William Cowper, Yardley Oak

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William Cowper had a great fondness for trees. In Book One of his poem “The Task” he tells us that

No tree in all the grove but has its charms,Though each its hue peculiar.(I. 307-308)

No tree in all the grove but has its charms,Though each its hue peculiar.(I. 307-308)

And in the twelve lines which follow we have a series of brief but telling observations on nine different trees: the “wannish grey” of the willow, the “deeper green” of the elm, and “deeper still,/ Lord of the woods, the long-surviving oak”.

And in the twelve lines which follow we have a series of brief but telling observations on nine different trees: the “wannish grey” of the willow, the “deeper green” of the elm, and “deeper still,/ Lord of the woods, the long-surviving oak”.

1552 words

Citation: Curry, Neil. "Yardley Oak". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 14 May 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=24352, accessed 23 November 2024.]

24352 Yardley Oak 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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