Short Questions from William Wordsworth's 'The World is too Much with Us'

'The World is too Much with Us' 

 by William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth

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!

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,

For this, for everything, we are out of tune;

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,

Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;

Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;

Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.

1. What is the central theme of the poem "The World is too Much with Us"? Ans:--->The central theme is the conflict between nature and materialism, as the speaker criticizes humanity for being disconnected from nature due to its obsession with material wealth.
2. What does the phrase "The world is too much with us" mean?Ans:--->This phrase suggests that people are overly preoccupied with worldly concerns, such as commerce and materialism, and have lost their connection to nature.
3. What is the meaning of the line "Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers"?Ans:--->This line reflects how people waste their potential by focusing on acquiring and spending money, rather than appreciating the beauty and power of nature.
4. What does the poet mean by the expression "a sordid boon"?Ans:--->The term "sordid boon" refers to a grim or morally corrupt blessing. Wordsworth is saying that giving away our hearts to materialism is a shameful trade.
5. Why does Wordsworth mention pagan gods like Proteus and Triton?Ans:--->Wordsworth mentions Proteus and Triton as symbols of ancient mythologies that had a closer connection to nature. He longs for the ability to perceive nature’s power, even through ancient, now-outdated beliefs.
6. What is the tone of the poem?Ans:--->The tone of the poem is critical, lamenting, and somewhat nostalgic. Wordsworth expresses frustration with society’s materialism and a longing for a deeper connection with nature.
7. What does the phrase "out of tune" suggest in the poem?Ans:--->"Out of tune" suggests that humans are no longer in harmony with nature. They have lost their sensitivity to the natural world and its wonders.
8. Why does Wordsworth say "I'd rather be a Pagan suckled in a creed outworn"?Ans:--->Wordsworth suggests that even though Pagan beliefs are outdated, he would prefer them over the modern worldview because Paganism embraced a reverence for nature, something that is lacking in the modern materialistic world.
9. What is the significance of nature imagery in the poem?Ans:--->The imagery of the sea, the winds, and mythological figures emphasizes the beauty, power, and mystery of nature, which the speaker feels modern humanity has become blind to.
10. What does the poet imply by the reference to Proteus and Triton?Ans:--->By referring to Proteus and Triton, Wordsworth implies that ancient mythologies had a closer, more meaningful connection to nature than the modern, materialistic society does. He longs for this lost spiritual connection to nature.
11. What does the sea symbolize in the poem?Ans:--->The sea symbolizes the timeless and powerful forces of nature, which continue to exist despite humanity's increasing detachment from the natural world.
12. What literary device is employed in the line "The winds that will be howling at all hours"?Ans:--->This line uses personification, attributing human-like qualities (howling) to the winds, enhancing the sense of nature’s presence and power.
13. What is Wordsworth's critique of society in the poem?Ans:--->Wordsworth critiques society for being too focused on material wealth and consumerism, resulting in a disconnection from the natural world and a loss of spiritual and emotional fulfillment.
14. What does the speaker wish for in the poem?Ans:--->The speaker wishes for a deeper connection with nature, even if that means embracing ancient beliefs that allow him to experience the spiritual significance of nature’s beauty and power.
15. “The world is too much with us; late and soon,/Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;”..what does the speaker mean by Getting and spending?Ans:---> It is humanity's inability to "feel" nature that most concerns the speaker of "The World is too Much with Us," a poem by Wordsworth. The speaker claims that our obsession with "getting and spending" the material worth has made us insensible to the beauties of nature. "Getting and spending" i.e. the consumer culture, has made it impossible for us to appreciate the simple beauties of the world around us. 
16.   “Little we see in Nature that is ours;”…explain the line.Ans:--->The speaker of "The World is too Much with Us," notes that we have become so immersed in consumerism that we no longer feels any connection to the natural world. 
17.  “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,/For this, for everything, we are out of tune;/It moves us not.”… explain.Ans:--->The speaker here means to say that the entire natural world lies so beautiful yet we are not in harmony or unison with nature. Here the sea and the wind stand as representatives for "everything" in the natural world. And the musical instrument stands as a metaphor for humanity; for humanity to be "out of tune" means they are detached from nature. 
18.   “ I'd rather be/A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;” .. why does the speaker want to be a pagan?Ans:--->The speaker complains that people are no longer moved by the nature, and he tells us that he'd rather be a pagan. At least that way he would be able to see something in nature less depressing than the gross consumerism that is at the root of humanity's alienation from nature. "Suckled in a creed outworn." is a metaphor for pagan's relationship to religion and nature. His preference for paganism also reflects a desire for a nature from which mythical creatures might spring. 
19.  . “Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;/Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.” What are Proteus and Triton? Ans:---> The speaker expresses his desire to be a pagan who are closely related to religion and nature. He says that if he were a pagan he might see Proteus coming out of the ocean or Triton blowing his shell. In Greek mythology, Proteus is a prophetic sea god who could change his shape at will and Triton is a god of the sea, represented as having the tail of a fish and the upper body of a man.

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