Wordsworth- Book Third

With nature as his closest companion thus far, Book Third introduces us into a whole new part of Wordsworth’s life. Although we have seen into the abstract thinking he has used to describe his earlier years, Book Third provides a totally different outlook. We find Wordsworth during his attendance at St. John’s College (Cambridge), with a new found desire to interact with the world—and people—around him. From this, he begins to describe things in a much more concrete sense, telling of the different types of people he sees and where he is going. A dramatic change from what has been seen up until this point, these exact descriptions allow the reader to connect on a personal level, almost as if they are there walking around with him. At this point, it is easy to begin noting that human interactions will be a key influence on Wordsworth while he is in Cambridge.

Once it has been established where he is, Wordsworth’s more abstract descriptions become intertwined with the concrete ones and slowly become the dominant style. This unique mix allows the reader to feel the transition he is experiencing by heading to Cambridge. With the writing style being primarily abstract until this move, a quick shift to concrete gives the reader the feeling of the dramatic change. However, he slowly begins to become comfortable with his surroundings and notices more than just the visual aspects. He goes deeper within himself to find the higher meaning of what is going on around him. This feature of switching styles gives off the type of feeling that could be attributed to moving off to college.

While the first two books have been about nature, this book involves a deeper relationship—with people. It is in this new found relationship with humans that Wordsworth is able to acknowledge that people are the source of happiness also. He is finally able to see that nature can be comforting, but people are better company. For example, when he mentions the friends he has already made in his short time there, Wordsworth says “some friends I had, acquaintances who there seemed friends, poor simple schoolboys, now hung round with honour and importance: in a world of welcome faces”. This portion of the poem allows the reader to get a feel for the importance people will have on his writing style. It is easy to assume from this early on in the poem that he is excited about this new idea of being with people and how it can provoke emotions and ideas he did not realize he had. Had Book Third in its entirety be more about imagery, rather than interactions, it would have not given the reader to opportunity to understand exactly how this new place in his life if affecting his deepest feelings. His entire college experience seemed to be more educational that it was intentionally meant to be. It seems as if it provided a new place to Wordsworth to go with his writing and a different outlook and the world—seeing nature more as just nature, and the complexities that are associated with each person he meet during his years at St. John’s College.