A simple Child,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad:
Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
Her beauty made me glad.“Sisters and brothers, little Maid,
How many may you be?”
“How many? Seven in all,” she said,
And wondering looked at me.“And where are they? I pray you tell.”
She answered, “Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea.”“Two of us in the church‑yard lie,
My sister and my brother;
And, in the church‑yard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my mother.”“You say that two at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea,
Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell,
Sweet Maid, how this may be.”Then did the little Maid reply,
“Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the church‑yard lie,
Beneath the church‑yard tree.”“You run about, my little Maid,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the church‑yard laid,
Then ye are only five.”“Their graves are green, they may be seen,”
The little Maid replied,
“Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door,
And they are side by side.”“My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.”“And often after sun‑set, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.”“The first that died was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain;
And then she went away.”“So in the church‑yard she was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.”“And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide,
My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side.”“How many are you, then,” said I,
“If they two are in heaven?”
Quick was the little Maid’s reply,
“O Master! we are seven.”“But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!”
’Twas throwing words away; for still
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, “Nay, we are seven!”
William Wordsworth’s “We Are Seven” stands as a timeless exploration of childhood innocence, the perception of death, and the profound power of human connection. This beloved poem invites readers into a gentle yet thought-provoking dialogue, revealing deep truths through the simple wisdom of a young girl. Delve into this comprehensive guide to understand the poem’s layers, its central ideas, and the masterful literary devices that make it a cornerstone of Romantic literature.
We Are Seven Summary: A Glimpse into Childhood Perception
The poem “We Are Seven” unfolds as a conversation between an adult speaker and a young, eight-year-old cottage girl. The speaker, encountering the girl in a rural setting, inquires about her family. The girl confidently states that she is one of seven siblings. When pressed for details about her family’s whereabouts, she explains that two siblings reside in Conway, two have gone to sea, and two are buried in the local churchyard. Despite the speaker’s logical attempts to count only the living, arguing that two are deceased, the girl steadfastly maintains her belief that “we are seven.” Her unwavering conviction highlights a profound difference in how adults and children often perceive life, death, and the enduring bonds of family.
Central Idea and Noteworthy Knowledge
The central idea of “We Are Seven” revolves around the clash between adult rationality and childlike intuition regarding death. The speaker represents a logical, empirical view, where death signifies an absolute end and a reduction in numbers. In contrast, the little maid embodies an innocent, holistic perspective, where the deceased remain an integral part of the family unit, their presence felt and remembered, rather than simply subtracted. This poem is a quintessential example of William Wordsworth’s Romantic ideals, particularly his reverence for the wisdom of nature and the uncorrupted purity of childhood, which he believed held deeper truths than adult reason.
In-Depth Analysis of “We Are Seven”
Wordsworth crafts “We Are Seven” with remarkable simplicity and depth, inviting readers to ponder universal questions through a poignant, personal exchange.
Understanding the Poem’s Structure and Form
The poem is composed of nineteen stanzas, primarily five lines each, though some stanzas vary with four lines. This structure, reminiscent of a ballad, lends itself perfectly to the conversational narrative. The consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme, often ABCBB or ABABB, create a musicality that enhances the poem’s accessibility and memorable quality. The dialogue format allows the contrasting viewpoints to unfold naturally, drawing the reader into the heart of the debate without overt authorial commentary.
“Sisters and brothers, little Maid,
How many may you be?”
“How many? Seven in all,” she said,
And wondering looked at me.
This stanza exemplifies the direct, question-and-answer structure that drives the poem, immediately establishing the central conflict.
Exploring Key Themes in “We Are Seven”
Childhood Innocence and the Perception of Death
The poem opens with a rhetorical question, setting the stage for the child’s unique perspective:
A simple Child,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?
This initial query immediately highlights the adult speaker’s assumption that a child, full of life, cannot comprehend mortality. The little maid, however, challenges this notion. Her innocence allows her to see death not as an absence, but as a change of location. She does not deny the physical reality of her siblings’ graves, but she refuses to exclude them from her family count. Her unwavering declaration, “O Master! we are seven,” even when confronted with the finality of death, underscores a profound, uncorrupted understanding of enduring connection.
The Power of Memory and Enduring Connection
For the little maid, memory is not a passive recollection but an active, living presence. She maintains a tangible connection with her deceased siblings through her daily routines at their graveside:
“Their graves are green, they may be seen,”
The little Maid replied,
“Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door,
And they are side by side.”“My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.”“And often after sun‑set, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.”
These lines beautifully illustrate how she integrates her siblings into her present life. The graves are not distant or forgotten, but “side by side” and within sight of her home. Her acts of knitting, singing, and eating supper by their graves are rituals of remembrance that transform a place of sorrow into a space of continued familial intimacy. This theme emphasizes that love and memory can transcend physical absence.
