“We Are Seven” by William Wordsworth: A Critical Analysis

———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!”

1. Innocence and Childhood Perspective

The theme of innocence and childhood is central to “We Are Seven.” The young girl embodies the untainted wisdom of a child who views the world with simplicity and emotional clarity. Her steadfast insistence that her deceased siblings are still part of her family reflects the purity of a child’s understanding. The narrator’s rhetorical question, “What should it know of death?” in the opening stanza, underscores the contrast between adult skepticism and the child’s intuitive grasp of life and death. The girl’s actions, such as sitting by her siblings’ graves and knitting or singing, as described in the lines “My stockings there I often knit, / My kerchief there I hem,” demonstrate her ability to maintain a serene and innocent connection with the dead. This theme celebrates the Romantic ideal of a child’s perspective as closer to nature and truth.

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2. Life, Death, and Continuity

The poem explores the theme of life and death as interconnected rather than opposites. The girl’s assertion, “Seven boys and girls are we,” even when two of her siblings are deceased, reflects her belief in the continuity of familial bonds beyond physical death. For her, death does not sever relationships but integrates them into the fabric of life. The description of the graves as “green” and “twelve steps or more from my mother’s door” situates the dead within the family’s immediate environment, blending life and death in the same space. Wordsworth emphasizes that the girl’s perspective challenges the adult narrator’s logical view that the dead are “only memories,” presenting a poignant Romantic meditation on mortality and eternal connection.

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3. Nature as a Source of Consolation

Wordsworth’s Romantic sensibility shines through the theme of nature as a source of solace and continuity. The girl’s rustic and woodland charm, described as having “a rustic, woodland air,” reflects her deep integration into the natural world. Nature surrounds the graves of her siblings, with “their graves are green” evoking the cyclical renewal of life. By spending her time in the churchyard, knitting, eating, and singing, the girl draws emotional comfort from the natural setting, blending her siblings’ resting place with the living world. This theme highlights how nature offers a soothing presence, bridging the gap between life and death.

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4. Conflict Between Rationality and Emotion

The poem also addresses the conflict between rational adult logic and the emotional truth of a child’s perception. The narrator, embodying reason, repeatedly questions the girl’s arithmetic: “If two are in the church-yard laid, / Then ye are only five.” His attempts to reconcile her claim of being seven with his logical understanding of death are met with her firm insistence: “O Master! we are seven.” This conflict underscores the Romantic critique of rationalism, suggesting that emotional and spiritual truths often surpass logical reasoning. The girl’s unwavering belief in her continued connection with her siblings emphasizes the value of emotional authenticity and challenges the narrator’s inability to comprehend her perspective fully. This theme showcases Wordsworth’s Romantic celebration of feeling and intuition over cold logic.

1. How does the poem reflect Romantic ideals?

“We Are Seven” reflects the core Romantic ideals of innocence, emotion, and a connection to nature. The young girl’s perspective on death demonstrates the Romantic fascination with childhood innocence as a source of profound wisdom. Her firm declaration, “Seven boys and girls are we,” challenges the narrator’s logical reasoning and highlights her emotional understanding of life and death. Wordsworth idealizes the girl’s rustic simplicity and her deep relationship with nature, evident in descriptions like, “Her hair was thick with many a curl / That clustered round her head.” The emphasis on natural imagery, such as the “green” graves under the “church-yard tree,” further aligns with Romanticism’s celebration of nature as a spiritual force. The poem critiques adult rationality and champions the emotional depth of a child’s perspective, embodying the Romantic belief in the superiority of intuition and feeling over reason.

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2. What is the significance of the child’s unwavering belief that “we are seven”?

The child’s insistence that she and her siblings remain seven highlights a profound emotional and spiritual truth. For her, the bonds of family are unbroken by physical death, as she continues to interact with her deceased siblings by sitting at their graves, knitting, and singing. This is seen in the lines, “And there upon the ground I sit, / And sing a song to them.” Her perspective reflects an intuitive understanding of life and death as interconnected, rather than divided. This belief clashes with the narrator’s logical reasoning, as he repeatedly asserts, “If two are in the church-yard laid, / Then ye are only five.” The girl’s unwavering stance underscores a Romantic theme: that emotional and spiritual truths often transcend intellectual logic, revealing a deep continuity between the living and the dead.

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3. How does the poem address the theme of life and death?

The poem presents life and death not as opposites but as parts of a continuous experience. The girl’s perception of her deceased siblings reflects a worldview where the dead remain a tangible presence. She describes their graves as “twelve steps or more from my mother’s door,” symbolizing their proximity to her daily life. Her interactions with the graves—knitting, eating supper, and playing nearby—highlight her acceptance of death as a natural part of existence. The narrator, by contrast, sees death as a complete severance, evident in his repeated insistence that “they are dead.” This thematic conflict between the girl’s spiritual unity and the narrator’s physical separation of life and death emphasizes Wordsworth’s Romantic critique of rigid rationality and his exploration of deeper, holistic views of existence.

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4. What role does nature play in shaping the poem’s emotional tone?

Nature plays a vital role in establishing the emotional tone of “We Are Seven.” The pastoral setting, described through imagery of the “church-yard tree” and “green” graves, creates a serene and comforting atmosphere. The girl’s rustic, “woodland air” and her integration into the natural environment emphasize her harmony with the world around her. Nature also serves as a bridge between life and death, with the graves described as part of the living landscape rather than isolated places of sorrow. The child’s activities—knitting, playing, and singing by the graves—highlight her ease with this environment, blending innocence with an acceptance of mortality. Through these elements, Wordsworth conveys an emotional tone that is both tender and contemplative, inviting readers to see nature as a source of solace and continuity amidst life’s transitions.