Synopsis
The Excursion, Being A Portion Of The Recluse, A Poem by William Wordsworth. The Excursion is a long Romantic verse work that serves as a part of Wordsworth’s larger philosophical project, The Recluse. Composed in a frame narrative, it unfolds across multiple books (I–IX) and follows a central dialogue among the Wanderer, the Solitary, and the Pastor as they traverse mountainous landscapes and rural communities. Through their conversations, Wordsworth probes questions of human life, the moral uses of solitude, and the interdependence of individuals and society. The poem interweaves vivid stories, including a Wanderer’s recollection of Margaret, a widow whose trials illuminate themes of love, loss, poverty, and endurance, with sustained meditations on mortality, education, religion, and social reform. It reflects on the dignity of humble lives, the dangers of political and intellectual zeal, and the need for patience, faithful constitutions, and reverence for the natural world as a source of ethical insight. In its synthesis of narrative and philosophy, The Excursion invites readers to seek a steady moral imagination grounded in nature and benevolent Providence.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.