Important Questions for CBSE Class 11 English Woven Poem Chapter 5 - The World is too Much With Us

A. Very Short Answer Questions: 1 Mark

1. Who has penned the poem “The world is too much with us”? 

Ans: William Wordsworth is the poet who wrote the poem "The World is Too Much With Us."

2. Write the meanings of the words used in the poem

a) Lea

Ans: A grassy or arable region that is available to the public.

b) Forlorn

Ans: Lonely or pitifully unhappy and abandoned

c) Sordid

Ans: Involving unethical or dishonest motivations and acts; provoking moral aversion and scorn

d) Wreathed

Ans: To make a wreath out of

3. What does the poet want to see Triton doing? 

Ans: Triton blowing his wreathed horn is what the poet desires to witness.

4. What does the poet want to be instead of being a part of this materialistic mankind? 

Ans: Instead of being a member of this worldly humanity, the poet wishes to be a "pagan."

5. Where does the poet expect Proteus to come from? 

Ans: Proteus is supposed to ascend from the water, according to the poet.

B. Short Answer Questions 2 marks 

6. Who is a pagan? 

Ans: A pagan is a person whose religious beliefs do not correspond with the major religions practised around the world. The pagan symbolises a primaeval world that was close to nature and admired its beauty.

7. What is meant by „getting and spending‟?

Ans: “Getting and spending” denotes a materialist way of life in which people are alienated from nature as a result of consumerism's expanding impact. They are only concerned with their monetary well-being and lack the time or desire to appreciate and love nature and its beauty.

8. What does “Proteus rising from the sea” signify? 

Ans: Proteus is a Greek mythological character who had the ability to take on various forms. The phrase "Proteus rising from the sea" in the poem refers to the sea's rising waves. The poet, like Proteus, wishes to see sea waves of many shapes rise from the sea.

9. Explain the term “late and soon”. 

Ans: The term "late and soon" refers to the years of our lives that we waste pursuing worldly pleasures in our latter years. We are preoccupied with earning and spending and pay no attention to the natural beauty that surrounds us.

10. Describe the significance when the poet says “hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.” 

Ans: According to Greek mythology, Proteus is a sea god who is frequently shown blowing a conch shell. Triton blowing his horn in the poem signifies the wind that howls and makes noise when it blows. The poet considers the wailing of the winds to be as pleasant as Triton's trumpet.

C. Short answer questions 3 marks 

11. Why does the poet use the term “sordid boon”? 

Ans: The phrase "sordid boon" is a contradiction in terms. The term "boon" alludes to a monetary advantage, whereas the adjective "sordid" refers to something nasty that causes moral disgust and distaste. The poet uses the terms sarcastically to suggest that humanity has given its heart to materialistic desires and that humans have gotten so busy that they are oblivious to the natural world around them.

12. What does the poet mean when he says “We have given our hearts away”? 

Ans: The poet is dissatisfied with the materialistic world. He claims that materialism has taken over humanity's heart, causing people's lives to be ruined by buying and spending. People have become estranged from nature. They are less interested in nature and are more interested in buying and spending. We have surrendered our souls to the materialistic way of life.

13. “I‟d rather be a Pagan suckled in a creed outworn”. Explain the meaning of this sentence. 

Ans: The materialist society that has resulted from fast industrialisation disturbs Wordsworth. People do not take the time to appreciate and interact with nature because they are too busy. As a result, he wishes to be a Pagan who represents a primal world in which man has an inextricable bond with nature. He wishes to become a Pagan in order to be closer to nature and appreciate its beauty.

14. What are the things that the poet wants to glimpse at that will make him less miserable? 

Ans: The poet aspires to be a primordial world Pagan who appreciates the beauty of nature. The poet wants to stand atop a grassy location and see Proteus rise from the sea to alleviate his loneliness. He'd like to hear old Triton blast his wreathed horn. Their presence would make his life easier.

15. Why does the poet say that “we are out of tune”? 

Ans: The inhabitants of the society, trapped in the vicious circle of materialism, have no appreciation for nature and its beauty. They don't admire the sea, which soars high enough to touch the moon, or the wind, which howls constantly but is now silent like sleeping flowers. As a result, Wordsworth claims that we are out of tune because we are unable to recognise and appreciate the hypnotic beauty of nature all around us.

D. Long Answer Questions 5 marks 

16. Describe the setting of the poem. 

Ans: The poem "The World is Too Much with Us" by William Wordsworth is focused on society during the Industrial Revolution. The poet is troubled by society's rising predisposition toward materialistic well-being and materialism, as well as the increasing disrespect of the environment. He urges people to appreciate nature's beauty and wonders rather than focusing just on buying and spending and chasing after life's artificial pleasures. People are out of touch, he claims, because they have sold their souls to the material world and turned their backs on nature. He claims that rather than dismissing nature's beauty, humans should admire it.

17. How does the poet describe the beauty of nature around us? 

Ans: The sea and the wind are used by William Wordsworth to depict the beauty of nature. According to him, the sea waves rise high in the air as if they desire to embrace the moon high in the sky. Like sleeping flowers, the wind is said to be silent. When the wind is awake, it howls all around us. However, the poet continues, "We are not fit to adore such beauties of nature since we are not in tune with nature but with the material goods around us," implying that we are not in tune with nature but with the material products around us.

18. Why does the poet want to be a Pagan? 

Ans: The rising materialistic manner of life disturbs Wordsworth. He, like Pagan, wishes to be near to nature in order to appreciate its beauty. He wishes to return to the Pagan's simple way of life in order to escape the consumerism-driven civilization. He wishes to be awestruck by nature's splendour. He wants to stand over a lea and observe the beauty of the sea and the breeze to counteract the darkness brought on by increasing materialism.

19. What does the poet describe as a “sordid boon”? 

Ans: The poet refers to the industrial revolution and the changes it has brought to society as a "sordid boon" in a contradictory sense. The civilised society has detached itself from nature and its mesmerising beauty as a result of increased avenues of livelihood. Consumerism has been a blessing to society, but it has also taken away society's heart. The only thing that matters in society is how much money you make and how much money you spend. The beauty of nature is no longer admired. They've put some distance between themselves and it. This has angered the poet, who wishes for society to realise itself and its beauty.

20. Why does Wordsworth declare society to be out of tune? 

Ans: Consumption and materialism are driving forces in the society around Wordsworth. People are primarily interested in making money and spending it. They have lost touch with nature and its alluring beauty. They don't have time to appreciate the beauty of the sea as its waves reach out to meet the moon high above in the sky. Civilized society is so preoccupied with its material well-being that it does not have time to notice the wind, which howls all the time but is now silent like sleeping flowers.

As a result, the poet claims that civilization is out of tune because it is unable to appreciate the beauty of nature. The mesmerising beauty of nature that surrounds us has no effect on us.