Nutting
by
William Wordsworth
(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)
Nutting
It
seems a day
(I
speak of one from many singled out)
One
of those heavenly days that cannot die,
When
forth I sallied from our cottage-door,
And
with a wallet o’er my shoulder slung,
A
nutting-crook in hand, I turned my steps
Tow’rd
some far-distant wood, a figure quaint,
Tricked
out in proud disguise of cast-off weeds
Which
for that service had been husbanded,
By
exhortation of my frugal Dame—
Motley
accoutrement, of power to smile
At
thorns, and brakes, and brambles,—and, in truth,
More
ragged than need was! O’er pathless rocks,
Through
beds of matted fern, and tangled thickets,
Forcing
my way, I came to one dear nook
Unvisited,
where not a broken bough
Drooped
with its withered leaves, ungracious sign
Of
devastation; but the hazels rose
Tall
and erect, with tempting clusters hung,
A
virgin scene!—A little while I stood,
Breathing
with such suppression of the heart
As
joy delights in; and with wise restraint
Voluptuous,
fearless of a rival, eyed
The
banquet; or beneath the trees I sate
Among
the flowers, and with the flowers I played;
A
temper known to those who, after long
And
weary expectation, have been blessed
With
sudden happiness beyond all hope.—
Perhaps
it was a bower beneath whose leaves
The
violets of five seasons reappear
And
fade, unseen by any human eye;
Where
fairy water-breaks do murmur on
For
ever; and I saw the sparkling foam,
And—with
my cheek on one of those green stones
That,
fleeced with moss, under the shady trees,
Lay
round me, scattered like a flock of sheep—
I
heard the murmur and the murmuring sound,
In
that sweet mood when pleasure loves to pay
Tribute
to ease; and, of its joy secure,
The
heart luxuriates with indifferent things,
Wasting
its kindliness on stocks and stones,
And
on the vacant air. Then up I rose,
And
dragged to earth both branch and bough, with crash
And
merciless ravage: and the shady nook
Of
hazels, and the green and mossy bower,
Deformed
and sullied, patiently gave up
Their
quiet being: and unless I now
Confound
my present feelings with the past,
Ere
from the mutilated bower I turned
Exulting,
rich beyond the wealth of kings,
I
felt a sense of pain when I beheld
The
silent trees, and saw the intruding sky—
Then,
dearest Maiden, move along these shades
In
gentleness of heart; with gentle hand
Touch—for
there is a spirit in the woods.
Summary
Opening
– The Memory of a Special Day
The
speaker recalls a memorable day from his youth—a day that stands out as one of
those rare, “heavenly” days that seem eternal. He sets out from his cottage,
dressed in mismatched, second-hand clothes specifically kept for outdoor
excursions. He carries a wallet (a small bag) over his shoulder and a
“nutting-crook” (a stick used to hook branches) in hand.
Journey
into Nature
He
describes his solitary walk through rough, untamed natural landscapes: over
rocks, through fern-covered ground, and tangled thickets. He is heading towards
a secluded wood, far from any human presence.
Discovery
of a Virgin Nook
Eventually,
he arrives at an untouched, hidden spot in the woods where hazel trees stand
tall and undisturbed. No broken branches or withered leaves suggest previous
visitors—this place is pristine and pure. The hazel trees are laden with nuts,
and the sight fills him with quiet joy and deep reverence.
A
Moment of Calm and Wonder
Before
gathering any nuts, he pauses to take in the beauty and stillness of the place.
He breathes deeply, feeling a hushed joy. He sits among the flowers, feeling
overwhelmed by sudden happiness, as if gifted beyond expectation. The speaker
imagines this grove as a magical spot, untouched for years, with murmuring
brooks and mossy stones like sleeping sheep. Resting with his cheek against one
of these mossy stones, he listens to the soothing sounds around him and feels a
gentle, dreamy pleasure.
The
Act of Destruction
However,
after this serene moment, the mood changes. The speaker suddenly rises and
begins to break branches and tear down the hazel boughs to gather nuts. He
describes this as “merciless ravage.” The once-peaceful bower is violently
disturbed and ruined by his actions. The natural beauty is “deformed and
sullied,” as if he has violated something sacred.
Emotional
Aftermath
After
collecting the nuts, he feels a mixture of triumph and unease. Though he is
“rich beyond the wealth of kings,” he experiences a sense of pain. The
destruction he has caused makes him notice the quiet trees and the now-visible
sky—details that suggest loss. The mood turns reflective.
Closing
Advice
In
the final lines, he turns to address a “dearest Maiden” (likely symbolic of
innocence or a younger version of himself or others). He advises walking
through nature gently, with kindness in the heart and a soft hand. He ends with
the statement: “there is a spirit in the woods,” suggesting that nature is
alive and deserving of respect.
