1. Ode to Duty William Wordsworth By: Rehu, Hari, Theunissen & Rumold-Oldfield

2. Stanza 1 line 1 Personifies and addresses 'Duty' as the 'daughter of the voice of god'. line 2 Either nobody quite knows her proper name or she is known by many names...'if that name you love' lines 3 & 4 Wordsworth views 'Duty' as a beacon of hope for those who are prone to error ('erring') someone who can steer them in the right direction lines 5-8 Describes how in difficult and desperate times, 'Duty' will present herself so as to allow the self to fall away from 'vain temptation'. Stern Daughter of the Voice of God! O Duty! if that name thou love Who art a Light to guide, a Rod To check the erring; and reprove; Thou who art victory and law When empty terrors overawe; From vain temptations dost set free; From strife and from despair; a glorious ministry. Summary: Basically, Wordsworth is just telling us a bit about 'Duty', personifying her and illustrating how close she is to God and the purity surrounding Heaven and the like. This being because she is apparently the daughter of God. I think that 'Duty' could just be another name for 'Nature' or 'Mother Nature' to create a personified image.

3. Stanza 2 Lines 1-4 These lines are referring to children who do not know that ‘Duty’ has her eye on them. ‘Ask not if thine eye be on them’ confirms that WW is referring to children because children don’t stop to think about external forces that may or may not be playing a part in their lives because of their innocent and naïve minds. Lines 5-8 Drive home the relationship between purity, heaven, and goodness to the ‘genial sense of youth’ or the ‘child mind’ as in the line ‘Who do thy work, and know it not’. There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them; who, in love and truth, Where no misgiving is, rely Upon the genial sense of youth: Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot; Who do thy work, and know it not: May joy be theirs while life shall last! And Thou, if they should totter, teach them to stand fast! Summary: This stanza is talking simply about children. Wordsworth says that 'There are who ask not if thine eye be on them' which could be referring to how their mind is so innocent that they don't even stop to think of any higher power around them. Also, he refers to an innocent mind a second time: 'who do thy work, and know it not'. In the last 2 lines, Wordsworth says that he wants the children to have the same joy that they have now throughout their entire lives, and he hopes that 'Duty' will save them if they falter i.e. so protect their innocence and help them to resist the 'vain temptations' of the adult world.

4. Stanza 3 lines 1-4 WW is saying that those who follow Duty’s ways will sleep peacefully and their personality will reflect happiness lines 5-8 WW writes that those who are now older still maintain a connection to their innocent and natural child minds whilst attaining other strengths according to their lives should be blessed. Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, When love is an unerring light, And joy its own security. And blessed are they who in the main This faith, even now, do entertain: Live in the spirit of this creed; Yet find that other strength, according to their need. Summary: WW seems to be trying to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood by saying that all though the physical self is an adult, the mental self can still revert back to its childlike state.

5. Stanza 4 Lines 1-4 These are describing the narrators attitude in the past. He/She has been relying on his/her feelings as a means of guidance but they have lead him/her astray. Lines 5-8 The narrator just wants to live his/her life the way he/she wants to, however, he/she previously believed that nothing could affect his happiness so he shunned ‘Duty’ and her ways. But now he/she is willing to listen to ‘Duty’ if she will talk to him/her. I, loving freedom, and untried; No sport of every random gust, Yet being to myself a guide, Too blindly have reposed my trust: Resolved that nothing e’er should press Upon my present happiness, I shoved unwelcome tasks away; But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may. Summary: This stanza paints us a more distinctive picture of why the narrator is telling us about ‘Duty’. The narrator seems to be requesting the help of ‘Duty’ because something in his/her life has thrown him/her off course.

6. Stanza 5 Lines 1-4 The narrator wants to control his/her own life and not be controlled emotions that lead to his/her loss of peace. He/She is looking for a new start. Lines 5-8 These are a continuation and further confirmation of the narrators desperation to turn his/her life around with the help of ‘Duty’. Through no disturbance of my soul, Or strong compunction in me wrought, I supplicate for thy controul; But in the quietness of thought: Me this unchartered freedom tires; I feel the weight of chance desires: My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose which ever is the same. Summary: This stanza is the narrator’s further cries for help from ‘Duty’. He/She is begging for her help because he/she is desperate and because he/she is unsure if ‘Duty’ will provide help because of his/her past.

7. Stanza 6 Lines 1-4 The narrator wants to control his/her own life and not be controlled emotions that lead to his/her loss of peace. He/She is looking for a new start. Through no disturbance of my soul, Or strong compunction in me wrought, I supplicate for thy controul; But in the quietness of thought: Me this unchartered freedom tires; I feel the weight of chance desires: My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose which ever is the same. Summary:

8. Stanza 7 Lines 1-4 The narrator wants to control his/her own life and not be controlled emotions that lead to his/her loss of peace. He/She is looking for a new start. Through no disturbance of my soul, Or strong compunction in me wrought, I supplicate for thy controul; But in the quietness of thought: Me this unchartered freedom tires; I feel the weight of chance desires: My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose which ever is the same. Summary:

9. Stanza 8 Lines 1-4 The narrator wants to control his/her own life and not be controlled emotions that lead to his/her loss of peace. He/She is looking for a new start. Through no disturbance of my soul, Or strong compunction in me wrought, I supplicate for thy controul; But in the quietness of thought: Me this unchartered freedom tires; I feel the weight of chance desires: My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose which ever is the same. Summary: