'When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer' Summary

The speaker of the poem attends a lecture by a learned astronomer, who meticulously details the celestial bodies and scientific facts about the universe. Initially, the speaker is captivated by the astronomer’s knowledge, but as the lecture continues, a sense of disillusionment and restlessness grows within him. He feels overwhelmed by the abstract nature of the information and longs for a more direct and intuitive understanding. The speaker then steps out of the lecture hall and into the open night air. He looks up at the stars, experiencing a profound sense of wonder and awe. This direct connection with the natural world fills him with a sense of enlightenment and truth that the astronomer's lecture could not provide. The poem concludes with the speaker recognizing the limitations of scientific knowledge and the value of personal experience in understanding the universe.