Question

In the poem 'We are Seven,' after the little girl lists her family members, she mentions that two of them have died. Initially, she does not consider the deceased members as part of her family. However, the speaker (Wordsworth) convinces her that, despite their deaths, there are indeed seven members in her family. Is this statement true or false?

Answer 1

The claim that Wordsworth convinces the little girl to count her deceased siblings as part of her family is false. In 'We are Seven,' it's the girl who maintains they are still seven, correcting Wordsworth's misunderstanding.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that William Wordsworth convinces the little girl in the poem 'We Are Seven' to consider her deceased siblings as still part of her family is false. In the poem, it's the little girl who insists throughout the dialogue that they are still seven siblings, even though two have died.

The speaker, presumably Wordsworth, struggles to understand her perspective, as he tries to convince her that they are only five. However, to the little girl, her deceased siblings are as present to her in spirit as when they were alive, and she counts them as part of her family.

The theme of the poem does touch upon the idea that our early life experiences shape us, suggesting that childhood exerts a profound influence on our lifespan development.