Line-by-line
Paraphrase
It
seems a day
I
speak of one from many singled out
➡ It was one particular day,
special among many others,
One
of those heavenly days that cannot die,
➡ A perfect, blissful day
that stays in memory forever,
When
forth I sallied from our cottage-door,
➡ When I eagerly stepped out
from our cottage,
And
with a wallet o’er my shoulder slung,
➡ Carrying a bag slung over
my shoulder,
A
nutting-crook in hand, I turned my steps
➡ And holding a hooked stick
for gathering nuts, I began walking
Tow’rd
some far-distant wood, a figure quaint,
➡ Toward a distant forest,
looking rather strange,
Tricked
out in proud disguise of cast-off weeds
➡ Dressed proudly in old,
worn-out clothes,
Which
for that service had been husbanded,
➡ Which had been saved
especially for this kind of outing,
By
exhortation of my frugal Dame—
➡ On the advice of my thrifty
mother.
Motley
accoutrement, of power to smile
➡ My odd outfit gave me
courage to laugh at
At
thorns, and brakes, and brambles,—and, in truth,
➡ The thorns, thick bushes,
and brambles in my way—and honestly,
More
ragged than need was! O’er pathless rocks,
➡ I was more ragged than
necessary! Over rocky places with no path,
Through
beds of matted fern, and tangled thickets,
➡ And through thick,
entangled fern and underbrush,
Forcing
my way, I came to one dear nook
➡ Pushing forward, I arrived
at a beloved hidden spot,
Unvisited,
where not a broken bough
➡ A place no one had
disturbed—no branch was broken,
Drooped
with its withered leaves, ungracious sign
➡ Nor did any branch hang
with dry, dead leaves,
Of
devastation; but the hazels rose
➡ Showing signs of damage.
Instead, the hazel trees stood
Tall
and erect, with tempting clusters hung,
➡ Tall and upright, with
inviting clusters of nuts,
A
virgin scene!—A little while I stood,
➡ A pure, untouched place!—I
stood there briefly,
Breathing
with such suppression of the heart
➡ Holding my breath in deep
emotion,
As
joy delights in; and with wise restraint
➡ The kind of quiet joy that
comes with self-control,
Voluptuous,
fearless of a rival, eyed
➡ Joyfully savoring the view,
without fear of anyone else arriving,
The
banquet; or beneath the trees I sate
➡ I either looked at this
feast of nature or sat beneath the trees,
Among
the flowers, and with the flowers I played;
➡ Among the wildflowers,
playing and admiring them,
A
temper known to those who, after long
➡ A feeling familiar to
anyone who, after long
And
weary expectation, have been blessed
➡ And tiring waiting, is
suddenly given
With
sudden happiness beyond all hope.—
➡ A joy greater than they
could have hoped for.
Perhaps
it was a bower beneath whose leaves
➡ Maybe it was a hidden arbor
beneath whose leaves
The
violets of five seasons reappear
➡ The violets had bloomed and
returned for five years
And
fade, unseen by any human eye;
➡ And faded again, unseen by
people;
Where
fairy water-breaks do murmur on
➡ Where gentle, magical
streams continued to murmur
For
ever; and I saw the sparkling foam,
➡ Endlessly; and I saw the
sparkling white water,
And—with
my cheek on one of those green stones
➡ And with my face resting on
a mossy green stone
That,
fleeced with moss, under the shady trees,
➡ That was covered in moss
beneath the shady trees,
Lay
round me, scattered like a flock of sheep—
➡ Stones scattered around
like a flock of resting sheep—
I
heard the murmur and the murmuring sound,
➡ I listened to the constant
soft sounds of water,
In
that sweet mood when pleasure loves to pay
➡ In that blissful mood where
even simple things feel rewarding,
Tribute
to ease; and, of its joy secure,
➡ When joy is so secure that
it gives in to peace and relaxation,
The
heart luxuriates with indifferent things,
➡ And the heart indulges in
joy over even trivial things,
Wasting
its kindliness on stocks and stones,
➡ Feeling warmth even for
trees and rocks,
And
on the vacant air. Then up I rose,
➡ And for the empty air
itself. Then I got up,
And
dragged to earth both branch and bough, with crash
➡ And violently pulled down
branches from the trees,
And
merciless ravage: and the shady nook
➡ Destroying everything
without mercy. The shaded area
Of
hazels, and the green and mossy bower,
➡ Full of hazel trees and the
mossy green nook,
Deformed
and sullied, patiently gave up
➡ Became damaged and ruined,
yet endured it silently,
Their
quiet being: and unless I now
➡ Giving up their peaceful
existence. And unless I’m now
Confound
my present feelings with the past,
➡ Mixing up how I feel now
with how I felt then,
Ere
from the mutilated bower I turned
➡ Before I left the ruined
bower behind,
Exulting,
rich beyond the wealth of kings,
➡ Feeling triumphant and
rich—richer than any king—
I
felt a sense of pain when I beheld
➡ I still felt a deep pain
when I looked around
The
silent trees, and saw the intruding sky—
➡ And saw the quiet trees and
the sky peeking through the broken branches—
Then,
dearest Maiden, move along these shades
➡ So now, dear girl, walk
through these woods
In
gentleness of heart; with gentle hand
➡ With a kind and tender
heart; and with a soft touch,
Touch—for
there is a spirit in the woods.
➡ Touch everything gently—for
nature has a living spirit within it.
