William Wordsworth's "There Was a Boy"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that William Wordsworth fills "There Was a Boy" with natural imagery and a contemplative tone, which are typical of the romantic tradition. The author points out that, taken literally, the poem tells the story of a boy, who seems to die near the end of the poem; however, beneath the surface, this poem addresses the difficult theme of sexual maturation. The paper relates that Wordsworth hints through the use of mirroring, echoing imagery and repetition of key words and phrases that the narrator is the titular boy, whose innocence is silenced by the rigid world of social norms and rules.

From the Paper:

"After the climax of "concourse wild," silence ensues. The silence serves several purposes in "There Was a Boy." Initially the silence contrasts so sharply with the "jocund din" the narrator just referred to, enhancing the power of the aural imagery of the previous section. Silence also foreshadows the symbolic death about to occur, the symbolic death of innocence. The narrator later refers to himself as "mute" to show that the pressures of adulthood can silence the playfulness of childhood. As a child, he was able to commune with different species, whereas as an adult he has been silenced."

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