Class IX [Beehive] Unit - 8: A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal by William Wordsworth

Unit - 8: A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal by William Wordsworth

Glossary
1. Slumber – sleep
2. Spirit – soul
3. Seal – close / shut off
4. Human fear – emotion perceived from danger
5. Earthly years- (here) ravages of time
6. Motion – movement
7. Force – (here) power of her own
8. Diurnal: daily (“Earth’s diurnal course” is earth’s daily rotation on its axis.)

Synopsis of the Poem
The first stanza deals with the poets shock at the death of his beloved. He was enthralled by her beauty and never thought that he might lose her some day. Her death benumbed his senses and he ceased to perceive any kind of feeling or fear. His beloved the lively and lovely Lucy is no longer able to feel anything anymore and is beyond the reach of time. The ravages of time could no longer harm her. This realization brings about a sense of peace in the poet’s mind.

In the second stanza the poet accepts death as an inevitable truth that everyone has to face. He tells us that his beloved is no longer alive and therefore does not move, see or hear anymore. The poet realizes that she is now an inseparable part of nature and will eternally roll around with the earth’s rotation on its axis; just like rocks, stones and trees.

Central Idea: "A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal" by William Wordsworth explores the theme of death and the connection between life and the afterlife. The poem reflects on the poet's emotional state after the death of his loved one, with an emphasis on the peacefulness of eternal sleep. The poem mainly deals with the inevitability of death and the stoic calm that one experiences with acceptance of death. The poet accepts the death of his beloved and realises that she has become a part of nature and is now beyond the grasp of time. Nothing can harm her anymore and in being a part of nature she has been immortalized.

Themes
1. Death and Afterlife: The poem addresses the inevitability of death and the notion of life continuing in another form.
2. Nature and Transcendence: It suggests the idea that death is a natural part of life and may lead to a transcendence into an eternal, peaceful existence.
3. Loss and Grief: The poet expresses a sense of loss, yet the tone conveys acceptance of the cycle of life and death.
4. Eternal Peace: The poem emphasizes the concept of eternal peace that follows death, free from earthly worries.

Message: The poet gives us the message that death is inevitable and everyone born in this earth must return to dust and become a part of nature. The poem conveys that death is not something to fear, but rather a natural transition to a peaceful, eternal state.
Underlying Message: Death should be viewed as a serene and peaceful continuation, where the soul is liberated from earthly constraints, and one remains united with nature and the universe.

Literary Devices in ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’

1.Alliteration – A slumber did my spirit seal. – ‘s’ sound is repeated, Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course. ‘r’ sound is repeated.
2. Metaphor – ‘A slumber did my spirit seal.’ The poet’s peaceful state is compared to a state as if he is in a deep sleep.
3. Personification – ‘The touch of earthly years.’Here the ‘earthly years’ have been attributed with human qualities.
4. Repetition – ‘No’, ‘’and’ – these two words are repeated twice in the same line.
5. Rhyme scheme of ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal,’ The rhyme scheme of the poem is ‘abab  cdcd’. The fist line rhymes with the third line, the second with the fourth. The fifth line rhymes with the seventh one and the sixth line with the eighth.

NCERT Questions

Q1. “A slumber did my spirit seal,” says the poet. That is, a deep sleep ‘closed off ’ his soul (or mind). How does the poet react to his loved one’s death? Does he feel bitter grief? Or does he feel a great peace?

Answer 1: The poet is shocked and surprised at the death of his beloved. Her death pained him a lot and saddened him. But with the passing of time the ‘bitter grief’ reduces with gradual acceptance and realization that his beloved has become a part of nature and is beyond the mortal earthly touch. The poet feels peaceful and becomes passive to all human feelings and fears.

Q2. The passing of time will no longer affect her, says the poet. Which lines of the poem say this?

Answer 2: The lines which convey that the poet’s beloved is no longer affected by the passing of time are-
“She seems a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.”

Q3. How does the poet imagine her to be, after death? Does he think of her as a person living in a very happy state (a ‘heaven’)? Or does he see her now as a part of nature? In which lines of the poem do you find your answer?

Answer 3: The poet thinks that his beloved has become an inseparable part of nature. 
No, he possibly does not think that she is in a happy state in heaven. He sees her as a person who is dead and has lost all her human feelings. She has become a part of the earth and in that way she has become immortal.

The lines which tell us so are-
“Rolled around in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees.”

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)  
Q4. Justify the title of the poem – “A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal.”

Answer 4: According to me, the title of the poem is justified because the poem talks about the effect of the sudden and untimely death of his beloved. After his death he feels benumbed with grief, as if a deep slumber has sealed his spirit. The acceptance of her death makes him fell at peace which seems to close off all feelings from his body and soul. His beloved, now a part of nature, will no longer be affected by earthly years. She will not feel any motion or force, nor will she be able to perceive with her eyes and ears. The poet realizes that she is now an inseparable part of nature and will eternally roll around with the earth’s rotation on its axis; just like rocks, stones and trees. Therefore, the spirit of the poet is engulfed in a slumber and has become free from human feelings and fears.

Value-Based Question (VBQ)
Q5. In the poem "A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal," Wordsworth reflects on the peaceful nature of death. In today's world, many people are fearful of death and struggle to cope with the loss of loved ones. How can we, as individuals, adopt a more peaceful and accepting attitude towards the inevitable nature of death, as suggested in the poem?

Answer 5: To adopt a more peaceful and accepting attitude toward death, we can take inspiration from Wordsworth's portrayal of death in "A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal." The poet presents death as a serene, natural transition, not something to fear. By recognizing that death is part of life’s cycle, we can approach it with acceptance rather than dread. Focusing on the positive aspects of life and cherishing memories of loved ones can help us cope with loss. Emotional strength and a sense of peace can come from understanding death as a release from suffering, ultimately leading to eternal tranquility and harmony.