Poetry: Excerpt From ‘The Prelude’

Question 1

Whys: 1

Answer 1

Wordsworth heralds the immense power and beauty of the natural world, which transcends all
human constructs.

Question 2

Whys: 2

Answer 2

The poem serves as a reminder of the complex and organic relationship between man and
nature, which Wordsworth strongly felt had its own knowledge to offer humanity.

Question 3

Whys: 3

Answer 3

Wordsworth hoped to inspire his readers to revert back to a more pure and childlike appreciation
of the natural world. This may have felt particularly important to Wordsworth, given that the
rise of the Industrial Revolution meant many people were becoming alienated from the
natural world as they moved to towns and cities to work

Question 4

Which themes are present in this poem?

Answer 4

Change and transformation
Nature
Sense of place

Question 5

Which poems link to this poem?

Answer 5

Death of a naturalist
To autumn