The Conflict Between Logic and Intuition
The core tension of “We Are Seven” lies in the stark contrast between the speaker’s logical, mathematical approach to counting and the girl’s intuitive, emotional understanding of family. The speaker repeatedly attempts to apply reason:
“You run about, my little Maid,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the church‑yard laid,
Then ye are only five.”
This rational argument, based on the physical presence of living bodies, is met with the girl’s steadfast, almost defiant, assertion of her truth. The speaker’s frustration is evident in the final stanzas:
“But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!”
’Twas throwing words away; for still
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, “Nay, we are seven!”
This highlights the poem’s profound message: some truths, particularly those of the heart and spirit, cannot be confined by mere logic or empirical evidence. The girl’s intuition, rooted in love and connection, ultimately triumphs over the speaker’s rationalism.
Nature and Simplicity
Wordsworth, a key figure in the Romantic movement, often celebrated the wisdom found in nature and in simple, rural life. The little maid embodies this ideal. Her “rustic, woodland air” and “wildly clad” appearance suggest a life lived close to nature, untainted by the complexities and artificialities of urban society. This connection to nature is implicitly linked to her unadulterated perception of life and death, suggesting that her understanding is more natural and therefore, in Wordsworth’s view, more profound.
Analyzing Poetic and Literary Devices in “We Are Seven”
Wordsworth employs several literary and poetic devices to enrich the meaning and impact of “We Are Seven.”
Dialogue
The entire poem is structured as a dialogue, a direct conversation between two characters. This device is crucial for revealing the contrasting perspectives without needing a narrator to explain them. The back-and-forth exchange builds tension and allows the reader to witness the clash of ideologies firsthand. It makes the poem feel immediate and personal, drawing the reader into the debate.
Repetition
Repetition is a powerful device used throughout the poem, most notably with the phrase “we are seven.” This refrain, uttered by the little maid, serves to emphasize her unwavering conviction and the central theme of the poem. Each time she repeats it, it reinforces her steadfast belief against the speaker’s logical arguments. Other repeated phrases, such as “in the church-yard lie,” also underscore the persistent reality of the graves while highlighting the girl’s unique interpretation of that reality.
Imagery
Wordsworth uses vivid, yet simple, imagery to paint a clear picture of the setting and characters. Descriptions like “Her hair was thick with many a curl,” “rustic, woodland air,” and “eyes were fair, and very fair” bring the little maid to life. The imagery of the “green graves” and the “church-yard tree” grounds the abstract discussion of death in a tangible, natural setting, making the girl’s connection to her siblings feel real and immediate. The contrast of “when the ground was white with snow” with the earlier “when the grass was dry” also adds a sense of the passage of time and the enduring nature of her visits.
Simple Diction and Ballad-Like Form
The language of “We Are Seven” is remarkably simple and accessible, mirroring the innocence of the child protagonist. This straightforward diction makes the poem easy to understand, yet it carries profound philosophical weight. The ballad-like form, with its regular rhythm and rhyme, contributes to its memorability and its folk-tale quality, suggesting a universal truth being conveyed through a simple story. This choice reflects Wordsworth’s belief in using the “language really used by men” to convey deep emotions and ideas.
Symbolism
The churchyard itself becomes a powerful symbol. Traditionally a place of sorrow and finality, it is transformed by the girl’s perspective into a place of continued connection and presence. It symbolizes the thin veil between life and death, and how love can bridge that divide. The “church-yard tree” under which her siblings lie can symbolize growth, life, and enduring nature, contrasting with the finality of the graves beneath it. The girl’s activities there, like knitting and eating, symbolize the ongoing care and integration of the deceased into the fabric of daily life.
Juxtaposition
The poem masterfully employs juxtaposition, placing contrasting ideas side by side to highlight their differences. The most prominent is the juxtaposition of life and death, as seen in the speaker’s focus on “limbs they are alive” versus the girl’s inclusion of those who “in the church-yard lie.” This contrast extends to adult logic versus childlike intuition, and physical presence versus spiritual or remembered presence, creating the central tension and meaning of the poem.
Conclusion: The Enduring Wisdom of “We Are Seven”
“We Are Seven” remains a powerful and moving poem that challenges conventional adult perceptions of death and family. Through the innocent yet resolute voice of a young girl, William Wordsworth invites readers to consider a more expansive, intuitive understanding of life’s continuity and the unbreakable bonds of love and memory. The poem’s simple language, engaging dialogue, and rich use of literary devices ensure its lasting impact, making it a profound meditation on what it truly means to be part of a family, even across the threshold of mortality. Its message continues to resonate, reminding us that sometimes, the deepest truths are found not in logic, but in the unwavering conviction of a pure heart.