The Prelude Flashcards
Structure of ‘The Prelude’ (epic poem)
The prelude has been written as an epic poem. These are lengthy, narrative poems that often focused around a heroic protagonist and the legendary events they were involved in. They fan be considered one of the first forms of poetry. They were typically written to incite a sense of awe in the reader as the narrative often focused on the heroism of the central character.
Structure of ‘The Prelude’ (epic biography poem)
The prelude can arguably be considered an epic biography poem, and if it is autobiographical, then Wordsworth is its hero. However, it can also be argued that the “hero” is not Wordsworth, but nature personified. Some critics claim the poem focus on nature amd mundane everyday life makes it seem underhwhelming compared to most epics, as a scared child is poor competition as a hero, and growing up in not really a heroic event.
Stanza structure in ‘The Prelude’
The entire extract is a single stanza which emphasises the overwhelming power of nature. This is heightened because there are no breaks or pauses which causes the reader to feel breathless.
If the reader feels overhwhelmed by the intensity of the poem, this could be to reflect how Wordsworth was overwhelmed by the immensity of the mountain and nature. The readers can empathise with the speaker’s sense of awe towards the “huge peak” as they are also faced with a huge piece of text that offers no breaks or pauses, causing the reader to feel overwhelmed just as the speaker does.
What is parallelism?
The use of gramatically identical/ similar components repeated in a sentence or multiple sentences
Parallelism in ‘the prelude’?
Wordsworth uses parallelism in his poem to contrast how the speaker was before and after the revelation of nature’s power. This highlights how the experience has acted as a catalyst in his development.
How is parallelism shown in the speaker’s rowing?
When the speaker is setting out on his journey his oar strokes “melted all into one track”. This shows the speaker how easily he is able to move through the water in an “unswerving line”.
However, his rowing becomes laboured after seeing the mountain and he starts “heaving through water”. The active verb “heaving” connotes sustained, intense physical effort. Here, the speaker’s illusion of control is broken as the mountain rises from the water, and nature’s supremacy becomes apparent.
The initial calm and relaxed rowing is contrasted with the frantic rowing back to shore which is reinforced by the repetition of “struck” in later lines.
Cyclical structure in ‘The Prelude’
Wordsworth employe a cyclical structure in his poem to emphasise that the change that took place during the journey was internal and psychological rather than external and physical. It begins and ends in the mooring of the boat- his journey begins and finishes in the same place.
However, despite starting and finishing in the same place there are subtle changes which are shown through wordsworth’s use of a linguistic echo. When the speaker sets out in his stolen boat it is “an act of stealth” then when he returned home he “stole my way back to the covert of the willow tree”
Enjabment in ‘The Prelude’
Wordsworth’s use of this device makes the poem flow but also gives a sense of a lack of control from lack of structure. This makes the poem feel like a stream of consciousness. The enjabment suggests an uncontrollable urge to convey the power of nature, hinting that he wants to try and express what he felt.
What is the quote that has Personfication to show the intimidation of the mountain. Hyperbole to show how big and frightening. Sibilence showing how the man is scared (stuttering of ‘s’ sound’)?
‘Growing still in stature the grim shape towered up between me and the stars.’
How the theme of nature presented in Exposure
Motif of the mountain to portray the underestimation of nature’s power. Extent of nature’s power over his world. Humanities misplaced confidence and false sense of superiorit over nature.
Ot isn’t the mountain that scares him, but he implications of his judgement of his judgement of the world being deeply flawed.
Intimidated by the existential realisation of his own insignificance
Humanity’s innate hubris (confidence/pride) leads to ignorance
How the theme of power presented in Exposure
Ignorance of the power of nature is manifested in the ‘darkness’ and lack of colour as the speaker has realised that he has been living metaphorically in the dark, so is naive and unaware of his own insignificance
The quote which shows how the man see the nature as weak with personification and a metaphor to show magic of the scenery. Adverb to to hsow how he feels he stronger than the mountain and Onematapia to show his skill?
‘She was an elfin pinnace; lustily, I dipped my oars into the silent lake’.
What is the quote showing how the man is scared through alliteration in contrast to his eloquint language before?
‘A huge peak, black and huge’.
What is the quote shows how nature has the ultimate control over humans eventhough they think they do through Personification.
‘There hung a darkness, call it solitude
Or blank desertion’
