The poem "We Are Seven" by William Wordsworth describes an interaction between the speaker and a young girl. The speaker questions how the girl, who has lost two siblings, can still say she is one of seven children. The resilient girl matter-of-factly recounts the circumstances of each sibling, including the two buried in the churchyard whom she still considers part of her family. Despite the speaker's attempts to convince her otherwise, the girl maintains that she is indeed one of seven children.

1. We Are Seven
by William Wordsworth
Critical Analysis

2. The Author
● William Wordsworth experienced loss at a young age (mother, father)
● Later suffered loss of two children as an adult and was overwhelmed
with grief
● Poem "We Are Seven" suggests that handling loss with childlike hope
is remarkable
● Speaker in poem symbolizes adult Wordsworth, juxtaposed with child
to highlight child's greater wisdom
● Childlike faith and perspective required to cherish memories and feel
close to the lost with confidence and hope

3. Summary
● Speaker assumes young girl doesn't understand death
● Girl has lost siblings but continues to sing and talk to them
● Girl has accepted their deaths and isn't letting grief ruin her life
● Girl shows resilience and positive outlook despite loss
● Poem highlights girl's wisdom beyond her years

4. Analysis of Stanza 1
———A simple Child,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?
● Speaker starts with a question about why
a child should experience death
● Question resonates with many people
who have witnessed child's untimely
death or a young child losing a
parent/sibling
● Readers can identify with the speaker's
sentiments.

5. Analysis of Stanza 2-3
I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.
She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad:
Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
—Her beauty made me glad.
● Speaker describes a young girl they are
speaking to
● Mentions girl's curly hair and light eyes to
create visual image for reader
● Reader can imagine the conversation and
identify with the speaker
● Speaker states that girl's beauty made them
happy, making reader feel her impact.

6. Analysis of Stanza 4-6
“Sisters and brothers, little Maid,
How many may you be?”
“How many? Seven in all,” she said,
And wondering looked at me.
“And where are they? I pray you tell.”
She answered, “Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea.
“Two of us in the church-yard lie,
My sister and my brother;
And, in the church-yard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my mother.”
● The speaker engages in conversation with a
young girl, asking her how many siblings
she has
● The girl replies that she is one of seven,
explaining the whereabouts of each sibling
● Within the light-hearted answers, there are
realities of the tragedies this girl has
experienced
● The reader feels the loss this young girl has
lived through and realizes she now lives
alone with her mother

7. Analysis of Stanza 7-8
“You say that two at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea,
Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell,
Sweet Maid, how this may be.”
Then did the little Maid reply,
“Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the church-yard lie,
Beneath the church-yard tree.”
● Speaker questions young girl's count of
siblings
● Claims that with two away at school and two
at sea, there couldn't be 7 left
● Avoids mentioning the two buried siblings
● Asks girl "sweet maid, how this may be?"
● Girl confidently replies "Seven boys and
girls are we"
● Reaffirms that two are buried in church-
yard

8. Analysis of Stanza 9
“You run about, my little Maid,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the church-yard laid,
Then ye are only five.”
● The speaker questions the girl's counting of
her siblings
● The speaker allows the girl to count the
siblings that are away at sea and school
● The speaker tries to convince the girl of the
reality of the tragedy she has endured
● The speaker says that if the two siblings
buried in the church-yard are counted, then
the girl is only one of five children.

9. Analysis of Stanza 10-12
“Their graves are green, they may be seen,”
The little Maid replied,
“Twelve steps or more from my mother’s
door,
And they are side by side.
“My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.
“And often after sun-set, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.
● Girl is unwavering in her belief that she is
one of seven siblings
● Deceased siblings are still very real to her
and close by
● Describes their green graves and close
proximity to her home
● Knits and sings to them at their graves
● Takes her supper to eat with them in the
churchyard.

10. Analysis of Stanza 13-15
“The first that died was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain;
And then she went away.
“So in the church-yard she was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.
“And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide,
My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side.”
● The girl recounts her relationship with her
siblings
● Describes sister Jane's death and sees God as
compassionate for easing her pain
● Recalls memories of playing with brother
John around Jane's grave
● Describes John's death as slightly more
bitter, but still counts both siblings as
present.

11. Analysis of Stanza 16-17
“How many are you, then,” said I,
“If they two are in heaven?”
Quick was the little Maid’s reply,
“O Master! we are seven.”
“But they are dead; those two are
dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!”
’Twas throwing words away; for still
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, “Nay, we are seven!”
● In the final two stanzas of We Are Seven, the
speaker tries to make the girl understand
the reality of her loss.
● The speaker says, “But they are dead! Those
two are dead! Their spirits are in heaven”.
● The girl's joyful demeanor frustrates the
speaker, who says twice "they are dead!"
● The speaker's attempts to make the girl
understand her loss are unsuccessful
● The girl remains confident, saying “Nay, we
are seven”.