From ‘The Prelude’, by William Wordsworth

Question 1

The poem in a nutshell….

Answer 1

A poem written in a conversational style, ‘the real language of men’ in which the speaker
confronts the difference between the human and the non-human world and learns.

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

Part of a much longer poem on ‘the growth of a poet’s mind’—‘the child is father of the man’: events in
childhood shape us as adults

An example of poetry of the Romantic Movement1—it’s a revelation, an epiphany, an example of what
Wordsworth called ‘spots of time’

The incident took place on Ullswater, in the Lake District where Wordsworth grew up—‘The Boat Stealing
Incident’

Question 3

Troubled pleasure’

Answer 3

Contains the paradox the child feels: they are aware they have broken a social taboo, yet feel pleasure, and so are ‘troubled’ (line 6).

Question 4

straight I unloosed her chain’

‘lustily I dipped my oars into the silent lake’

Answer 4

Reflects the speaker’s confidence and possible arrogance and excitement. This juxtaposes with language later in the poem when the power of nature is realised.

Question 5

‘struck and struck again’ ‘trembling oars’

Answer 5

Reflects the speaker’s fear and panic in the wake of the huge mountain he encounters. This juxtaposes with language earlier in the poem before the power of nature is realised.

Question 6

Aspects of Power or Conflict

Answer 6

Dialect or fruitful conflict between the human and non-human worlds which results in growth in our
understanding of the universe and our place in it

Human beings must realise the limitations of their power

The adult must acknowledge their debt to their childhood

Question 7

Poems that can be linked

Answer 7

‘Storm on the Island’
Émigrée’
Tissue’
Ozymandias’