Thursday, June 6, 2019

Could you please paraphrase the first three stanzas of "Ode to Duty" by William Wordsworth?

The following is a rough paraphrase of what Wordsworth is saying in the first three stanzas of "Ode to Duty":
In the first stanza, Wordsworth talks to a personified version of the concept of duty, whom he calls the "Stern Daughter of the Voice of God." He says she is a guiding light and a correction to people who are doing the wrong thing. When terror and tyranny seem all-powerful, duty provides victory and law, and duty prevents temptations from taking hold.
In the second stanza, Wordsworth speaks of those who do not think too much about the concept of duty. They never wonder whether they are being dutiful, but they lead their lives truthfully and with love, and they are good because of their youthful good nature. Without knowing it, they are doing the work of Duty. But, if they fail, Wordsworth asks Duty to save them with her dreadful power.
In the third stanza, Wordsworth says that people will live happily and peacefully when guided by love and acting in the spirit of duty. Even so, they can still seek the support of Duty when they need to.

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