The author of a poem has the power to simultaneously tell a captivating tale while using his words to illustrate a masterpiece; opening in your mind’s eye a portal to what reality they want you to experience. In “We are Seven” William Wordsworth utilizes this power and has his readers experience more than just a sixty nine line dialogue between a “little cottage girl” (6) and an older gentleman. In sixteen quatrains Wordsworth uses the form of his ballad to express his opinions on topics such as the contrast between maturity and childlike innocence, spirituality, the relationship between life death regarding their connection with joy. Innocence can be seen in many ways. To certain individuals it can be disregarded as ignorance, while others
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His use of numbers and the apparent religious language is evidence that spirituality has a connection with the child’s joy. A quick glance at the title is the first indication of a presence of a religious theme. The title for this poem is “We are Seven” in the bible seven is known as the number of completion and perfection. The number seven is not just in the title it is also how many children are in this family indicating that seven is what makes the family whole and complete. All the way to the end the young girl refuses to reduce her complete family to five like the older gentleman tries to make her do. Wordsworth chooses the number seven for its religious significance and because that’s what completes the little girl like the phrase “we are seven”(64) expresses. His description of her is also indicative of a heavenly appearance. Her hair is described as “cluster’d round her head” like a halo while her eyes and skin are described as “fair and very fair; --Her beauty made me glad”(12-13). These descriptions have an angelic connotation and angels are normally beautiful and bring a sense of peace and happiness unto others when they are seen. This example even ties the innocence the girl is made to represent. Wordsworth also ties in religion to the setting and places the location in a churchyard and repeats it six times within the ballad. It is not just her home but it is also the placement of her deceased kin. His description of the surroundings when her brother John dies serves as more evidence to a supernatural presence “the ground was white as snow, And I could run and slide, My brother was forced to go,…” The scene still has a peaceful tone even though a death is taking place. The white is peace and calm in the presence of turmoil and Wordsworth choosing the color white is the
His use of numbers and the apparent religious language is evidence that spirituality has a connection with the child’s joy. A quick glance at the title is the first indication of a presence of a religious theme. The title for this poem is “We are Seven” in the bible seven is known as the number of completion and perfection. The number seven is not just in the title it is also how many children are in this family indicating that seven is what makes the family whole and complete. All the way to the end the young girl refuses to reduce her complete family to five like the older gentleman tries to make her do. Wordsworth chooses the number seven for its religious significance and because that’s what completes the little girl like the phrase “we are seven”(64) expresses. His description of her is also indicative of a heavenly appearance. Her hair is described as “cluster’d round her head” like a halo while her eyes and skin are described as “fair and very fair; --Her beauty made me glad”(12-13). These descriptions have an angelic connotation and angels are normally beautiful and bring a sense of peace and happiness unto others when they are seen. This example even ties the innocence the girl is made to represent. Wordsworth also ties in religion to the setting and places the location in a churchyard and repeats it six times within the ballad. It is not just her home but it is also the placement of her deceased kin. His description of the surroundings when her brother John dies serves as more evidence to a supernatural presence “the ground was white as snow, And I could run and slide, My brother was forced to go,…” The scene still has a peaceful tone even though a death is taking place. The white is peace and calm in the presence of turmoil and Wordsworth choosing the color white is the