Animal Tranquillity and Decay by William Wordsworth (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

Animal Tranquillity and Decay

by William Wordsworth

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

Animal Tranquillity and Decay

The little hedgerow birds,

That peck along the road, regard him not.

He travels on, and in his face, his step,

His gait, is one expression; every limb,

His look and bending figure, all bespeak

A man who does not move with pain, but moves

With thought. He is insensibly subdued

To settled quiet: he is one by whom

All effort seems forgotten; one to whom

Long patience has such mild composure given

That patience now doth seem a thing of which

He hath no need. He is by nature led

To peace so perfect that the young behold

With envy, what the old man hardly feels.

 

Summary

The poem presents a quiet, descriptive sketch of an old man who is walking along a country road. Wordsworth observes this figure closely and shares his impressions in a reflective tone.

The poem begins by describing how small birds along the hedgerow are undisturbed by the old man’s presence. They continue pecking along the road without fear, as if they sense no threat or disturbance from him.

As the old man walks slowly and quietly, every part of his movement — his face, step, and posture — shows one consistent emotion or state of being. There is no sign of physical pain in his movements, but rather a deep stillness and thoughtfulness.

The poet notes that this man appears to be completely subdued by quietness. He is so calm and still that it seems like he no longer needs to try to be patient — his patience is now part of him, not something he struggles for.

The old man gives the impression of someone who has, over time, become so used to waiting and enduring that he no longer notices it. This deep calmness, which may have once come from effort, now appears to be natural and effortless.

In the final lines, Wordsworth reflects on how this peaceful state is so perfect that even the young admire it, though they might not understand it. Ironically, the old man himself might hardly notice it anymore — it has become an unconscious part of him.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. The little hedgerow birds,

→ The small birds sitting in the bushes along the roadside,

 

2. That peck along the road, regard him not.

→ Keep pecking at the ground and don’t even pay attention to him.

 

3. He travels on, and in his face, his step,

→ He keeps walking, and in his facial expression and the way he walks,

 

4. His gait, is one expression; every limb,

→ His walk and movements all show a single, unified feeling.

 

5. His look and bending figure, all bespeak

→ His appearance and stooped posture clearly suggest

 

6. A man who does not move with pain, but moves

→ That he is not in physical pain, but he moves

 

7. With thought.

→ In a thoughtful, reflective manner.

 

8. He is insensibly subdued

→ He has quietly and gradually been brought

 

9. To settled quiet:

→ To a deep, calm state of peace.

 

10. he is one by whom

→ He is someone for whom

 

11. All effort seems forgotten;

→ Any sense of striving or trying seems to have disappeared.

 

12. one to whom

→ He appears to be a person for whom

 

13. Long patience has such mild composure given

→ A lifetime of patience has given him a very gentle and calm spirit

 

14. That patience now doth seem a thing of which

→ So much so, that patience now appears to be something

 

15. He hath no need.

→ He doesn’t even need anymore — it’s become natural to him.

 

16. He is by nature led

→ He is guided naturally now

 

17. To peace so perfect that the young behold

→ Toward such a complete, perfect peace that young people see it

 

18. With envy,

→ And feel jealous of it,

 

19. what the old man hardly feels.

→ Even though the old man himself barely notices or feels it anymore.

 

Analysis in Detail

Title Significance

The title "Animal Tranquillity and Decay" immediately draws attention to two contrasting but related ideas: tranquillity, which suggests peace, calm, and stillness (qualities associated with nature or animals), and decay, which suggests aging, decline, and mortality. The phrase “A Sketch” hints that this is not a grand or complex portrait, but a brief poetic snapshot—an impressionistic observation of a single figure that reveals broader truths about human life.

 

Theme 1: Peace Through Aging and Resignation

The central figure in the poem is an old man who has reached such a deep state of calm and acceptance that he no longer needs to consciously practice patience—it has become his very nature. His body and movements reflect a life that has gradually yielded to time, to loss, and perhaps to suffering, but without resistance. He is not described as broken or bitter, but still and peaceful, even enviable.

Wordsworth seems to suggest that true tranquillity does not come from an absence of trouble, but from having passed through life’s struggles and having come out on the other side, subdued, calm, and at peace. This tranquillity is not passive or lifeless—it has a dignity and depth born from experience.

 

Theme 2: Nature and Innocence

The opening lines describe the small hedgerow birds that peck along the road and do not fear the man. This peaceful coexistence between man and nature sets the tone. In Wordsworth’s worldview (influenced by Romantic ideals), nature often reflects or responds to human emotion. The fact that the birds are unbothered by him indicates that the man has become non-threatening, gentle, and in harmony with the natural world.

There’s an almost animal-like simplicity and innocence to the man, which ties back to the idea of “animal tranquillity.” He’s not trying to dominate, achieve, or control—he simply is. That is a form of moral and spiritual peace Wordsworth admired.

 

Theme 3: Contrast Between Youth and Old Age

In the final lines, Wordsworth draws attention to how the young envy the old man’s peace, even though the man himself may no longer be aware of it. This contrast highlights two truths:

Youth often longs for peace, but struggles to attain it due to passion, desire, and unrest.

Old age may embody peace so fully that it becomes unnoticed, absorbed into the self.

This presents a gentle irony: what youth craves consciously, old age possesses unconsciously.

 

Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is gentle, meditative, and respectful. There is no dramatic tension or conflict; instead, there is a quiet unfolding of observation. The mood is serene but also slightly melancholic, as the peace being described comes not from joy or vitality but from decay and surrender. Still, it is not a depressing poem—it finds beauty in decline and grace in the passage of time.

 

Structure and Style

The poem is written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), a form that gives it a natural, conversational rhythm.

The syntax flows gently, with enjambment (sentences running across lines) creating a fluid, thoughtful pace.

It lacks dramatic imagery or ornate language; instead, Wordsworth uses plain, dignified diction to reflect the subject’s simplicity and depth.

 

Philosophical Reflection

This poem is also a reflection on what it means to grow old—not just physically but spiritually. Wordsworth suggests that aging brings not only decline, but also a freedom from striving, a release from the burdens of ambition, desire, and effort. This is not a loss but a different kind of fulfillment—a life that has settled into itself.

 

Moral Vision

True to Wordsworth’s Romantic ideals, the poem values inner stillness over outer achievement, nature over society, and acceptance over ambition. In the old man’s tranquillity, there is quiet wisdom—an unspoken testimony to a life shaped and softened by time.