Lines Written in Early Spring

• What is essential to answer an essay question on any poem?

  Understanding what the poem is about
• What does the section on 'Lines Written in Early Spring' include?

  • The poem in a nutshell
  • A section-by-section translation
  • Commentary outlining Wordsworth’s intention and message
• What complex emotions does 'Lines Written in Early Spring' explore?

  Emotions related to nature and humanity’s place in the world
• What does the speaker find during his observations of nature?

  Harmony and a personal connection with his environment
• What does the speaker question about humanity in 'Lines Written in Early Spring'?

  Whether humanity has forgotten its bond with nature
• What is the first line of the poem 'Lines Written in Early Spring'?

  “I heard a thousand blended notes,”
• What mood does the speaker describe in the first stanza of the poem?

  A positive and “sweet” mood
• What does the speaker mean by “pleasant thoughts bring sad thoughts to the mind”?

  Positive thoughts about nature can also evoke negative feelings
• What does Wordsworth intend to convey through the mixed emotions of the narrator?

  The overwhelming thoughts and feelings experienced in a pastoral setting
• What does the speaker reflect on in lines 5-8 of the poem?

  How the beauty of nature connects the soul with the universe
• What does the speaker feel grieved about in lines 5-8?

  What man has made of man
• What themes does Wordsworth introduce in 'Lines Written in Early Spring'?

  Human emotions and inner turmoil
• What does the speaker observe in lines 9-12 of the poem?

  The beauty of flowers and their connection to nature
• What does the speaker believe about every flower in lines 9-12?

  That every flower enjoys the air it breathes
• How does Wordsworth express the beauty of the natural world in lines 9-12?

  By observing how living things feel a joyful connection with the universe
• What do the birds symbolize in lines 13-16 of the poem?

  Cheerfulness and playfulness in nature
• What does the speaker imply about their ability to communicate with animals?

  There is a disconnection between humans and animals
• What does the speaker observe about the buds on the tree in lines 17-20?

  They appear to surrender themselves to the elements
• What does Wordsworth suggest about the natural elements in lines 17-20?

  There is pleasure in the natural elements
• What religious imagery does the speaker use in lines 21-24?

  They wonder if God has provided this experience
• What does the speaker lament in lines 21-24?

  What man has made of man
• How does Wordsworth conclude his poem?

  With an unanswered question about humanity's role
• What are the key components of Wordsworth's methods in the poem?

  • Form: Lyrical ballad with harmonious tone
  • Structure: Iambic meter reflecting speech
  • Language: Hyperbole, sensory imagery, and religious imagery
• What form is 'Lines Written in Early Spring' written in?

  A lyrical ballad
• How does Wordsworth create a harmonious tone in the poem?

  By using a regular ABAB rhyme scheme
• What does the half-rhyme in the first stanza signify?

  Some tension within his reflection on nature
• What does Wordsworth's use of iambic meter reflect in his poetry?

  The sound of speech
• How does the change in rhythm in the poem convey the speaker's emotions?

  It signifies mixed emotions and abrupt changes in mood
• What does Wordsworth use to end the poem?

  A rhetorical question
• What themes does Wordsworth explore in 'Lines Written in Early Spring'?

  • Belonging and connection
  • Relationships with the world
• What collection is 'Lines Written in Early Spring' a part of?

  Lyrical Ballads
• What does Wordsworth prioritize in his poetry?

  Emotion over reason
• How does the speaker feel about the lack of connection in the human world?

  It reminds him of his disconnection while enjoying nature
• What does the repetition of “what man has made of man” signify?

  It reinforces the speaker's grief about human disconnection
• How does Wordsworth respond to the violence of the French Revolution in his poetry?

  By expressing horror and concern for humanity
• What does the speaker's question at the end of the poem imply?

  It applies logic to humanity's connection with each other
• What does the speaker believe about the connection between humans and the natural world?

  That humans are spiritually connected to nature
• How does Wordsworth use religious language in the poem?

  To express respect for the natural world
• What does the phrase “Nature’s holy plan” suggest?

  It may be a divine warning about humanity's relationship with nature
• How does the poem reflect Romantic ideals?

  By emphasizing emotion, nature, and the human experience