Extract from the Prelude - William Wordsworth

Question 1

THE PRELUDE - STRUCTURE

Answer 1

• part of a much larger piece.
• written in blank verse (no real structure).
• in iambic pentameter to give it a consistent pace.
• as the poem progresses the journey becomes rougher and words like ‘and’ are repeated to give it a breathless pace and feel.

Question 2

THE PRELUDE - CONTEXT

Answer 2

• William Wordsworth often wrote poems about the world we live in and challenged the way people thought at the time.
• During this time ‘epic’ poems of large length were common, as were poems which looked at the world and man’s place within it.

Question 3

THE PRELUDE - AUTHOR

Answer 3

William Wordsworth
- Romantic poet; not meaning he wrote love poems but he wrote poems about the world we live in and challenged the way people thought at the time.

Question 4

THE PRELUDE - KEY IDEAS

Answer 4

• The poem symbolically uses the journey on the river to mirror the poets own spiritual journey of reflection.
• The poet is structured to show the contrast of the serene and peaceful start where we works with nature, to the dark and disturbing battle with nature shown from when he tries to control his journey through rowing.
• The conflict between man and nature is caused by mans attempt to manipulate nature, nature still contains a power and majesty beyond mankind’s ability to command.

Question 5

THE PRELUDE - KEY QUOTES

Answer 5

“led by her”
“upon the summit of a craggy ridge”
“[the boat] heaving through the water like a swan”
“a huge peak, black and huge, / As if with voluntary power instinct, / Upreared its head.”

Question 6

Analysis - “led by her”

Answer 6

• “her” refers not to a person but to nature.
• demonstrates the control nature has over man.

Question 7

Analysis - “upon the summit of a craggy ridge”

Answer 7

• the mood changes here; the craggy ridge and horizon’s boundary represent nature, limiting the progress of the poet.

Question 8

Analysis - “[the boat] heaving through the water like a swan”

Answer 8

• simile “like a swan”; reminds us that anything man tries to produce is merely imitating nature, which does it better.
• verb “heaving” makes the boat feel heavy as though it’s being dragged along rather than gliding more elegantly.

Question 9

Analysis - “a huge peak, black and huge, / As if with voluntary power instinct, / Upreared its head.”

Answer 9

• shift in tone.
• “as if with voluntary power instinct” creates a more scary feel; nature could use its power against the speaker.
• personification “upreared its head” the language becomes darker and dangerous; nature is shown as aggressive.