworth derived serene pleasure from nature. He was freshened and motivated by the grandeur of nature and his thoughts "enthralled in words flowing spontaneously in a tone of conversational rhythm with neatness". He's caught in a "trance like" state in which he sees the beauty of a flower isolated and unseen.

In his poem "She dwelt among the untrodden ways" he describes the death of a young girl with "the dimensions of the loss." The first verse describes the dwelling place of the girl a lonely place "untrodden ways". Its significance hardly being noticed.

Hence loved by a few. Mad and Dove suggesting the purity and innocence of the girl (though Dove is a place name) the poet has used capital M and capitol D for Maid and Dove. "None" and "they" signifying experiences of regret and the word untrodden gives the sense of 'unspotted'.

The poet, thus stressing the fact that the maid lived far from the crowd unnoticed giving her "exceptional qualities".

"She dwelt among the untrodden ways

besides the spring of Dove"

"Purity when associated with the avenues of nature" brightens the image of the maid, giving her "exceptional qualities."

In the second verse "little known" profoundly enhancing the loneliness and less association of the maid. Violet and the Stone image remain highlighting the girl's qualities.

Violet is a beautiful flower, being half hidden from the eye resembles the maid "lonely and modest" which could give extreme pleasure to a perceptive person - spotting the violet by a mossy stone, creating a contrasting figure. A single star shining in the sky brilliantly. Single star and the violet by a mossy stone emphasise the beauty and purity of the girl.

"A violet by a mossy stone

Half hidden from the eye"

"Fair as a star, when only one

Is shining in the sky"

The existence of a flower is temporary but that of a star is "eternal the girl's purity and modesty being intensified, comparing her to a single star." The third stanza reveals the poet's feelings. The repetition of the word unknown is significant. Only a few would come to know the death of the pretty, modest girl, lucy.

The maid's name is mentioned in the last verse highlighting Lucy's lonely dwelling place and her rare qualities, her purity and her beauty. The poet's sincere feelings, appreciating Lucy's rare qualities and lamenting over her sudden death, like the disappearance of the single star in the sky.

"She lived unknown, and few could know

when Lucy ceased to be."

The last line of the last stanza ends with an exclamation mark, highlighting the poet's feelings

"...and oh!"

"The difference to me!"

and his emotional piognancy

Wordsworth has used the "iambic tetrameter dividing eight syllables into four iambs, one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable."

"Fair as a star when only one...."

Wordsworth has employed "a break" in the first and the third line of the last verse breaking the flow of the words emphasising the pathetic situation created by Lucy's loss through rhythm, rhyme and elegant wording woven into a sad note of music and with the touch of a "lyrical ballad" wordsworth indirectly shows his indifference to the attitudes of people subjected to industrialisation.

Mrs. C. Ekanayake,
Retd. Specialist Teacher English