"Expostulation and Reply" and "The Tables Turned"

In both poems, Wordsworth is expressing his belief that nature is a better teacher and source of knowledge than books. In “Expostulation and Reply” Matthew describes the knowledge in books as “the spirit breath’d from dead men to their kind” (Lines 8-9). This line is used to explain a few of the limitations of the knowledge in books. This knowledge has no innate value and is limited by time because it is acquired by men in a comparatively short period of time and the source of knowledge (the men) eventually die. In Wordsworth’s reply he tells Matthew to think “of things for ever speaking,” (Line 26) which implies that nature’s teachings are eternal in contrast to those of men. In “The Tables Turned” Wordsworth describes the pages of books as “barren leaves”; an image of withering suggests that the knowledge of books decays and becomes devoid of any value. While nature is fresh, lively, green, full of sights and sounds and renews itself. Its ability to share knowledge is everlasting. Another limitation is that the knowledge in books is transferred “to their kind” which means that only educated men who can afford, read, and understand the books can receive the knowledge they possess. In comparison, every person has the senses to see, hear, and feel nature regardless of class, race or gender. Books can be seen as a symbol of class separation and oppression of the lower classes, while natural knowledge is more equal and does not conflict social justice. The hard work that goes into exhaustively extracting information from books makes it an unnatural and artificial practice. However, to receive the knowledge of nature, one simply has to pay attention to the sights and sounds they experience with their natural senses which are endowed to every person.