In what way does "she dwelt among the untrodden ways" best exemplify wordsworth's choice to take his subjects from "low and rustic life"? click here to read the poem.

Before we answer this question, let's clarify what the word "rustic" means. 

The word "rustic" means having to do with the countryside; it is a word that has to do with rural, agricultural, or pastoral ways of life. When someone is described as rustic, he or she is also being described as unsophisticated, uncultured, or a bit rough.

That being said, the first line of the poem indicates Wordsworth's choice to take his subjects from "low and rustic life." The subject of the poem literally dwells "among the untrodden ways." This means the young woman is part of rural life, as she lives off the beaten path. She lives somewhere not many people go.

Furthermore, she lives "beside the springs," another reference to a pastoral setting. She has no one to praise or love her -- another reference to this "low" life, as she does not live in a busy world full of parties and socializing.

He compares her to a "violet by a mossy stone" -- compares her to flowers that would be found in a pasture. She is "half hidden," which is another reference to her "low and rustic life." Had she lived in London, she would have received much more attention. Living a "low and rustic life," however, keeps her from being noticed. 

Therefore, the many descriptions and comparisons that Wordsworth makes exemplifies his choice to take subjects from "low and rustic life."

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