Prelude Flashcards
One summer evening (led by her)
power of nature
the personification of nature =’led by her’, meaning all-powerful Nature takes the aligning with a Romantic poet’s ideology. It suggests the poet had no agency in what was happening in this story. Wordsworth was a Pantheist, seeing God in the all-embracing natural world.
the idea of nature being feminine
the setting of a “summer evening” creates a happy and jolly atmosphere (pathetic fallacy)
A little boat tied to a willow tree
Straight I unloosed her chain,
(power of man, pride)
This could be interpreted as the boat being a metaphor for mankind’s power and innovation.
The fact that the man made boat is tied to a great willow tree may symbolise how man needs to grow around nature to survive, not utilise its features and make nature change for him. It could also symbolise how nature ultimately has power over humanity
“Straight I unloosed her chain,” suggests that mankind is taking some control over nature as well as hints at the narrators pride that is further convered as the poem progresses
“troubled pleasure”
pride
oxymoron. ‘troubled pleasure’, to show how he found his environment intimidating yet beautiful, showing how complex nature is
suggests mankind is selfish and ‘proud’ of taking from nature, which is truly dominant and overpowering. Man is arrogant and over-confident.
could also be interpreted as how entitled he feels - a metaphor for how mankind believe they can control nature
Small circles glittering idly in the moon…. sparkling”
(power of nature, pride)
- smooth, emjambment
- soft ls
- description
- gilttering and idly, sparkling
- atmosphere
The lines progress smoothly, with seamless enjambment and, when read aloud, are flowing and elegant
The repetition of soft ‘L’s creates a flowing effect which represents the gentle movement of the boat across the lake.
a vivid, atmospheric description of light on water
adjectives “glittering” as well as the adverb “idly” give a magical and almost celestial quality to the movement of the ripples
“glittering” and “sparkling connotes the image of jewellery or diamonds, implying how precious nature is. Through this interpretation, the narrator could be compared to a colonial explorer venturing into new territory and discovering nature’s treasures and could again link to the theme of men trying to control nature
creates a calm and serene atmosphere which lures the narrator into a false sense of security
She was an elfin pinnace
The combination of the archaic “pinnace” (a small boat) and its adjective “elfin” (small and delicate but also ‘elf-like’) is later contrasted with the “huge peak” to emphasise the powerlessness of the speaker in comparison to nature
the use of the adjective “elfin” presents the boat as magical and supernatural
the growth of the journey from being ordinary to a mythical experience could mirror the growth of the narrators pride the growth of the journey from being ordinary to a mythical experience could mirror the growth of the narrators pride
my boat/ Went heaving through the water like a swan;
pride, power of nature
the simile brings about a comparison to one of Nature’s most beautiful creatures, hence Wordsworth comparing himself to one suggests his own arrogance and symbolises mankind’s arrogance and aspirations to create something that is stronger and more beautiful than nature.
this could also be interpreted as symbolism for how everything man-made is just an imitation of nature and therefore nature is always superior.
The oxymoron between “heaving” and the elegant connotations of “swan” further supports this as it implies that man-made creations could never be up to the standards of nature
When… craggy steep till then/The horizon’s bound, a huge peak, black and huge,”
(power of nature, fear)
- turning point
- chane in outlook
- gothic
- huge
- caesuras
‘When’ is the turning point of the poem; the introduction of a complete change in tone, with the subordinate clauses before the final main clause to generate tension and suspense.
it changes from idyllic romanticism to a gothic outlook on nature.
By using the adjectives “black” and “huge” the writer presents nature as a powerful force, almost gothic in atmosphere.
The adjective ‘huge’ is repeated for emphasis and almost seems disjointed, suggesting the impact of the massive peak has on his state of mind — so much that he cannot compose a syntactically sound sentence. It also encapsulates how massive the mountain was.
Caesuras is used to emphasise the change in the poems tone from positive to negative as it brings an uncertain atmosphere with its pause within the line.
Upreared its head
power of nature, fear
The peak is also personified; like a gothic monster it ‘upreared its head’. Note that the verb “uprear” is prepositional and suggests that nature is on a higher level than the poet, seemingly dominant over him
growing still in stature the grim shape
fear, power of nature
The personification of the mountain through the verb “growing” further emphasise how gigantic the mountain is as well as an increasing danger. this could also be interpreted as a symbol for the omnipotence of nature as “growing” suggests that the mountain is increasing in dominance; it has unlimited power
Moreover the fact that nature is still growing reflects the way in which nature is everlasting, man may destroy it for a short amount of time but it is defiant and will regrow.
The quote shows that even as the writer tries to move away from the mountain, more and more of it comes into view. This means it seems like the mountain is getting bigger and bigger, making the event seem like a nightmare.
The use of sibilance through “still in stature” creates a sinister and disturbing mood. Romantics, like Wordsworth, opposed the idea of industrialism, in this poem, it can be suggested that the poem is a metaphoric criticism of society that explores the way in which nature will always overcome and defeat man.
there hung a darkness, call it solitude or blank desertion
fear, power of nature
The poet is conscious of his limitations; of loneliness and spiritual nullity. He now feels isolated. The lonely human being in the face of overwhelming nature
could also suggest that he has realised his own ignorance and is unable to fully comprehend the extent and power of nature
But huge and mighty forms, that do not live Like living men,
power of nature, fear
portrays nature as a sinister force
Wordsworth was an anti-monarchist, the poem also reflects his views, the way in which nature has more power over everyone, regardless of wealth, status or power.
(use this quote with the grim quote)
By day, and were a trouble to my dreams
power of nature, fear
this is an oxymoron as there is an inner conflict within the poets peaceful dreams. Nature has contaminated his thoughts showing the true power that “she” has.
unsettling imagery serves as a warning not to undermine the power of nature
