The Mountain Echo by William wordsworth Summary | Alternative English | Class 12

                                                    The Mountain Echo 

                                                    William Wordsworth

Introduction

William wordsworth (1770-1850) was born at cockermouth, a little village on the edge of lake district in northern England. He was an English Romantic poet who, with samuel Taylor coleridge, helped to launched the Romantic Age in English Literature with their publication lyrical Ballads. For him nature influences the life of man.

Summary

The poet describes how the mountain echo produces the same voice as the cuckoo. When the cuckoo sings loudly in the mountainous regions, her voice is rebounded from the mountains as an echo. It was clear as the voice of the singing bird, It was calm and deep. The mountain echo produces the same voice as if it was the voice of the cuckoo and sung twice. It was the reproduction of the bird's song sound for sound.

                                 The cuckoo song was quite unexpected by the wanderer's that such a voice would come there all on a sudden. It seemed to the wanderers the two voices are quite similar to each other. They cannot distinguish between the two. But the poet says that there is a difference between the two. The wanderers were listening to the two voices without any further thinking. But he feels that the wanderers should think over to find the difference.

                                The poet says human beings are all subject to death one day or others. They never think about God's creation. They simply carry on their normal duties based on selfies motives which lead them to the wrong path. They are led by foolish decisions and they indulge in quarrels to one another. If they think and take wise decisions, they will be able to differentiate between the two voices which are different in nature.

                                The poet gives the reasons why the human beings cannot differentiate the two voices because we do not know where the sound of the mountain echo came from. It is coming from a very far-off place where men cannot reach. It is the voice of God which is considered to be the wisest and the most truthful of all. It is the voice which shows us the right path of life. The poet blames that human beings, who are not thinking creatures cannot take wise decisions for anything.

                                   The poet concluded by saying that we should listen to the voice of the mountains echo very carefully and should think over it. The mountain echo strikes to the core of one's heart and could be heard by the mental ear only. Those who listen to the voice of the mountain echo should hold the idea that it is the voice of God coming from a distant place. Only then they will be able to understand about the creations of God.