As It Does in So Many Works of Art, the Literal

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The Answer is I. Examples of figurative speech from the poem "The world is too much with us" by William Wordsworth include:

- "The world is too much with us; late and soon" - This line uses personification, attributing human qualities to the world, to convey the idea that the world is overwhelming and all-encompassing.
- "Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers" - This line uses metaphor to compare the pursuit of material wealth to the act of laying waste to our own abilities and potential.

II. The meaning of the figurative speech in the poem can be understood as a commentary on the detrimental effects of materialism and the loss of connection with nature. The personification of the world as overpowering and the metaphor of wasting our powers through getting and spending highlight the speaker's lament for the lack of appreciation for the natural world and the focus on material possessions.

III. The poem as a whole conveys a sense of disillusionment with the modern world and a longing for a deeper connection with nature. The speaker expresses a desire to reconnect with the natural world and escape the superficiality and materialism of society.

IV. The meaning of the poem depends upon understanding the figurative language as it conveys the speaker's emotional response to the disconnect between humanity and nature. Without recognizing the figurative language used to convey the speaker's feelings and observations, the deeper message of the poem may be lost. Understanding the figurative language allows readers to grasp the underlying themes of the poem and the speaker's perspective on the impact of materialism on human existence.

As It Does in So Many Works of Art, the Literal

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