Lyrical Ballads Summary

Lyrical Ballads Plot Summary

Covers the whole plot, including the ending.

1. The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere

   An old Mariner stops a Wedding-Guest to tell a difficult story. He describes a trip into the icy south where his ship gets stuck. A friendly Albatross appears, guiding them, but the Mariner shoots it without reason. This act curses the ship: the wind stops, and the crew suffers from thirst, blaming the Mariner. The dead Albatross is hung around his neck. The crew dies, their souls leaving him, and he is left alone, haunted by the dead men and the slimy sea creatures. He looks at the beautiful sea snakes, and the curse starts to break, allowing him to pray. The Albatross falls from his neck, and spirits supernaturally move the ship homeward. A Hermit, a Pilot, and the Pilot's boy rescue him, but his ship sinks. The Mariner must wander the earth, telling his story and teaching the lesson of love and respect for all God's creatures.

2. The Foster-Mother's Tale

   Dorothy, the foster-mother, tells a visitor about Marmaduke, a boy she raised. He was a wild, imaginative child who preferred nature's solitude to people. He spent days in the woods, talking to nature, trees, and animals. His foster-mother worried about his solitary nature. Marmaduke later gets involved in a political plot, driven by his passionate spirit. This leads to his downfall and imprisonment, which the foster-mother partly blames on his unusual upbringing and his inability to fit in. The story is a warning about the dangers of unchecked romantic ideals and being isolated from others.

3. Lines written at a small distance from my House

   Wordsworth speaks to his sister, Dorothy, from near their home, thinking about the beauty of nature around them. He describes the calm morning, gentle breezes, and nature's sounds, inviting her to share this peace. He suggests that the peace and joy in nature can ease sorrow and bring renewal. He stresses nature's healing power, contrasting it with human anxieties and stresses. The poem emphasizes that nature offers a deep connection to a lasting happiness, available to those who open themselves to it.

4. The Nightingale

   Coleridge describes an evening walk with his friends (Wordsworth and Dorothy), listening to the nightingale's song. He argues against the common idea that the nightingale sings sadly, saying its song is joyful and spontaneous. He suggests that those who hear sadness in the bird are just reflecting their own feelings. He highlights the beauty and cheerfulness of the nightingale's music, especially in the peaceful, moonlit night. The poem ends with a tender scene of Coleridge's baby son, Hartley, sleeping peacefully under the trees, further supporting the idea of natural innocence and joy, contrasted with complex human emotions.

5. Lines written in early spring

   Wordsworth sits in a grove, listening to nature's sounds – birds singing, primroses blooming, periwinkle trailing. He feels deep pleasure and harmony from the natural world. However, this joy is mixed with sadness as he considers humanity's destructive habits and its distance from this natural happiness. He compares the apparent happiness and connection of birds and flowers with the suffering he sees in human society. The poem questions why humans cannot achieve nature's peaceful existence, regretting 'what man has made of man' and wishing for a simpler, more harmonious life.

6. Simon Lee, the old Huntsman

   The narrator meets Simon Lee, an old huntsman who was once strong but is now weak from age. Simon struggles to cut a root, his strength failing. The narrator, seeing his difficulty, offers to help. With one swing, the narrator easily cuts the root Simon had struggled with. This simple kindness deeply moves Simon Lee, who cries with thanks. The narrator thinks about this emotional response, noting that real human connection and kindness, even small acts, can have a deep effect, bringing out unexpected feelings and reminding us of our shared humanity. The poem highlights the dignity of the elderly and the power of empathy.

7. The Last of the Flock

   The poem describes a shepherd who lost most of his sheep in a harsh winter. He has only a few sheep left, including a lamb he carries close. He expresses his deep sadness and attachment to his animals, seeing them as companions and his livelihood. The shepherd's sorrow is not just for the lost sheep but also for a fading way of life. He feels a deep connection to nature and his pastoral life, which is now threatened. The poem creates a sense of sadness and acceptance, showing the vulnerability of those who live closely with nature and the impact of forces beyond their control.

