The Enemy Summary Class 12 English-CBSE Class 12 English Vistas - The En...

Life and Works of William Wordsworth-MCQs

What does Wordsworth mean by saying-"This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon,"?

What does Wordsworth mean by saying-"This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon,"?

In the line "This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon," Wordsworth uses vivid imagery to personify the sea, depicting it as a woman revealing herself to the moon. The phrase "bares her bosom" suggests an intimate, natural, and almost sacred relationship between the sea and the moon. This imagery conveys a sense of openness and vulnerability, emphasizing the harmony and connection that exists within the natural world.

The moon, often associated with mystery and the feminine, exerts its gravitational pull on the sea, causing the tides. By highlighting this natural interaction, Wordsworth draws attention to the beauty and power of nature—something that people, caught up in material pursuits, fail to appreciate. The line reinforces the poem's theme of humanity's estrangement from the natural world and the loss of a deeper, spiritual connection with it.