NCERT Solutions for class 9 English Poem Chapter 10: A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

The poem "A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal," written by William Wordsworth, was written dedicated to his beloved friend Lucy. He wrote the poem after the death of Lucy to express his grief of the loss.

The poet states himself to be in a state of "slumber" after Lucy's death. The grief of her death left the poet in a state of deep sleep. The poet had not imagined her passing away is greatly shocked into a lethargic state. He feels the joy and brightness of his soul sealed away by the grief which has afflicted him. Before her death, the poet enjoyed her company without any worries about the future. Now, after her death, the poet realises the harsh reality of human life. He states that Lucy can no longer feel the "earthly years," symbolising life's human experience that comes with ageing.

The word "no force" could suggest the absence of a life force within Lucy's body, which now remains motionless like any inanimate thing. The poet accepts the truth of her death and states that Lucy no longer "hears or sees'', meaning she is truly gone from the mortal world. She remains buried inside the earth now, till her body is broken down biologically and is absorbed into the earth.

Wordsworth's poem Lucy is his personal account of the death of his beloved. It deals with the themes of loss and acceptance of human life's inevitable truth, which is death. Even though one may be unaware of their future, death is the truth of life. Also, if we fret about the future, we cannot enjoy and cherish the precious moments of life. Hence we need to live and cherish the memories of those who leave us behind.