William Wordsworth's romantic worldview is conveyed in "The world is too
             much with us," a sonnet which expresses Wordsworth's dissatisfaction with
             materialism. As it is an Italian-style sonnet, "The world is too much with
             us" contains fourteen lines written in iambic pentameter with an ABBAABBA
             CDCDCD rhyme scheme. Within this structure, Wordsworth demonstrates
             passionate sentiments, urging an appreciation for nature. Like all sonnets
             that are true to the form, "The world is too much with us" is divided into
             two distinct thematic parts. The first eight lines, called the octave,
             convey the poet's core feelings and thoughts. In this sonnet, Wordsworth
             laments the "sordid boon" of the heartless pursuit of worldly pleasures
             (4). In fact, the title and first line of the poem refers to the
             pervasiveness of materialism in modern society: we are too focused on
             consumption to recognize the beauty and bounty of nature. The last six
             lines of the sonnet, called the sestet, resolve and add thematic contrast
             to the octave. There, Wordsworth contrasts overt materialism with the ways
             of ancient pagan people, who worshipped and reveled in nature. The poet
             concludes the sonnet by declaring that nature worship is preferable to an
             obsession with wealth. Wordsworth uses the medium of the sonnet, which is
             often used in love poetry, to display his appreciation and reverence for
             The tone of Wordsworth's poem encourages the reader to rediscover a
             romantic vision of nature like the ones that pagan people celebrated in
             their rituals. "I'd rather be a Pagan suckled in a creed outworn,"
             Wordsworth states (9-10). The imagery of suckling is poignant, as it
             suggests the innocence of infancy. Just as baby animals suckle at their
             mother's teats, so too would a pagan suckle the bounty of mother earth. To
             become inured to the pagan ways, moreover, would make the poet "less
             forlorn," (12). Citing examples from a...