A discourse analysis of William Wordsworth’s “We Are Seven”

Abstract

The study of discourse analysis has played a crucial role in the understanding of language and its functions in different contexts. The poem “We Are Seven” is significant work in the tenet of Romantic literature and has acquired greater relevance concerning the exploration of universal themes such as life and death. The study aims to present a discourse analysis of William Wordsworth’s “We Are Seven”. The study encapsulated the communicative event and discourse order of the poem, and the historical perspective, and included an analysis of gestures, syntax, and symbolism. An analysis of lexicon, style, speech acts, strategies, and turn has also been presented in the study. The study concluded that by challenging the gender role, harmony can be created with more consonance at the societal level. Also, it reinforced the need of reshaping the ideas related to life and death as well as other subject matters where the voices of marginalized segments are also included. The poet reinstated that through adopting an optimistic approach, victimization from society ca be eliminated. The findings of the study will help its readers to deliberate upon the matters with an unbiased approach to see the most constructive aspects of the phenomenon concerned. This analysis is also helpful in grasping the basic concept of eternal love and affection.