William Wordsworth,born April 7th, 1770, died April 23rd, 1850
William Wordsworth
By: Ashley Backe
William Wordsworth was born on April 7th, 1770 in Cockermouth, Cumberland County, England. He had four other siblings. He had a very good relationship with his mother and one of his sisters as a child. Wordsworth first attended Hawkshead Grammar School as a child. When he was attending the Hawkshead Grammar School he showed interest in poetry and already had some favorite poems. From 1787 to 1790 Wordsworth attended St. John's College and Cambridge. Before graduating from Cambridge, he took a walking tour through France, Switzerland, and Italy in 1790. In 1792, while living in France, Wordsworth wrote The Descriptive Sketches. This poem was one of his first really well written poems and it showed his protest and belief in political freedom. Finally, while Wordsworth's political ideas and poetic talent were thus beginning to take shape, he fell passionately in love with a French girl, Annette Vallon. She gave birth to their daughter in December 1792. Wordsworth became a very famous poet and was very successful. William Wordsworth died April 23rd, 1850.
Lines Written While Sailing in a Boat at Evening How richly glows the water's breast
Before us, tinged with evening hues, While, facing thus the crimson west, The boat her silent course pursues! And see how dark the backward stream! A little moment past so smiling! And still, perhaps, with faithless gleam, Some other loiterers beguiling.
Such views the youthful Bard allure; But, heedless of the following gloom, He deems their colours shall endure Till peace go with him to the tomb. —And let him nurse his fond deceit, And what if he must die in sorrow! Who would not cherish dreams so sweet, Though grief and pain may come to-morrow?
There was a Boy
THERE was a Boy; ye knew him well, ye cliffs And islands of Winander!--many a time, At evening, when the earliest stars began To move along the edges of the hills, Rising or setting, would he stand alone, Beneath the trees, or by the glimmering lake; And there, with fingers interwoven, both hands Pressed closely palm to palm and to his mouth Uplifted, he, as through an instrument, Blew mimic hootings to the silent owls, That they might answer him.--And they would shout Across the watery vale, and shout again, Responsive to his call,--with quivering peals, And long halloos, and screams, and echoes loud Redoubled and redoubled; concourse wild Of jocund din! And, when there came a pause Of silence such as baffled his best skill: Then, sometimes, in that silence, while he hung Listening, a gentle shock of mild surprise Has carried far into his heart the voice Of mountain-torrents; or the visible scene Would enter unawares into his mind With all its solemn imagery, its rocks, Its woods, and that uncertain heaven received Into the bosom of the steady lake. This boy was taken from his mates, and died In childhood, ere he was full twelve years old. Pre-eminent in beauty is the vale Where he was born and bred: the churchyard hangs Upon a slope above the village-school; And, through that church-yard when my way has led On summer-evenings, I believe, that there A long half-hour together I have stood Mute--looking at the grave in which he lies!
By: Ashley Backe
William Wordsworth was born on April 7th, 1770 in Cockermouth, Cumberland County, England. He had four other siblings. He had a very good relationship with his mother and one of his sisters as a child. Wordsworth first attended Hawkshead Grammar School as a child. When he was attending the Hawkshead Grammar School he showed interest in poetry and already had some favorite poems. From 1787 to 1790 Wordsworth attended St. John's College and Cambridge. Before graduating from Cambridge, he took a walking tour through France, Switzerland, and Italy in 1790. In 1792, while living in France, Wordsworth wrote The Descriptive Sketches. This poem was one of his first really well written poems and it showed his protest and belief in political freedom. Finally, while Wordsworth's political ideas and poetic talent were thus beginning to take shape, he fell passionately in love with a French girl, Annette Vallon. She gave birth to their daughter in December 1792. Wordsworth became a very famous poet and was very successful. William Wordsworth died April 23rd, 1850.
Lines Written While Sailing in a Boat at Evening
How richly glows the water's breast
While, facing thus the crimson west,
The boat her silent course pursues!
And see how dark the backward stream!
A little moment past so smiling!
And still, perhaps, with faithless gleam,
Some other loiterers beguiling.
Such views the youthful Bard allure;
But, heedless of the following gloom,
He deems their colours shall endure
Till peace go with him to the tomb.
—And let him nurse his fond deceit,
And what if he must die in sorrow!
Who would not cherish dreams so sweet,
Though grief and pain may come to-morrow?
There was a Boy
THERE was a Boy; ye knew him well, ye cliffs
And islands of Winander!--many a time,
At evening, when the earliest stars began
To move along the edges of the hills,
Rising or setting, would he stand alone,
Beneath the trees, or by the glimmering lake;
And there, with fingers interwoven, both hands
Pressed closely palm to palm and to his mouth
Uplifted, he, as through an instrument,
Blew mimic hootings to the silent owls,
That they might answer him.--And they would shout
Across the watery vale, and shout again,
Responsive to his call,--with quivering peals,
And long halloos, and screams, and echoes loud
Redoubled and redoubled; concourse wild
Of jocund din! And, when there came a pause
Of silence such as baffled his best skill:
Then, sometimes, in that silence, while he hung
Listening, a gentle shock of mild surprise
Has carried far into his heart the voice
Of mountain-torrents; or the visible scene
Would enter unawares into his mind
With all its solemn imagery, its rocks,
Its woods, and that uncertain heaven received
Into the bosom of the steady lake.
This boy was taken from his mates, and died
In childhood, ere he was full twelve years old.
Pre-eminent in beauty is the vale
Where he was born and bred: the churchyard hangs
Upon a slope above the village-school;
And, through that church-yard when my way has led
On summer-evenings, I believe, that there
A long half-hour together I have stood
Mute--looking at the grave in which he lies!