Elements of Romanticism in Wordsworth's poem "Expostulation and Reply"

The strong interest in nature, the humble life the preference for the country over city, and the focus on the first persons are all features of Romantic poetry found in this poem. "Expostulation and Reply" is written in the first person and in simple language. The poem seems conversational in style, making it more appealing to the reader. Even though the story is argumentative in wording, the tone is not angry or even serious. It is rather relaxed. This is probably due to the fact that we should approach it with an open mind and without bias. This poem incorporates Wordsworth's thought that nature was the ultimate teacher.

As William was pondering on a stone, Matthew asked him, "Where are your books? That light bequeath'd to beings else forlorn and blind." Matthew was wanting to know why he was wasting time, when he could be studying books. Matthew stressed the point that books were left by our ancestors for our learning.

Wordsworth on Helvellyn

English: Portrait of William Wordsworth by William...

nature journal sycamore tree

Matthew goes on to say, " You look round on your mother earth, as if she for no purpose bore you;" Clearly, Matthew is misinterpreting the situation. William is looking at mother earth with a purpose to learn. He finds that you can learn better by observing nature than reading another's thoughts on the subject. William is not accepting somebody else's word of knowledge, but he's discovering his own knowledge. I think of William as a symbol of individual thinking (a pioneer), and Matthew as a symbol of society's restriction because he chooses to restrain his knowledge to words on paper.

Next, WIlliam replies to Matthew. William makes the point that there are things we see that we should pay close attention to because there might be some spirit trying to communicate. In this case, nature is communicating. William...