8. We Are Seven

   The narrator meets a young, innocent cottage girl and asks how many siblings she has. She insists 'we are seven,' even though two siblings are buried nearby. The narrator tries to explain that if two are dead, only five remain. However, the child, in her simple and intuitive way, insists the dead siblings are still part of their family, often visiting their graves to knit or sing. Her firm belief shows a child's innocent acceptance of death as a different state, not a total absence, challenging the adult's logical, numerical view of life and family.

9. Anecdote for Fathers

   A father asks his young son if he prefers Kilve or Liswyn Farm, two places they visited. The father expects a simple answer based on his own thoughts about each place, but is surprised by the boy's seemingly odd response: he prefers Kilve because 'the primrose is there.' The father, trying to find a deeper, more logical reason, presses the child further, but the boy sticks to his simple truth. The poem explores the pure and direct way a child sees things, often without adult reasoning or hidden motives, and the father's struggle to understand this innocent honesty, showing the difference between adult complexity and childish simplicity.

10. The Idiot Boy

    Betty Foy sends her 'idiot' son, Johnny, on a horse to get the doctor for her sick neighbor, Susan Gale. Johnny gets distracted and wanders off. Betty becomes more anxious as the night goes on, eventually going out to find him. Meanwhile, Susan Gale, recovering on her own, also worries and goes to find Betty. The two women eventually meet, and Betty's distress over Johnny's disappearance is clear. Johnny is found, having spent the night watching an owl. When asked what he saw, he can only say 'The Owlet!' The poem, through its tender portrayal, celebrates the simple joys and unique views of those often overlooked, emphasizing a mother's unconditional love.

11. Expostulation and Reply

    William, the narrator, is found by his friend Matthew sitting by a lake, looking at nature. Matthew scolds William for wasting time in 'dreams' instead of studying, urging him to 'quit your books' and learn actively from the world. William defends his quiet state, arguing that true wisdom comes from calm observation and letting nature affect the mind. He suggests that sitting and listening to nature's 'silent teaching' is a valid and deep way of learning, perhaps better than knowledge only from books. The poem supports intuitive, sensory learning over purely intellectual pursuits.

12. The Tables Turned

    Following the previous poem, the narrator continues to argue for nature as a better teacher. He urges his friend to 'Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books' and instead go into the light of things, letting nature teach them. He argues that 'one impulse from a vernal wood / May teach you more of man, / Of moral evil and of good, / Than all the sages can.' The poem directly contrasts the 'toil and trouble' of studying with the easy wisdom gained from direct experience with nature. It champions intuition, emotion, and sensory engagement over pure reason and academic knowledge, stating that nature holds deep truths that books cannot fully convey.

13. Old Man Travelling

    The narrator sees an old man walking slowly along a road, his pace suggesting a deep connection to the earth. The narrator is struck by the man's calm manner and the purpose in his slow journey. He wonders about the old man's life, imagining him returning from far away, perhaps having seen important events or lived a quiet, dignified life. The poem focuses on the dignity and strength of the common man, finding deep meaning in an ordinary sight. It suggests that even in simple observations, one can find deep stories and universal human experiences, highlighting the value of empathy and imagining others' lives.

14. Goody Blake and Harry Gill

    Goody Blake, a poor old woman, suffers terribly from the cold in her cottage. Unable to afford wood, she steals sticks from the hedges of Harry Gill, a rich farmer, to stay warm. Harry, determined to catch the thief, waits. When he catches Goody Blake, she, in her despair, curses him to 'never more be warm.' From that moment, Harry Gill is constantly cold, shivering no matter the weather or how many clothes he wears. The poem is a warning against being hard-hearted towards the poor, showing the serious results of lacking compassion for those truly in need.

15. Tintern Abbey

    Wordsworth revisits the Wye Valley near Tintern Abbey after five years. He thinks about how the memory of this beautiful natural place has helped him while he was away, offering comfort and inspiration. He describes his changing relationship with nature: from the 'thoughtless youth' who enjoyed its simple pleasures, to his current, more mature understanding, where nature offers a deeper, spiritual connection and a 'sense sublime.' He shares this experience with his sister, Dorothy, recognizing her own youthful energy and hoping that nature will give her similar comfort and wisdom in the future. The poem celebrates nature's deep, almost mystical, effect on the human spirit.

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