The Prelude Flashcards
One summer evening lead by her
A romantic setting of warmth
Personification- refers to nature as if she is his lover or he is being seduced so therefore there is a strong relationship between humans and nature at this point (or he is being provided a false sense of control) this is reinforced by the brackets which suggest either that he added this in in hindsight, or, at this point he was dismissive of her power.
However, it is deliberately set during evening foreshadowing that the event will take a dark turn and symbolises the end of childlike innocence.
Alternatively the personification of nature is an allusion to Mother Nature. Nature is responsible for giving life to an entire planet therefore demonstrating nature’s superior power
Enjambent also makes the speaker sound breathless and excited.
It was an act of stealth and troubled pleasure
Suggests that mankind is trespassing on nature
Oxymoron but he feels entitled to trespass on nature
Small circles glittering idly in the moon
Sparkling light
Lots of light imagery. Beautiful and serene image
But as much as he believes he is in control, he is being lead by the light nature is showing him
When, from that craggy steep till then The horizon’s bound,a huge peak, black and huge
, As if with Voluntary power instinct unprepared it’s head
Conjunction shifts the tone and flips the relationship between man and nature
Hyperbole demonstrates nature’s supremacy and he is in awe
Colour imagery is dark gothic and deadly
The preposition behind shows that this was unexpected to the narrator
Struck and struck again
Speaker is struggling now not gliding like a swan.
And growing still in stature the grim shape towered up between me and the stars
No longer light imagery
He is in complete darkness
Strode after me
Positions have now been reversed. Nature is now the predator and human is the prey.
With trembling oars I turned, And through the silent water stole my way back to the covert of the willow tree.
Personification of the oars suggests that he does not want to admit his dread
He is trying to detach himself and save his pride
The water is still silent- he has changed but nature remains unaffected
Dental plosive alliteration implies he is stuttering and horrified
Also, speaker has fled dangerous nature to a place where nature is comforting, not oppressive. Also creates a cyclical structure which could mirror the cycle of nature and seasons which will continue even though he has been irreversibly changed.
Enjambent is also used to highlight that the speaker is out of breath
