Nature Lover's Manifesto

Although only eight quatrains in length, The Tables Turned is jam packed with a major philosophical and intellectual argument, presented in a thoughtfully stylistic manner.

William Wordsworth is trying to communicate a very audacious and contentious argument in these lines. Namely, he argues that books as a "wisdom transferring" object are overrated and real truth and wisdom lies in nature itself. Although certainly neither the first to make this assertion nor the most recent, Wordsworth hits on a profound vulnerability in the construction of facts and wisdom and the paradigm we generally understand them in.

To Wordsworth, true wisdom does not come from written texts of past geniuses in books, but rather, the metaphorical book of nature. Moreover, the wisdom we find in nature not only matches that of books, but far exceeds and supersedes it. For example, a "vernal wood," Wordsworth argues, "may teach you more of man...than the sages can." This is a preeminent example of Wordsworth's appeal to the natural world and a testament of his adoration and respect for the natural processes and world.

This poem is equally stylistic as it is philosophical. Slow and calculated pronunciation of the syllables is reminiscent of a somewhat fast-paced heartbeat. Perhaps this is symbolic of both the living aspect of nature as a "living sage" as well as a representation of Wordsworth's heart beating as he wrote this inspired piece of poetry. Either way, Wordworth's clear admiration for nature extends far beyond the aesthetic beauty, and he truly finds it to be a source of intellect and wisdom.