A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal by William Wordsworth Class IX

I. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
A slumber did my spirit seal—
I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.
1. What does the poet mean by ‘A slumber did my spirit seal’?
The poet means to say that the initial shock of losing his beloved made him numb. It
was as if a deep sleep had closed off his mind and heart and he was unable to perceive any
kind of emotion.
2. Why did the poet have no “human fears”?
The poet did not feel any kind of fear that human beings feel as his mind had become
numb with the shock of losing Lucy, his beloved.
3. “She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.” - Interpret the given lines.
The poet’s beloved was dead and therefore was now like an inanimate object which
was beyond the grasp of time. The years on earth or time will no longer be able to affect
her and therefore she is beyond the touch of earthly years.
4. Bring out the rhyme scheme of the given Stanza.
The rhyme scheme of the given stanza is ‘abab’.
5. Pick the synonym of the word ‘sleep’ from the above lines.
The word is ‘slumber’.

II. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words.

1. Why could she not feel the touch of earthly years?
The poet’s beloved could not feel the touch of earthly years as she was dead and did
not have any feelings. She would not age or be affected by time as she has eternally
become an inseparable part of nature.
2. Describe her condition after death as depicted by the poet.
After her death, the poet describes his beloved as someone who will never again be
affected by time. She will not be able to feel any motion or force, nor will she be able to
hear or see. She is now a part of nature and is rotating around in the earth’s diurnal course
just like the rocks, stones and trees.
3. How has Lucy become a part of the earth’s diurnal course?
Lucy after her death has been buried in her grave. Therefore, she has now become a
part of the earth along with the rocks and stones and trees and is being rolled along with the
earth as it rotates in its axis.
III. Answer in detail in 100-120 words.
“All of us know that nothing is ours permanently, so why do we suffer so much to
have more and more?” Justify your answer with reference to the poem ‘A Slumber
Did My Spirit Seal’
The poem "A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal" by William Wordsworth offers a powerful
reflection on the ephemeral nature of existence and the human tendency to crave
permanence despite knowing its impossibility. The poem suggests that our suffering often
stems from our attachment to transient things and our unwillingness to accept the
inevitability of loss.
Through the speaker's experience of grief over the death of his beloved, the poem
highlights the stark contrast between the illusion of permanence and the reality of
impermanence. Despite the speaker's acceptance of death's inevitability, he cannot escape
the pangs of loss. His beloved's absence leaves a void, a reminder of the fleeting nature of
earthly possessions and experiences. The poem suggests that our pursuit of more, driven by
a desire for permanence and fulfilment, is ultimately futile in the face of death's reality.
The poem serves as a reminder of the human paradox of pursuing more while knowing
the inevitability of loss. It challenges us to re-evaluate our priorities, find joy in the simple
moments, and cherish the connections that enrich our lives. Only then can we find solace in
the face of impermanence and embrace the transformative power of love.