We're reading "The World is Too Much with Us by Wordsworth. We have some questions to interpret-I understand about Wordsworth and his relationship and philosophy concerning nature but I'm just not sure after further research the answer to these two questions.

Question

1. In the context of the poem, the words "we" and "us" refer to
a. Wordsworth and unanmed individuals
b.A persona lamenting his current situation
c.General population excluding Wordsworth
d.Unidentified group of people who have come to a sudden realization
I think Wordsworth included himself so I think the answer would be "a"
2.According to these lines, what has caused us to lose touch with nature:"The world is too much with us:late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:Little we see in nature that is ours We have given our hearst away, a sordid boon!
Possible answers:
a. Our focus on daily work we do to earn living
b.Desire to subdue nature and civilize it
c.Tendency to pollute nature
d.Unwillingness to look to nature as a source of inspiration
e.Lack of understanding of importance of nature
I know ths poem is about losing touch with nature because of our greed and materialism but the answers don't really fit-I'm thinking either it would be "a" or "d"
Any opinion would be appreciated-I've research the web, Utube, Sparknotes and various interpretations but it's the answers provided that are confusing me Thank you

Answer 1

I agree with you about #1, but disagree with your choices for #2.

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in nature that is ours
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

Doesn't this sound as if it could have been written in the 20th and 21st centuries?

Answer 2

I see your point about #2. It couldn't be "b" because that's Neoclassical where they want to take raw nature and make it better or fancy or more eloquent-not plain language. That leaves c-e. Now I'm leaning more towards Our unwillingness to look to nature as a source of inspiration or a lack of understanding of the importance of nature but if we highlight hearts then probably the answer should be Our unwillingness to look to nature as a source of inspiration-
Do you think I'm on the right track?

Answer 3

I'd go for "e" -- especially in light of his words "late and soon" (past and future).

(I made "hearts" bold only because it was misspelled in what you posted.)

Answer 4

Thank you for responding I really appreciated your input and clarification-Poetry is really tough at times

Answer 5

Yes, it is ... even when you've spent an entire semester on ONE poet's work!!

=)