Prelude Flashcards
“glittering” and “ sparkling”
Adjectives make nature appear harmless.
Alluring, ethereal, mystical
Nature is deceptive, which links to the shift in the poem
“proud of his skill”
“unswerving line”
“utmost boundary”
“proud” displays the child’s confidence and almost arrogance
“unswerving” highlights his strong determination and commitment
“utmost” presents the child as ambitious and risk-taking
“I dipped my oars into the silent lake”
“dipped”
Verb is quite cautious, and calculated
Could suggest that the child is subconsciously sensing danger, but he hasn’t realised yet
“silent lake”
The quietness gives a sense of foreboding, almost as if nature is thinking.
Nature is smarter than humans and could strike at any moment.
Therefore it is more oppressive.
“huge peak, black and huge”
“huge”
this adjective emphasises the size difference between the child and the mountain. This highlights the power dynamic between nature and humanity
Nature is almighty and inescapable.
This is a metaphor for harsh reality hitting a young child.
“huge” “black” ‘huge”
The use of repetition and simplistic language presents the peak as so overpowering and intimidating that the child is at loss for words.
Alternatively:
The vague language reveals the child’s state of mind- it is underdeveloped.
They don’t have the language to describe what they were seeing as it is a new and unknown experience.
“No familiar shapes/ Remained, no pleasant images of trees,”
“familiar”
This adjective portrays his disillusionment. He is having an epiphany that the world is not what it seems to be. This child is no longer confident and determined like earlier in the poem.
The use of anaphora “no”:
Creates a sense of loss and fear of the unknown.
The child is confused, disturbed and unsettled.
Wordsworth wrote to tell the story about his own life. The child is growing up and facing a new, more scary and unknown reality. It tells us how he became the man he was.
“trouble to my dreams”
Reality is now haunting the child.
