Boat stealing

Question 1

What ideas are present in the poem ‘boat stealing’?

Answer 1

1. power of Nature

2. fall of human pride

Question 2

What type of language is used in this poem?

Answer 2

Ordinary, everyday language

Question 3

What is the form of the poem?

Answer 3

An epic poem (a form of poetry full of exciting adventures and heroic actions)

Question 4

What could be the hero in this extract?

Answer 4

• could be nature

Question 5

What is the structure of the poem?

Answer 5

• one long blank verse

- iambic pentameter

Question 6

Why may the poem have been written in blank verse?

Answer 6

During the time, lengthy and philosophical poems were written in blank verse

Question 7

What is the effect of using one long poem?

Answer 7

The reader is left overwhelmed after reading the poem, like how Wordsworth was overwhelmed by nature

Question 8

what is ‘her’ personifying in the first line

Answer 8

nature

Question 9

why may enjambment have been used in ‘ i found a little boat tied to a willow tree’?

Answer 9

To convey the overwhelming power of nature

Question 10

‘an act of steal’

What does this imply at the start of the poem?

Answer 10

• being sneaky/sly/growing in pride

Question 11

Why is the imagery positive in ‘small circles glittering idly…”

Answer 11

To contrast with the sinister events to happen

Question 12

‘a chosen point’

What is the importance of the word ‘chosen’?

Answer 12

Chosen suggests that the poet believed he was in control (sense of arrogance)

Question 13

the writer seems to think that the utmost boundary is the ….

Answer 13

craggy ridge (because he doesnt see the mountain initially)

Question 14

What does the writers reaction to the mountain show us about humans?

Answer 14

That humans dont know everything

Question 15

whats an elfin pinnace and what does this show?

Answer 15

a magic-like light sailing ship

• shows the poets arrogance
• portrays experience as mythical

Question 16

What is the effect of delayed syntax in the turning point of the poem ‘when, from behind….upreared its head’?

Answer 16

-increases by tension and suspence to allow readers to be overwhelmed like the poet)

Question 17

why does personification decrease after the poet is scared and give a few examples?

Answer 17

As the poet loses his ability to define things/vocabulary due to fear/shock

• ‘upreared ITS head’
• ‘a huge peak’

Question 18

Why is ‘huge’ repeated in the poem?

Answer 18

• To show that the writers confidence/vocab has left him

Question 19

What does the line ‘for so it seemed’ suggest?

Answer 19

That looking back on the experience, he knows the mountain wasnt really evil, it just gave that feeling of power

Question 20

What is the significance of the word ‘stole’?

Answer 20

• relates to stealth but this time, it suggests the writers sense of desperation/fear

Question 21

What does the vagueness of the phrase ‘in grave and serious mood’ and ‘dim and undetermined’ imply?

Answer 21

The enormity of the situation to the point where the writer cant articulate his words

Question 22

What does the repetition of ‘no’ at the end of the poem

Answer 22

• It makes us aware of the fact that the poem now realises that he doesnt know everything
• it also makes us aware that the pride of the poet had vanished

Question 23

How is the contrast in the poem portrayed?

Answer 23

• Through the contrast of vague vs specific language
• Through the contrast of creative language vs repeated language
• Through the use of positive vs negative language