Excerpt From The Prelude

Question 1

Prelude- Opener: Nature

Answer 1

Wordsworth uses ‘The Prelude’ as a vehicle to herald the immense power and beauty of the natural world,
which transcends all human constructs. As a Romantic poet, it is expected that Wordsworth held nature in
particularly high regard. So much so that he wishes to revisit these memories in the form of spots of time – a
phrase which Wordsworth coined himself.

Question 2

Prelude- Opener: Childhood

Answer 2

Wordsworth uses ‘The Prelude’ as a vehicle to celebrate memories of childhood spent in nature whilst
simultaneously acknowledging the value of such spots of time. As a Romantic poet, it is expected that Wordsworth held the natural world in particularly high regard.

Question 3

Prelude- Opener: Time

Answer 3

Wordsworth uses ‘The Prelude’ as a vehicle to bring attention to the inevitable passing of time and the
subsequent need to value of childhood experiences given their fleeting nature. Wordsworth coined the phrase
‘spots of time’ – a reference to memories of significant events that are able to lift one’s spirits in times of
struggle.

Question 4

Quotes?

Answer 4

T C P T P T

Question 5

the sun was set and visible for many a mile

Answer 5

Nature: nature is always a part of life
Time: nature accompanies the passing of time, time is indicated by changing seasons
Childhood: impact of childhood will permeate one’s life

Question 6

Cottage windows through the twilight blaz’d

Answer 6

Nature: nature is close to home
Time: twilight is a transitionary period, he is both present and past
Childhood: childhood is over but influences are still present (twilight)

Question 7

Proud and exulting like an untir’d horse that cares not for his home

Answer 7

Nature: limitless freedom and excitement of nature
Time: loses track of time due to excitement
Childhood: resonates with the freedoms of nature as a child, carelessness of childhood

Question 8

The pack loud bellowing and the hunted hare.

Answer 8

Nature: alliterative H sound, immersive desc
Time: visiting the past is an immersive experience, time cannot overpower memories
Childhood: imitates breathlessness and freedoms of childhood

Question 9

Precipices rang loudly

Answer 9

Nature: uses nature to allude to the return of the present
Time: everything must come to an end, auditory reminder
Childhood: he is at the boundary, must come back to present day

Question 10

The orange sky of evening died away

Answer 10

Nature: nature will always progress no matter what
Time: time will always pass, cannot stay in past forever, end of an event
Childhood: memories will always return like the evening