Professor Tamara Katebgian

Camilla

ENGL 190 04

Other minds

Professor Tamara Katebgian

The Tables Turned by William Wordsworth.

The speaker tells us through his friend to stop reading, that seems very strange, but we should read between the lines. This poem is thoroughly imbued with the era of Romanticism, where all things boil down to being a part of nature.

The speaker is very clearly visible through his live, impregnated appeal and through his desire to give advice, and make a change in the life of a man to whom he dedicates this poem. From this we can conclude that this poem was written by an adult man who has lived life and has seen a lot. Moreover, I can assume, that the persona is able to worry about other peoples. He is able to cherish his close friends and know the value of real, strong friendship.

I can assume that the speaker is addressing his poem in particular to his friend, in some lines he uses apostrophes, for instance: “you’ll grow”.

I believe that the whole poem is steeped in the favor of the reader, the author tries to convey to the reader his position, but in any case, he does not make and does not force the reader to adhere to it. His work is timeless. No time, no places, no throwbacks.

At the same time, Wordsworth is contrary to himself. And this we can see in the title of the poem. Going against his own thoughts, he holds absolutely the opposite direction, allowing their readers to reach the truth, which lies between the lines.

In his work the speaker is free to address the reader "friend", using repetition, which increases the effect on reading. The repetition of the first stanza sounds like a call to action. Wordsworth is trying to convey meaning through hyperbole, exaggeration-revealing reality. He uses alliteration in the forth line: “Why all THIS TOIL and TROUBLE?”. Repetitive, sharp sounds and mimic reading are used.

The whole poem is written in a rather relaxed tone, without color of aggression and anger, perhaps, in my opinion, with a bit of sadness and grief that we have forgotten what a beauty is around us.

William Wordsworth wants the readers to stop sitting and reading, to notice anything around them. We can take more, if we be attentive to what surrounds us. Because nature can give us much more than we can just imagine. What we need is to be open and appreciative. He uses figurative language and hyperbola, when he wants to line something, for instance: “…and quit your books; Or surely you’ll grow double:”, “clear your looks”.

He uses imagery in some lines: “a freshening lustre mellow” (think natural peaceful and perfect weather), “come forth into the light of things” (light is natural is knowledge), “you’ll grow double” (you can get fat if you keep reading).

Moreover, Wordsworth uses strong irony in this poem. This is a part of the book, which we should quit! But he wrote it, being absolutely sure, that it will be read. This is a paradox, and it once again proves to us that the persona is not ready to give up the books, and the name of this poem is another proof to it. The speaker uses nature like a symbol of the teacher: “Let Nature be your Teacher”. At the same time I can say, that this proposal is the allegorical meaning. He writes, that Nature is she who “has a words of ready wealth”, thereby reviving her. This makes the poem alive and real, giving it brightness of the sound and ease for understanding, through the personification of nature.

“The Tables Turned” consists of eight-four-line stanzas in interlocking rhymes. Speaker uses the rhyme of ABAB. He writes in iambic foot or iambs with four beats in the first and third lines of every stanza, and three beats in the second and fourth lines. This type of rhythm is very typical for English poetry. I think, that the poem’s form has a suitable structure for reading, analyzing and learning. It’s very easy to memorize.

In conclusion I want to add that this poem is a good example of how the speaker can convey meaning through the literary methods, without losing the basic concept of the whole work. His work completely reveals the title and theme.

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