The Tables Turned by William Wordsworth - Explanation - Summary
The poem “The Tables Turned” hails the philosophy of “back to nature”. Wordsworth instructs his friend and perhaps the readers to learn from nature itself, it has more wisdom than the books we read which will only make us “double.” Everything a human being needs is already present in nature — good health,wealth and peace of mind. Even the great sages lag behind the Mother Nature in terms of possession of wisdom. Our human intellect, by overhauling and transforming the exquisite surrounding into something of his own choice, is destroying what truly nurture and relieve us.
In a sort, Wordsworth was an environmentalist in his days, he was very ahead of his age, a foresighted being.
Wordsworth's well known love for Nature and rustic arena is visible in the poem. His denouncing of the books may strike a chord in the readers' mind, particularly children's. Children, see now, why Wordsworth is your friend?
The speaker addresses his friend and urges him to stop reading books. It will definitely fill him with bookish knowledge which will make him "double." He needs to take a break from "all this toil" and hassle.
He seeks his friend's attention to nature. The sun shining above the mountains with its "sweet" light turning yellow in the evening. Freshness prevails over the "long green fields."
The narrator finds the woodland linnet a more vibrant source of wisdom than a book which is symbolised as a "dull and endless strife". Its music teach more than the pages of a book. In other words, books are boring means to attain enlightenment whereas a linnet bird hailed as the representative of the Natural world is both refreshing and worthy guide.
He tries to get our attention to the singing talent of a throstle (a songbird). Nature, according to him, should be our teacher which can help us understand "the light of things".
Nature is filled with "ready wealth" i.e. it's priceless possessions like rivers, mountains, forests. All these parts and parcels of mother Nature bless both our mind and heart. She maintains and improve our health. This contribution is the "spontaneous wisdom" she confers on us which a book can never do. She cheers our mood which ensures truthfulness.
He guarantees that even "one impulse" from experience of living in a jungle would teach more than all the sages could about human beings — his morality, goodness and evil.
Now, the narrator comments on the human way of imparting knowledge which ruins the beauty. Our human intellect destroys and misshapes the natural form of things. Our method of investigating by dissecting plants and organisms is another name for murdering.
He criticises both division of studies - Science and Arts. He instructs us to close those "barren leaves", he is referring to the book and requests us to open our heart to visualize, feel and to receive from Nature.
Repeating rhyme-scheme of abab is employed throughout the poem.
In a sort, Wordsworth was an environmentalist in his days, he was very ahead of his age, a foresighted being.
Wordsworth's well known love for Nature and rustic arena is visible in the poem. His denouncing of the books may strike a chord in the readers' mind, particularly children's. Children, see now, why Wordsworth is your friend?
The speaker addresses his friend and urges him to stop reading books. It will definitely fill him with bookish knowledge which will make him "double." He needs to take a break from "all this toil" and hassle.
He seeks his friend's attention to nature. The sun shining above the mountains with its "sweet" light turning yellow in the evening. Freshness prevails over the "long green fields."
The narrator finds the woodland linnet a more vibrant source of wisdom than a book which is symbolised as a "dull and endless strife". Its music teach more than the pages of a book. In other words, books are boring means to attain enlightenment whereas a linnet bird hailed as the representative of the Natural world is both refreshing and worthy guide.
He tries to get our attention to the singing talent of a throstle (a songbird). Nature, according to him, should be our teacher which can help us understand "the light of things".
Nature is filled with "ready wealth" i.e. it's priceless possessions like rivers, mountains, forests. All these parts and parcels of mother Nature bless both our mind and heart. She maintains and improve our health. This contribution is the "spontaneous wisdom" she confers on us which a book can never do. She cheers our mood which ensures truthfulness.
He guarantees that even "one impulse" from experience of living in a jungle would teach more than all the sages could about human beings — his morality, goodness and evil.
Now, the narrator comments on the human way of imparting knowledge which ruins the beauty. Our human intellect destroys and misshapes the natural form of things. Our method of investigating by dissecting plants and organisms is another name for murdering.
He criticises both division of studies - Science and Arts. He instructs us to close those "barren leaves", he is referring to the book and requests us to open our heart to visualize, feel and to receive from Nature.
Repeating rhyme-scheme of abab is employed throughout the poem.