The Tables Turned

The Tables Turned is a poem written by William Wordsworth in 1798 and published in his Lyrical Ballads.

Synopsis

The poem consists of eight ballad stanzas with 32 lines total. Each stanza follows equally except for the last that, in comparison, has a more irregular rhythm. The poem puts forward the message that nature is the ultimate good influence. It compares the city life (the notion of corruption) with a rural/natural life (the notion of purity). Moreover, the effect these lifestyles have on the soul. The poem’s main message is that we can learn more from nature than from a book.