Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth

Lines Written in Early Spring

By WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

I heard a thousand blended notes,

While in a grove I sate 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 green 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?

Introduction to “Lines Written in Early Spring”

“Lines Written in Early Spring” is one of William Wordsworth’s early Romantic poems, composed in 1798 and published in the famous collection Lyrical Ballads, which he wrote with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poem reflects Wordsworth’s strong belief in the healing power of nature and his sorrow over the growing corruption of human society during the Industrial Revolution.

According to Wordsworth’s own notes, the poem was inspired during a quiet walk near Alfoxden (or Alfoxton) House in Somerset, where he was living with his sister, Dorothy Wordsworth. He often spent long hours sitting in the woods, listening to the sounds of spring and observing flowers, birds, and young twigs. This peaceful setting filled him with joy but also led him to a painful reflection: while nature remained harmonious, innocent, and full of life, human beings had moved away from this natural goodness.

Thus, the poem came to be written from a blend of immediate natural experience and deep moral meditation. It captures the essence of Romantic poetry—love of nature, spiritual reflection, simplicity of rural life, and criticism of man’s growing materialism. Wordsworth uses the beauty of spring not only to celebrate nature but also to lament “what man has made of man,” creating one of his most gentle yet profound philosophical poems.

Line by Line Poem	Line by Line Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words
I heard a thousand blended notes,	I heard many different sounds in nature mixed together. (blended = mixed, notes = musical sounds)
While in a grove I sate reclined,	As I was sitting and resting in a small forest. (sate = sat, reclined = bent )
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts	I was in a peaceful state of mind where happy thoughts arose.
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.	Yet those pleasant thoughts also led me to some sad reflections.
To her fair works did Nature link	Nature connected her beautiful creations
The human soul that through me ran;	With the feelings of my own human soul.
And much it grieved my heart to think	And I felt deeply troubled to think
What man has made of man.	About how human beings have harmed each other and spoiled humanity.
Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,	Among clusters of primrose flowers in that leafy green place, (tuft = cluster, bower = leafy and shady part of plant)
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;	The periwinkle plant spread its creeping vines like wreaths. (trail = creep, wreath = a ring of flowers)
And ’tis my faith that every flower	And I believe that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.	Feels joy in simply existing and breathing the fresh air.
The birds around me hopp’d and play’d:	The birds nearby hopped about and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:—	I cannot understand what birds think,
But the least motion which they made,	But even their smallest movement
It seem’d a thrill of pleasure.	Looked like an expression of pure joy.
The budding twigs spread out their fan,	The small branches, full of new buds, spread out like a fan, (fan = fan like pattern made by twigs)
To catch the breezy air;	As if reaching out to feel the gentle breeze.
And I must think, do all I can,	And I cannot help thinking, no matter how hard I try to resist,
That there was pleasure there.	That even the branches seemed to feel happiness.
If this belief from heaven be sent,	If this feeling has been given to me by heaven (God),
If such be Nature’s holy plan,	If this is the sacred design of Nature itself,
Have I not reason to lament	Then don't I have enough reason to be sad
What man has made of man?	About how humans have spoiled one another and damaged the beauty and goodness of life.

Summary of Lines Written in Early Spring

In this reflective poem, Wordsworth sits in a quiet grove during early spring and listens to the blended sounds of nature. The peaceful setting fills him with pleasant thoughts, yet it also brings sadness as he meditates on human suffering. He observes the primroses, periwinkles, birds, and budding twigs, imagining that each part of nature experiences joy in its own way. Flowers seem to enjoy the air, birds appear thrilled as they play, and even twigs look as if they are reaching out to feel the breeze. This universal happiness in nature reminds him of the original harmony intended by God or Nature’s “holy plan.” However, this harmony contrasts sharply with the cruelty, selfishness, and corruption of human society. The poem ends with the powerful refrain, “What man has made of man,” expressing his grief that humans have destroyed the natural goodness and unity that Nature still upholds.

