William Wordsworth - Alice Fell or Poverty
The post-boy drove with fierce career,
For threatening clouds, the moon had
drowned;
When, as we hurried on, my ear
Was smitten with a startling sound.
As if the wind blew many ways,
I heard the sound, —and more and more;
It seemed to follow with the chaise,
And still I heard it as before.
At length I to the boy called out;
He stopped his horses at the word,
But neither cry, nor voice, nor shout,
Nor aught else like it, could be heard.
The boy then smacked his whip, and fast
The horses scampered through the rain;
But, hearing soon upon the blast
The cry, I bade him halt again.
Forthwith alighting on the ground,
"Whence comes," said I,
"this piteous moan?"
And there a little Girl I found,
Sitting behind the chaise, alone.
"My cloak!" no other word she
spake,
But loud and bitterly she wept,
As if her innocent heart would break;
And down from off her seat she leapt.
"What ails you, child?"—she
sobbed "Look here!"
I saw it in the wheel entangled,
A weather-beaten rag as e'er
From any garden scare-crow dangled.
There, twisted between nave and spoke,
It hung, nor could at once be freed;
But our joint pains unloosed the cloak,
A miserable rag indeed!
"And whither are you going, child,
To-night alone these lonesome ways?"
"To Durham," answered she, half
wild—
"Then come with me into the
chaise."
Insensible to all relief
Sat the poor girl, and forth did send
Sob after sob, as if her grief
Could never, never have an end.
"My child, in Durham do you
dwell?"
She checked herself in her distress,
And said, "My name is Alice Fell;
I'm fatherless and motherless.
"And I to Durham, Sir, belong."
Again, as if the thought would choke
Her very heart, her grief grew strong;
And all was for her tattered cloak!
The chaise drove on; our journey's end
Was nigh; and, sitting by my side,
As if she had lost her
only friend
She
wept, nor would be pacified.
Up to the tavern-door we post;
Of Alice and her grief I told;
To
buy a new cloak for the old.
"And let it be of duffil grey,
As warm a cloak as man can
sell!"
Proud creature was she the next day,
The little orphan, Alice Fell!
About the author
William
Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a major English Romantic poet who, along with Samuel
Taylor Coleridge, helped launch the Romantic Age in English literature with
their joint publication "Lyrical Ballads" in 1798. Wordsworth is best
known for his nature poetry and his deep reflection on the human experience,
often focusing on the themes of childhood, humanity, and the natural world. His
works emphasize emotion, simplicity, and the sublime beauty of nature, which he
believed to be a source of spiritual renewal and inspiration. Wordsworth's
poetry often reflects his philosophy that the human mind and nature are
interconnected, and that the natural world can profoundly influence and shape
human thoughts and emotions.
Summary
"Alice
Fell; or, Poverty" is a narrative poem by William Wordsworth that explores
themes of compassion, poverty, and human kindness. The poem tells the story of
a young orphan girl named Alice Fell, who is found by the narrator in a state
of distress.
The
narrator is traveling in a carriage on a cold evening when he hears the cries
of a child. He discovers Alice Fell, a poor, orphaned girl whose clothes have
been caught in the carriage wheels and torn. Alice is destitute and without any
family or means of support. Moved by her plight, the narrator takes Alice into
the carriage and inquires about her situation.
Alice
explains that she is an orphan and has no one to care for her. Her sorrow and
suffering deeply affect the narrator. In an act of kindness and compassion, the
narrator decides to help her. He takes her to the nearby town and ensures that
she is provided with clothes, shelter, and care.
The
poem concludes with the narrator reflecting on the importance of compassion and
the moral responsibility to help those in need. Wordsworth uses Alice Fell's
story to highlight the harsh realities of poverty and the impact that even
small acts of kindness can have on the lives of the less fortunate.
Explain with reference to the Context
1. As if she had lost her only friend
She wept, nor would be pacified.
Context:
This line is taken from "Alice Fell;
or, Poverty," in which Wordsworth narrates the story of a young orphan
girl named Alice Fell, who is found by the narrator in a state of distress. The
narrator, traveling in a carriage on a cold evening, hears the cries of a child
and stops to investigate. He discovers Alice, whose cloak has been caught and
torn by the carriage wheels. Alice, already impoverished and without family,
finds herself in an even more dire situation due to the loss of her cloak,
which provides her with warmth and protection.
Explanation
This line simile compares Alice's intense
grief to that of someone who has lost their dearest companion. For Alice, her
cloak is not just a piece of clothing but a vital possession that offers her
comfort and security. Given her impoverished state and lack of family, the
cloak may represent her last shred of protection and dignity. Losing it feels
to her as tragic as losing a close friend because it intensifies her
vulnerability and isolation. These lines serve to highlight the extreme
hardship and emotional suffering experienced by Alice Fell. They emphasize her
vulnerability and the dire consequences of poverty, particularly for an
orphaned child. Wordsworth uses Alice's weeping to evoke empathy from the
reader, drawing attention to the human cost of social neglect and the need for
compassion and assistance.
2. And I gave money to the host,
To buy a new cloak for the old.
Context
These
lines are from William Wordsworth's poem "Alice Fell; or, Poverty".
While traveling in a carriage on a cold evening, the narrator hears the cries
of a child. Stopping to investigate, he discovers Alice, whose only cloak has
been caught and torn by the carriage wheels. Alice is deeply distressed.
Moved
by Alice's plight, the narrator decides to help her. After comforting her, he
takes her to an inn, where he ensures she is provided with warmth and shelter.
Explanation
By giving money to the host of the inn to
replace Alice's torn and lost cloak with a new one, the narrator is taking
concrete steps to ensure Alice's immediate needs are met. This action goes
beyond mere sympathy, demonstrating a tangible commitment to assisting her. The
narrator restores some measure of security and comfort to Alice's life, showing
a deep sense of responsibility and compassion.
Paragraph
1. Discuss the significance of Alice's
torn cloak in the poem.
2. How does the narrator demonstrate
compassion and empathy towards Alice?
Essay
1. Discuss how Wordsworth explores the themes of poverty and compassion in the poem "Alice Fell.
"The
poem “Alice Fell or Poverty” tells the story of Alice Fell, a poor girl who
lives in a rural area. Wordsworth emphasizes the importance of empathy and
compassion for the poor.
The
narrator of the poem and the post-boy of the chaise travelled to Durham on a
rainy night. They heard a moaning sound – “But neither cry, nor voice, nor
shout”. Alice was sitting behind the chaise with a piteous moan.
When
Alice was enquired, she showed her dress which was entangled in the wheel.
Together they released the torn wretched cloak which looked like scarecrow’s
rag. Then the narrator asked about her whereabouts. She informed that she was
fatherless and motherless and lived in Durham. She was taken along with them.
Yet, her grief grew strong and sobbed “as if her grief/ Could never, never,
have an end.” As if she lost her only friend, Alice wept and could not be
pacified.
The
narrator dropped her in the Tavern. He gave some money to the host for buying a
new dress for Alice in duffel grey colour. He hopes that the cloak will warm the
little orphan.
The
poem hits at the disparities in society and insists on the need for social
reform to address the suffering of the poor.
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