'My Heart Leaps Up' by William Wordsworth: An Analysis

Feelings of joy and happiness could not be better encapsulated within this light-hearted poem by Wordsworth.

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My Heart Leaps Up

My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die! The Child is father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety.

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Summary

To sum up the entire poem in a sentence, it is about the joys and wonders of nature, and how this joy is transferred to the persona. The persona is overjoyed when he sees a rainbow in the sky and has always been happy to see rainbows since his childhood, and even now as an adult. He hopes to keep enjoying the sight of rainbows even as an elderly person, and if he does not, he hopes to die. The persona states that childish innocence is of pure happiness, and he wishes to continue to be happy for the rest of his days.

Subject Matter

The subject matter in this poem is most definitely the rainbow, the perfect example of nature, and a symbol of colourful happiness.

Theme

The main theme in this poem would be Innocence. The importance of childlike wonder is noteworthy in this poem, as it shows us how the simple things in life can make one the happiest. The driving force here would be the happiness one feels when gazing upon nature’s wonders and creations, no matter young or old. This idea also fits in with the main elements of Romanticism as a whole; the appreciation of nature and the sublime, the vastness and largeness of nature when compared to humans, so small in comparison, but given the authority as guardians of this world.

Literary Devices

Personification

In the very first line itself, “My heart leaps up”, showcases the use of personification, to highlight how much of joy and happiness the persona feels from suddenly seeing a rainbow. The persona shows us the suddenness of bliss that overtakes him as he sees the rainbow. The sense of childish playfulness and innocence is also introduced at the very start of the poem. This happiness seems to be unplanned and very spontaneous as his heart speaks for its own by leaping for joy.

Repetition

The repetition of the word “So” in lines 3,4, and 5 have significant meaning. All three lines mention the typical cycle of life in sequence; from a child, to an adult, to growing old. The contrast here is that time is continuously passing, every second and minute waits for none, but the repetition of the word “So” shows the continuity of the same joy the persona feels gazing upon a rainbow. It also gives the lines a rhythm and beat.

Symbolism

Rainbows are typically seen as a symbol of joy and hope. They usually show up after a storm or some rain with the help of refraction of light and signify the passing of something unwanted. In many movies and films, the sight of the rainbow shows many being happy and accentuates a new beginning. The rainbow in this poem fills the persona with joy and hope, along with the reassurance of the same joy he felt as a child, that he now feels as a man, in which he feels no shame, and this allows him to feel connected to nature. The persona also places the rainbow upon a pedestal through the use of the diction “behold” to refer to the rainbow, further showing us the connection between man and nature and its importance.

Metaphor

The most prominent metaphor here would be “The Child is the father of the Man”. In many ways, most adults claim to have ‘grown out’ of childish behaviours and endeavours, but the persona reminds us once more that there is no shame in feeling joy and happiness, rather one cannot help to feel joy, gazing upon a beautiful natural sight, a rainbow. The child is a metaphor for innocence. When we feel joy, harmony, and united with nature, we find ourselves attaining a childish innocence, something so simple and pure, which is much more important than what adult maturity can offer.