Mysticism
The overarching theme of this work is related to the concept of mysticism. This is a word often casually misused and its application here is a textbook definition. The mystic is defined by the belief that a personal relationship between man and god is possible and can bring about direct union. This idea is not unlike a relationship with a human soulmate and the language used by the poet is often ambiguous enough to read much of the poetry contained within this long work as if it is a speaker declaring love for a romantic partner. Such is the state of the union with god that he seeks.
Childhood Innocence
The poet situates children as the symbolic icons of innocence in several poems in this collection. This theme also has religious connotations as this innocence is fueled with purity as a gift from god. While the innocence of children is a common theme, the poet digs deeper to imply that innocence springs from an essential goodness divorced from the material pursuits of adulthood. Children are portrayed almost as living in a separate world that is not just separated from corruption but disinterested in those corrupting influences.
Joy and Death
These two words appear separately or together in most of the verses making up this work. Most appearances are separate, but this only serves to unify them all the more. The poet extols the pleasures of experiencing joy as a necessary component of life. Still, since death is accepted as an inherent and inevitable aspect of life, the two are not placed in contrast with each other. The poet views the acceptance of the inevitability of death as an inherent aspect of joy which he describes are being responsible for "the twin brothers, life and death, dancing over the wide world."