Theme

The major themes are:

Harmony between man and nature

Innocence and joy in the natural world

Contrast between nature’s purity and human corruption

Loss of moral values in society

Spiritual connection between nature and the human soul

Central Idea

The poem conveys that nature is full of peace, joy, and divine harmony, but humanity has lost this simplicity and purity. By observing nature’s happiness, the poet realizes how far humans have moved from goodness and mutual love. The central idea is that humans should learn from nature’s harmony and restore moral and emotional balance in society.

Tone & Mood

Tone: reflective, nostalgic, sorrowful, admiring of nature

Mood: peaceful, calm, then gradually sad and contemplative

Nature creates joy, while thoughts of mankind create grief.

Short Question–Answers

Q1. Why is the poet both happy and sad in the poem?

Ans. He feels happy because nature gives him joy, but sad because it reminds him of how humans have harmed one another and lost natural goodness.

Q2. What does the poet believe about flowers and birds?

Ans. He believes they experience pleasure and joy in simply living and breathing the air.

Q3. What troubles the poet’s heart?

Ans. The poet is grieved by “what man has made of man,” meaning the cruelty and corruption in human society.

Q4. What does he mean by “Nature’s holy plan”?

Ans. He means the divine order of harmony, goodness, and joy that nature follows.

Q5. What does the poet hear in the beginning?

Ans. He hears “a thousand blended notes,” meaning many mixed sounds of nature.

Long Question–Answers

Q1. Explain how the poet contrasts nature and human society.

Ans. Wordsworth describes nature as full of joy, innocence, and harmony. Flowers, birds, and budding twigs appear to enjoy their existence. In contrast, human beings have lost this natural harmony. Greed, cruelty, and selfishness have made humans harm one another. This contrast creates sadness in the poet, leading to the famous lament: “What man has made of man.”

Q2. How does Wordsworth use personification in the poem?

Ans. Wordsworth gives human qualities to flowers, birds, and twigs: flowers “enjoy” air, birds feel “pleasure,” and twigs “catch” the breeze. This personification shows his belief that all nature participates in joy and helps highlight the contrast between nature’s happiness and human sorrow.

MCQs 

1. The poem “Lines Written in Early Spring” is written by:

a) Shelley b) Wordsworth c) Keats d) Blake

Answer: b

2. The poet heard:

a) birds singing b) water flowing c) a thousand blended notes d) wind blowing

Answer: c

3. The poet was sitting in a:

a) garden b) grove c) forest d) valley

Answer: b

4. The mood of the poet in the beginning is:

a) angry b) sweet and pleasant c) scared d) restless

Answer: b

5. “Pleasant thoughts bring sad thoughts” is an example of:

a) irony b) paradox c) simile d) metaphor

Answer: b

6. Nature is personified as a:

a) child b) goddess c) teacher d) queen

Answer: b

7. The sight of nature made the poet think of:

a) heaven b) birds c) human cruelty d) flowers

Answer: c

8. The periwinkle is described as trailing its:

a) leaves b) roots c) petals d) wreaths

Answer: d

9. The poet believes every flower:

a) suffers b) enjoys the air it breathes c) looks dull d) lives without air

Answer: b

10. Birds around him:

a) slept b) sang sadly c) hopped and played d) flew away

Answer: c

11. The budding twigs spread out their:

a) fan b) shade c) wings d) flowers

Answer: a

12. What emotion does nature show in the poem?

a) Anger b) Fear c) Joy d) Hatred

Answer: c

13. The phrase “Nature’s holy plan” suggests:

a) religious rules b) divine order in nature c) harsh laws d) political plans

Answer: b

14. The poem belongs to which age?

a) Romantic b) Victorian c) Modern d) Augustan

Answer: a

15. The poem ends with a feeling of:

a) hope b) excitement c) sorrow d) confusion

Answer: c

Character Sketch of the Poet in “Lines Written in Early Spring”

In the poem, Wordsworth appears as a deeply sensitive, thoughtful, and spiritually awakened lover of nature. He possesses a gentle heart that responds instantly to the beauty around him. His ability to hear “a thousand blended notes” shows his refined sensitivity. He finds joy in flowers, birds, and even in budding twigs, suggesting that he sees life and happiness in every corner of nature.

