By William Wordsworth
1
She dwelt among the untrodden ways
Beside the springs of Dove,
A Maid whom there were none to praise
And very few to love:
Explanation
She dwelt among the untrodden ways
The woman (Lucy) lived in a remote, untouched place where few people went.
Beside the springs of Dove
She lived near the springs of a river called Dove, a peaceful and natural setting.
A Maid whom there were none to praise
She was a young woman who didn’t receive much attention or admiration from others.
And very few to love
Only a handful of people loved or cared about her.
Summary of Stanza 1: Lucy lived in a quiet, secluded place. She wasn’t famous or widely loved, and her life was private.
2
A violet by a mossy stone
Half hidden from the eye!
—Fair as a star, when only one
Is shining in the sky.
Explanation
A violet by a mossy stone
Lucy is compared to a small, delicate violet flower growing next to a moss-covered rock, suggesting she’s beautiful but not easily noticed.
Half hidden from the eye!
Like the flower, she’s partly hidden, meaning she doesn’t stand out.
—Fair as a star, when only one
She’s as beautiful as a single star shining alone in the night sky, showing her unique beauty.
Is shining in the sky.
The single star emphasizes her simplicity and quiet charm, noticed by few.
Summary of Stanza 2: This stanza describes Lucy’s beauty using nature metaphors. She’s lovely but overlooked, like a hidden flower or a lone star.
3
She lived unknown, and few could know
When Lucy ceased to be;
But she is in her grave, and, oh,
The difference to me!
Explanation
She lived unknown, and few could know
Lucy lived a quiet life, and hardly anyone knew about her.
When Lucy ceased to be;
Few noticed when she died.
But she is in her grave, and, oh,
Now she’s dead and buried.
The difference to me!
Her death deeply affects the speaker, who feels great personal loss.
Summary of Stanza 3: Lucy’s death went unnoticed by most, but the speaker, who loved her, feels immense grief.Read More
No Responses