Language and style

Here, we will address some of the issues connected to language and style in the poem “The Tables Turned” by William Wordsworth.

Playing with language

When analysing the poem, it is important to consider whether the poem plays with language or not. Overall, the language is simple and easy to follow. Wordsworth himself was keen on simplifying language in his poems and avoiding ambiguity of any kind. This is why the poem is simple and straightforward, lacking ambiguity:

“The sun above the mountain’s head,
A freshening lustre mellow
Through all the long green fields has spread
His first sweet evening yellow.” (p. 204, ll. 6-9)

The only suggestion of Wordsworth playing with language is the personification of certain natural elements. When talking about the sun, Wordsworth mentions “his” (p. 204, l. 9) colour; when talking about nature, the personal pronoun “she” (p. 205, l. 11) is employed. These choices represent the poet’s respect for nature.

Tense of the verbs

The poem “The Tables Turned” is written in a combination of tenses. The future tense is used in the first stanza: “you’ll grow” (p. 204, l. 2). The present perfect is used in the second stanza: “has spread” (p. 204, l. 8). Present simple is employed in the following stanzas and it suggests the universality of the gifts  nature has in store for mankind: “sings” (p. 205, l. 6), “has” (p.  205, l. 11), “can” (p. 205, l. 19), “watches and receives” (p. 205, l. 29).

An interesting feature in the poem is the use of the imperative, employed by the poet in order to make an invitation to his friend (the reader). Notice that the imperative is not used in a blunt and orderly-like manner; the poet does not give an order, but an invitation. The reader is made  curious  to discover the beauty of nature himself. Here are a few situations in which the imperative is used: “quit your books” (p. 204, l. 1), “clear your looks” (p. 204, l. 3), “come, hear…” (p. 205, l. 2), ...