Analysis
in Detail
William
Wordsworth’s poem “Nutting”, first published in the 1800 edition of Lyrical
Ballads, is a reflective and autobiographical piece that captures a significant
experience from the poet’s youth. It is not merely a memory of a childhood
excursion but a profound meditation on nature, innocence, destruction, and the
awakening of moral and spiritual consciousness. Written in blank verse
(unrhymed iambic pentameter), the poem showcases Wordsworth’s characteristic
reverence for nature and his philosophical depth, framed through the lens of a
simple pastoral episode.
The
Setting and Structure
The
poem is narrated as a recollection of a single memorable day from the speaker’s
boyhood—a day set apart as “one of those heavenly days that cannot die.” The
narrative unfolds chronologically: the boy’s departure from home, his journey
through untamed nature, the discovery of a secluded grove of hazel trees, the
moment of serene admiration, and then the sudden violent act of gathering nuts,
which shatters the harmony of the place. This is followed by a reflective
conclusion, where the speaker offers a moral appeal, addressed to a “dearest
Maiden,” perhaps a younger person or symbolic of innocence itself.
Wordsworth
uses this simple structure to dramatize a moral and emotional journey. The
transformation from peace to destruction, and from innocence to guilt,
parallels the human journey from unawareness to ethical maturity.
Nature
as a Living Presence
At
the heart of the poem is Wordsworth’s deep spiritual connection with nature.
The forest is not merely a backdrop; it is almost personified. The untouched
hazel grove is described as a “virgin scene,” suggesting purity and sacredness.
The description is sensual and reverent—the boy is emotionally overwhelmed by
its beauty, entering a contemplative state where he plays with flowers and
listens to murmuring water. Nature offers not only beauty but a kind of
unspoken wisdom, a spiritual atmosphere that the speaker recognizes as alive:
“there is a spirit in the woods.”
Wordsworth’s
Romantic view of nature as a divine and instructive presence is central here.
Nature is both teacher and sanctuary, but it is also vulnerable to human
interference. The poet warns that our actions toward the natural world are
morally significant.
Innocence,
Impulse, and Destruction
A
major turning point in the poem occurs when the boy, after a period of wonder
and calm, suddenly shifts from passive enjoyment to violent action. He begins
breaking branches and stripping the grove of its nuts with “merciless ravage.”
This destruction contrasts sharply with the earlier serenity and reverence.
This
act is symbolic of a loss of innocence. The speaker doesn’t fully understand
his motives—there is no external pressure or need, just a surge of impulsive
desire to possess and dominate. In this sense, “Nutting” becomes a spiritual
allegory: the boy's impulse echoes the biblical Fall—a move from harmony with
nature into a state of moral conflict.
The
phrase “rich beyond the wealth of kings” ironically underscores the hollowness
of material gain achieved at the expense of natural beauty. What seems like
triumph is undercut by a deep sense of pain and guilt. The destruction brings
no lasting joy, only a reflective sorrow.
Memory
and Moral Reflection
One
of Wordsworth’s strengths lies in his ability to reflect on past experiences
with the clarity and wisdom of adulthood. In “Nutting”, the speaker’s current
voice is more mature than the boy he once was. This reflective voice introduces
a layer of ethical understanding that the child could not yet articulate.
The
final stanza introduces a didactic tone. The speaker addresses a “Maiden” and
urges her to tread gently in nature, to handle it with care and respect. The
poem thus functions as a moral tale—not merely recounting what happened, but
drawing a spiritual lesson from it.
By
ending with the line, “there is a spirit in the woods,” Wordsworth affirms his
belief in the sacredness of nature. This spiritual presence demands not only
awe but ethical treatment. The poet’s transformation from innocent joy to
destructive impulse and finally to reflective awareness mirrors humanity’s own
journey from ignorance through mistake to insight.
Language
and Style
Wordsworth’s
language in “Nutting” is deliberately plain, yet rich with natural imagery and
emotional resonance. The use of blank verse allows a flexible and natural flow
of thought. The diction shifts with the mood of the poem—from the joyful,
almost playful language of the early stanzas, to the solemn, weighty tone of
the reflection. Vivid descriptions of the landscape (“beds of matted fern,”
“violets of five seasons”) immerse the reader in the sensory richness of the
scene.
Furthermore,
the poem is infused with sensuality—not in a sexual sense, but in its
attentiveness to texture, sound, and touch. The speaker’s experience is tactile
and embodied, heightening the emotional impact of the later devastation.
Conclusion
William
Wordsworth’s “Nutting” is much more than a pastoral recollection. It is a
poetic meditation on the tension between human desire and the sanctity of
nature. Through the speaker’s youthful joy, impulsive destruction, and mature
regret, the poem presents a deeply moral vision of the natural world—not as a
resource to be used, but as a living presence to be honored.
Ultimately,
the poem offers a timeless message: that our relationship with nature reflects
our inner life. When we act with reverence, we are in harmony; when we act
selfishly, we harm not only the world but our own spirit. “Nutting” thus stands
as one of Wordsworth’s most intimate and morally resonant poems, capturing the
profound spiritual lessons hidden in the simplest of rural experiences.
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