THREE YEARS SHE GREW IN SUN AND SHOWER

. By; Kumkum Gupta, Associate Professor, Govt. College, Panchkula

The poem was composed in 1798 by an English Poet:

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
(7 April 1770 23 April 1850)

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
Born in Cockermouth, England. Belonged to the Romantic Era in English Literature.

ROMANTIC PERIOD 1785 1830 Also known as the age of new beginning and limitless possibilities. Development of self.

 Closeness to nature and giving human qualities to landscape. Concern for human liberty and outcry against tyranny.

NATURE

OTHER POEMS
Daffodils. The World is too much with us. Lucy Poems. Tinternabbey. Others.

TEXT Three Years She Grew

Three years she grew in sun and shower, Then Nature said, "A lovelier flower On earth was never sown; This Child I to myself will take; She shall be mine, and I will make A Lady of my own.

Contd.
"Myself will to my darling be Both law and impulse: and with me The Girl, in rock and plain, In earth and heaven, in glade and bower, Shall feel an overseeing power To kindle or restrain.

"She shall be sportive as the fawn That wild with glee across the lawn Or up the mountain springs; And hers shall be the breathing balm, And hers the silence and the calm Of mute insensate things.

"The floating clouds their state shall lend To her; for her the willow bend; Nor shall she fail to see Even in the motions of the Storm Grace that shall mould the Maiden's form By silent sympathy

"The stars of midnight shall be dear To her; and she shall lean her ear In many a secret place Where rivulets dance their wayward round, And beauty born of murmuring sound Shall pass into her face.

"And vital feelings of delight Shall rear her form to stately height, Her virgin bosom swell; Such thoughts to Lucy I will give While she and I together live Here in this happy dell."

Thus Nature spakeThe work was done How soon my Lucy's race was run! She died, and left to me This heath, this calm and quiet scene; The memory of what has been, And never more will be.

BACKGROUND

The poet began writing in grammar school.

Before graduating from college went on a walking tour of Europe, which deepened his love for nature and sympathy for the common man.

EUROPE

William Wordsworth was one of the key figures in the Romantic Movement and his poems are characterized by a strong affinity with nature and in particular the Lake District where he lived.

He was often sad by what he saw - rapid change in the early 19 th century-industrialization and found solace in the beauty of nature.

 The poem begins with the personified nature [noticing Lucy at three years]. Nature thinks she is the most beautiful thing on earth and promises to take her into her custody to make her a lady of her own.

Nature promises to make Lucy a part of nature herself. She will be the part of rocks, the earth, the heaven, the grades, the mountain springs, the clouds, the trees, and the storms.

Lucy will also enjoy the nature and understand it.

Themes, Motifs and Symbols

A. Beneficial influence of Nature

Nature provides the ultimate good influence on the human mind. All manifestation of the natural world from the highest mountain to the simplest flower elicit noble ,elevated thoughts.

Nature essential for intellectual/spiritual growth.

B. The power of the human mind

Relation ship between the mind and poetry. Definition of poetry : Emotions recollected in tranquility. Mind transforms the raw emotions of experience into poetry capable of giving pleasure.

C. The splendour of childhood

In Wordsworths poetry childhood is a magical period of innocence. Children have an intense bond with nature and hence are the part of the natural world. They feel joy at seeing a rainbow but great terror at seeing desolation and decay.

 The poet praises the beauty of Lucy and laments her un timely death. In death Lucy retains the innocence and splendour of childhood unlike the children who grow up and lose their connection with nature.

BELIEF

 The poet illustrates the belief that the nature is a great teacher. He believes that one can learn a great lesson if one approaches nature with pure and humble heart.

Heart that watches and receives.

 In the last stanza the poet says that the nature fulfilled her promise but Lucy died very soon. The poet is left lonely in the barren land in a silent atmosphere.

He is left with the memories of the past, of Lucy, whom he will not be able to see again.

PERSONIFICATION
Technique of describing an inanimate object with human like traits and characteristics. e.g.

The tree wept with sadness as the sun set in the evening.
Crying/weeping is a trait associated with human beings.

Nature Personified as Mother

Then Nature said A lovelier flower on earth was never sown, this child I to my self will take, she shall be mine and I will make a lady of my own. Thus nature spake the work was done how soon my Lucys race was run!

Again in Willow bend poet personifies the willow as a human being who bows to instruct /teach humility and sensitivity. Next Rivulets and Streams are personified (as beautiful girls dance and sing).

SIMILE
It is a comparison of unlike things using like/as e.g.Lucy is sportive as the fawn. Poem likens or compares Lucy to a small deer.

ALLITERATION
Repetition of a consonant sound e.g. She grew in sun and shower

ELEGY
Seven stanza poem with characteristics of an elegy ( A song that laments a persons death) e.g. The speaker speaks out of grief:How soon my Lucys race was run. BALLAD Story in a poetical form ( Poem tells a bit of a story)

VOCABULARY
Word meanings:Both law and impulse: and with me In earth and heaven, in glade and bower Of mute insensate things Impulse (Noun): Instinctual Urge. Glade (Noun): Open space in forest. Bower (Noun): Leafy Shelter. Mute (Adjective): Silent

VOCABULARY (Contd.)
Verbs:- Action or Doing words

Three years she grew in sun and shower, Then Nature said, "A lovelier flower On earth was never sown; This Child I to myself will take; She shall be mine, and I will make A Lady of my own.

Tone
Sad yet being in harmony with nature is a happy thing. Admiration, melancholy, yet most beautiful.

Imagery
Descriptive language [for sight] Fawn, Nature [typical of Wordsworth] Descriptive language [for auditory] Musical imagery.

Composed between 6 th October and 28 th December 1798 the poem depicts relationship between Lucy and nature through a complex opposition of images and antithetical couplings of words:sun and shower law and impulse earth and heaven kindle and restrain

Such words are used to evoke the opposing forces inherent in nature. A conflict between nature and humanity is described , as each attempts to posses Lucy.

The poem contains both epithalamic and elegiac characteristics. Lucy is shown as wedded to nature while her human lover is left alone to mourn in the knowledge that death has separated her from humanity.

Typical of Romantic Era/wordsworthian

Simple rustic setting - Familiar Landscape/talk about Lucy. Nature - Plants/ animals in complete unison. Relatable Easily imagine a small playful child. Emotional Appeal Intensity of Love.

 Beauty of the world Not necessarily physical beauty but beauty in nature. Simple Language For the common man.

The poet expresses his faith that nature nourishes physical as well as emotional health . It can play a vital educative and formative role in shaping human character and personality. i.e. common silent and unnoticeable objects of nature have a great influence on the human mind.

Mute insensate things

Thank you