At the same time, he has a tender, moral conscience. While nature brings him peace, it also makes him reflect on human cruelty. His sorrowful question—“What man has made of man?”—reveals his compassionate personality and his disappointment with human society. He believes strongly in the divine order of Nature and feels that humanity has strayed from this harmony.

Overall, Wordsworth comes across as a Romantic poet, a lover of simplicity, a spiritual thinker, and a humane soul who longs for a world where human beings live in peace, just as nature does.

Question and Answers

Short Answer Questions 

1. Why does the poet feel both joy and sadness in the poem?

Ans. He feels joy because the sights and sounds of nature fill him with peace and happiness. But he also feels sadness because nature reminds him of human cruelty and the loss of goodness in society.

2. What does the poet believe about flowers, birds, and twigs?

Ans. He believes that every part of nature experiences joy. Flowers enjoy the air, birds express pleasure in their play, and twigs seem to reach out to feel the breeze.

3. What is the meaning of the line “What man has made of man”?

Ans. The line refers to the harm and cruelty human beings inflict on one another—greed, conflict, and moral decline. The poet is saddened by how humans have spoiled their own nature.

4. Why does Wordsworth call Nature’s plan “holy”?

Ans. He believes nature follows a divine order created by God. Its purity, harmony, and joy reflect a sacred pattern that humans should learn from.

5. What effect does the grove have on the poet?

Ans. The quiet grove calms him, inspires pleasant thoughts, and connects him spiritually with nature. At the same time, it triggers sadness about human behavior.

Long Answer Questions 

1. How does Wordsworth contrast nature and human society in the poem?

Ans. In “Lines Written in Early Spring,” Wordsworth creates a sharp contrast between nature’s joyful harmony and humanity’s moral decline. He observes flowers, birds, and budding twigs, all of which appear to enjoy their existence. Nature seems peaceful, innocent, and filled with life. These scenes make him reflect on the original goodness intended by God or Nature’s “holy plan.” However, when he thinks of human society, he feels sorrow. Human beings have become selfish, cruel, and disconnected from natural harmony. People exploit and harm each other rather than living in peace. This contrast between nature’s joy and human misery leads Wordsworth to lament “what man has made of man,” showing his disappointment with the condition of mankind.

2. Describe the poet’s spiritual connection with nature as shown in the poem.

Ans. The poem reveals Wordsworth’s deep spiritual bond with nature. Sitting in a peaceful grove, he feels an inner connection with the natural world. He believes that nature and the human soul are linked, and that nature has the power to awaken pleasant thoughts. Wordsworth personifies flowers, birds, and twigs as if they possess feelings and consciousness. He imagines that they “enjoy” the air, “play” freely, and “catch” the breeze. This shows his belief that nature is alive and divine. He also considers this feeling a “heaven-sent” belief, suggesting that nature carries a spiritual message. However, this spiritual joy turns into sorrow when he thinks about human suffering. Thus, nature becomes both a source of peace and a mirror that reflects human faults, strengthening his spiritual connection.

3. Explain how personification is used in the poem and its effect on the reader.

Ans. Wordsworth uses personification throughout the poem to bring nature to life. He gives human qualities to flowers, birds, and twigs to show that they experience joy like living beings. Flowers “enjoy the air,” birds feel “pleasure,” and twigs “spread their fan” to “catch the breezy air.” This personification makes nature appear active, alive, and full of emotion. It also emphasizes the harmony and happiness present in the natural world. By contrast, humans appear troubled and corrupted. This heightens the emotional impact on the reader and strengthens Wordsworth’s message that humans should return to the natural, joyful state that nature reflects. Personification helps the reader feel close to nature and understand the poet’s deep sorrow when he laments human actions.