One app for all your study abroad needs
The poem The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth is the fifth poem in the Poetry section of the NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words textbook. This powerful poem expresses the poet’s emphasis on humanity’s disconnection from nature due to materialism. In this poem, Wordsworth critiques modern society’s obsession with “getting and spending” and calls for a spiritual connection with nature. This blog provides easy-to-understand NCERT Class 11 English notes with explanations, meanings, and analysis to help students understand the poem’s themes. You can also download the free PDF for quick revision.
Contents
- 1 Important Word Meanings in The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth
- 2 Line-by-Line Explanation of the NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 5: The World is Too Much With Us
- 3 Analysis of the Poem The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth
- 4 NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 5: The World is Too Much With Us Summary
- 5 Poetic Devices in Poem The World is Too Much With Us
- 6 FAQs
Explore Notes of Class 11 English Woven Words
Important Word Meanings in The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth
In the poem The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth, specific words and phrases are used to convey the poet’s critique of humanity’s alienation from nature and his longing for a deeper connection. Understanding these terms clarifies the poem’s tone and message.
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
| Too much with us | Overwhelmingly dominant, referring to materialism’s grip on society |
| Getting and spending | Pursuing wealth and consumption symbolises materialistic priorities |
| Lay waste our powers | Squandering our spiritual and emotional capacities |
| Sordid boon | A shameful or unworthy gift, referring to the exchange of nature for materialism |
| Bares her bosom to the moon | The sea’s openness to the moon’s influence symbolises nature’s beauty |
| Up-gathered now like sleeping flowers | Winds that are calm, likened to dormant flowers, suggesting nature’s quiet beauty |
| Out of tune | Disconnected or unharmonious with nature’s rhythms |
| Pagan | A person following pre-Christian beliefs, often connected to nature worship |
| Suckled in a creed outworn | Raised in an outdated, nature-centric belief system |
| Pleasant lea | A grassy meadow, evoking a serene natural setting |
| Forlorn | Lonely or desolate, reflecting the poet’s sense of isolation |
| Proteus | A Greek sea god who could change shape, symbolising nature’s mystical power |
| Triton | A Greek sea god who blows a horn, representing nature’s vibrant energy |
| Wreathèd horn | Triton’s conch-shell horn, adorned with spirals, symbolises nature’s call |
Line-by-Line Explanation of the NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 5: The World is Too Much With Us
Here is the line-by-line analysis of each stanza of the poem ‘The World is Too Much With Us’
Lines 1–4:
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!
The poem opens with the poet’s lament that modern life, consumed by materialism (“getting and spending”), overwhelms humanity. This obsession squanders our spiritual capacities, leaving us disconnected from nature, which no longer feels like ours. The phrase “sordid boon” criticises the shameful trade of our emotional connection to nature for material gain.
Lines 5–8:
The 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;
Wordsworth personifies the sea and winds to highlight nature’s beauty and power. The sea’s intimate connection with the moon and the winds, now calm like “sleeping flowers,” contrasts with humanity’s disconnection. We are “out of tune” with nature’s rhythms, unable to appreciate its serene or dynamic beauty due to our materialistic focus.
Lines 9–12:
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;
The poet exclaims that nature’s beauty no longer stirs us emotionally. In a passionate outburst, he wishes to be a pagan, raised in an ancient, nature-worshipping belief system, even if outdated. Standing on a meadow (“pleasant lea”), he longs for a spiritual connection to nature that would alleviate his loneliness and sense of loss.
Lines 13–14:
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
The poet imagines witnessing mythical sea gods, Proteus emerging from the sea or Triton sounding his conch-shell horn, as symbols of nature’s mystical and vibrant power. These visions would reconnect him with nature’s awe-inspiring essence, offering solace and a sense of wonder lost in modern life.
Analysis of the Poem The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth
The poem The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth is a sonnet that critiques humanity’s alienation from nature due to materialism and industrialisation. Through vivid imagery and a passionate tone, Wordsworth expresses his longing for a deeper, spiritual connection with the natural world, invoking pagan imagery to underscore this loss.
