Nuns Fret Not at Their Convents Narrow Room by William Wordsworth talks about how keeping a positive outlook on negative situations will make them seem not so bad. Wordsworth breaks up his poem to show this. He uses different examples of people who hold jobs, including himself, and how they appreciate their jobs. He also talks about how important it is to stay attentive during whatever you are doing so you can get something from it. Wordsworth is saying that if you’re able to keep a positive outlook and be attentive during negative situations, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself more. 

In the first 6 lines of the poem, Wordsworth uses different examples of people at their jobs, “And hermits are contented with their cells” (line 3), and how they are content with what they’re doing, “sit blithe and happy” (5). Although all these people hold jobs that can sometimes be mundane, they still find peace and joy in them. Many people can relate to this. I can relate as I work as a server in both Columbia and back home in Raleigh. I go to work knowing that there will be things I’m going to have to do that night that I don’t want to but I stick it out because for the most part my job is enjoyable and I am content doing what I do for now. By keeping this positive outlook I am making my time at work more enjoyable, which is what a lot of people do with their everyday job and the message Wordsworth is trying to pass in the first 6 lines. 

In lines 7-9 Wordsworth starts talking about how people complain about their jobs, but still do them because it gives them something to do. “In truth the prison, into which we doom / Ourselves, no prison is” (8-9) This reminds me of kids in elementary and middle school who wait all school year for summer break to roll around. When summer comes kinds get so excited, towards the middle of summer they start getting bored and by the end of summer they’re ready to go back to school just because they’re bored and wanted something to do. Wordsworth is explaining how people may not always enjoy their jobs but will still go so they aren’t bored. 

In lines 10-14 Wordsworth directs the poem towards him and how he makes situations and work positive even though they are negative. “Should find brief solace there, as I have found” (14). Thinking about this is reminded me of the students here at the University of South Carolina. Students are given assignments, most of which they don’t really care or want to do but do them anyways. While doing these assignments that students look at as a bother, they need to try to think of how that assignment will help them sometime in the future. For example, I hate writing essays. There are plenty of other things I would rather be doing right now than writing this essay but I think about how this will someday show its worth and make me happy that I spent time learning how to better my writing skills. Since I plan on going to law school I know that having good reading and writing skills is a must. So, when given essays in English now I just remind myself about how they will help me sometime in my near future and it makes me not dread them so much. Wordsworth is saying the same thing in his last couple lines. He also explains how people need to stay away from writers block by being attentive as possible when completing or doing things whether it be driving or writing an essay. He pushes how being attentive and avoiding writer’s block will benefit someone because they will get more out of it. 

Wordsworth talks a lot about how people become familiar with their jobs and therefore become comfortable with what they’re doing. It’s important that people are familiar with their jobs and comfortable with what they’re doing but it is even more important that they find happiness within their job so they don’t dread it. People need to avoid writer’s block so that no matter what they’re doing they will be benefiting from it. 

