"Close up those barren leaves"? Is it a figure of speech in the sense that he's likening Science and Art to leaves that are barren and should be closed up? Enlighten us!
Great! Although, I find it interesting that he's telling his readers to "close up those barren (lacking wealth, intellectually) leaves(pages)as we stare intently into the pages of this book.--He certainly wasn't trying to do this, but it's just so that we are here and reading Wordsworth in a book. So, I think, that a heavy dose of irony is at play.--However, I am curious about the case you've made.
PS: Because this poem is "on the same subject" as Expostulation and Reply, do you really think he considers art to be mentally unproductive?
You know, I only see a light play on words here. Leaves of paper? They are "barren" because, unlike nature, they do not enrich you, and you cannot properly learn from them. I didn't read it as leaves as in leaves of plants until you pointed out the possibility!
I think you have to keep the previous stanza in mind when reading this. When Wordsworth talks about "Our meddling intellect/Mis-shapes the beauteous form of things" he saying that we try to impose science and reason on Nature when it is Nature that can teach us something. "Close up those barren leaves" he's urging his friend to reject that imposition and open himself up to Nature as a teacher.
"Close up those barren leaves"?
ReplyDeleteIs it a figure of speech in the sense that he's likening Science and Art to leaves that are barren and should be closed up?
Enlighten us!
Great! Although, I find it interesting that he's telling his readers to "close up those barren (lacking wealth, intellectually) leaves(pages)as we stare intently into the pages of this book.--He certainly wasn't trying to do this, but it's just so that we are here and reading Wordsworth in a book. So, I think, that a heavy dose of irony is at play.--However, I am curious about the case you've made.
ReplyDeletePS: Because this poem is "on the same subject" as Expostulation and Reply, do you really think he considers art to be mentally unproductive?
Could it also be catachresis? Or is it not really illogical to compare leaves to paper? You cannot close up leaves...
ReplyDeleteYou know, I only see a light play on words here. Leaves of paper? They are "barren" because, unlike nature, they do not enrich you, and you cannot properly learn from them. I didn't read it as leaves as in leaves of plants until you pointed out the possibility!
ReplyDeleteI think you have to keep the previous stanza in mind when reading this. When Wordsworth talks about "Our meddling intellect/Mis-shapes the beauteous form of things" he saying that we try to impose science and reason on Nature when it is Nature that can teach us something.
ReplyDelete"Close up those barren leaves" he's urging his friend to reject that imposition and open himself up to Nature as a teacher.