Theme – Alienation from Nature and Critique of Materialism
The central theme is humanity’s disconnection from nature due to an obsession with material wealth (“getting and spending”). The poet laments the loss of spiritual and emotional harmony with nature, proposing a return to a simpler, more reverent relationship with the natural world as a source of meaning and solace.
Symbolism and Meaning
Here we have mentioned the symbolism used in this poem, along with the meaning behind that.
- The World: Represents modern society’s materialistic and industrial priorities, which dominate human life.
- Sea and Winds: Symbolise nature’s beauty and power, personified to emphasise humanity’s failure to connect with them.
- Pagan Creed: Represents an ancient, nature-centric worldview, contrasting with modern detachment.
- Proteus and Triton: Greek sea gods symbolising nature’s mystical and dynamic essence, evoking awe and wonder.
Human Experience
The poem captures the universal sense of loss and alienation in a world driven by materialism. It resonates with readers who feel disconnected from nature’s beauty and long for moments of wonder and spiritual fulfilment, reflecting Wordsworth’s Romantic emphasis on nature as a source of inspiration and emotional depth.
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood of the poem have been given as follows:
- Critical and Lamenting: The poet’s tone is critical of society’s materialistic ways and mournful of the lost connection with nature.
- Passionate: The exclamation “Great God!” and the wish to be a pagan convey intense longing and frustration.
- Yearning and Reflective: The mood evokes a desire for reconnection with nature, inviting contemplation of modern life’s priorities.
Also Read: NCERT Notes Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 2 The Address (Free PDF)
NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 5: The World is Too Much With Us Summary
In The World is Too Much With Us, William Wordsworth laments humanity’s disconnection from nature due to materialism, as people “lay waste our powers” through “getting and spending.” The poet describes the sea’s beauty under the moon and the winds, calm like “sleeping flowers,” but notes that we are “out of tune” with nature, unmoved by its wonders. Frustrated, he wishes to be a pagan, raised in a nature-worshipping creed, so that, standing on a meadow, he might feel less lonely. He imagines seeing Proteus rise from the sea or hearing Triton’s horn, visions that would reconnect him with nature’s awe-inspiring power, offering solace in a materialistic world.
Poetic Devices in Poem The World is Too Much With Us
Wordsworth employs several poetic devices to convey the poem’s message and enhance its emotional and rhythmic impact.
| Device | Example | Effect |
| Personification | “The Sea that bares her bosom to the moon” | Gives the sea human qualities, emphasising its intimate connection with nature |
| Imagery | “Winds that will be howling at all hours” | Creates vivid pictures of nature’s dynamic beauty, contrasting with human indifference |
| Metaphor | “Up-gathered now like sleeping flowers” | Compares calm winds to dormant flowers, evoking nature’s serene potential |
| Alliteration | “Getting and spending” | Enhances rhythm and underscores the relentless pursuit of materialism |
| Exclamation | “Great God!” | Conveys the poet’s passionate frustration and longing for connection |
| Allusion | “Proteus rising from the sea; / Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn” | References Greek mythology to evoke nature’s mystical power |
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Woven Words’ here!
| Poem 1: The Peacock Solution |
| Poem 2: Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds Solution |
| Poem 3: Coming Solution |
| Poem 4: Telephone Conversation Solution |
Explore Notes of Other NCERT Class 11 Subjects
| History | Geography | Political Science | Psychology | Sociology |
FAQs
The main theme is humanity’s alienation from nature due to materialism and industrialisation, with the poet longing for a spiritual connection to nature’s beauty and power.
The poet wishes to be a pagan, raised in a nature-worshipping creed, to feel a deeper connection with nature’s mystical beauty, such as seeing Proteus or hearing Triton, which would alleviate his sense of loneliness in a materialistic world.
Proteus and Triton, Greek sea gods, symbolise nature’s mystical and dynamic power, representing the awe-inspiring connection to the natural world that the poet feels modern society has lost.
For NCERT study material, follow the NCERT Notes and Solutions Class 11 English by Leverage Edu now.
