The prelude Flashcards
1
Q
Overall summary
A
- This is an extract of an autobiographical epic poem compromised of fourteen books, this is taken from the first book, “Introduction and school time”.
- The poem explores a childhood memory of Wordsworth’s trip to the lake district in which he stole a boat.
- He sees a nearby mountain and believes it to be growing, he perceives it as increasingly threatening and it begins to incite fear within him.
- As a result of this experience, Wordsworth’s view and perspective of nature was change.
2
Q
Detailed summary
A
- He finds a boat, unties it and rows away from the shore into the lake.
- He notes the moonlight reflecting off the ripples that the boat was leaving on the lake.
- His language at first celebrates the beauty and elegance of nature.
- He then notices a mountain on the horizon and perceives it to be growing bigger.
- Fearful, he retreats to the shore.
-This experience has a lasting, haunting effect on him.
3
Q
Context
A
- William Wordsworth was a romantic poet, he wrote in criticism of industrialism and celebrated nature’s beauty.
- The Romantics employed an emotional view of the world, they generally celebrated the beauty of nature and the past in retaliation to the growing influence of urban life.
- Living through the Industrial Revolution was likely a source of inspiration for his poetry, Britain underwent a period of rapid change which saw natural landscapes transforming into factories and roads.
- Many Romantic poets were anti establishment and in favour of overthrowing institutions e.g. Religion.
Wordsworth was initially in support of the French Revolution as he stood in support of democracy and equality however when the revolution became associated with violence, it lost respect from the romantic poets. - The prelude was intended to be first volume of a three part autobiographical epic poem name “The recluse” however Wordsworth died before this was finished.
- Wordsworth had a troubled childhood not only did he have a problematic relationship with his father, but both of his parents also died during his adolescence. He was raised by several different relatives, many of whom treated him poorly which had a detrimental impact on his mental health. Growing up in the Lake district, the lake’s natural; landscape became a place where he could escape.
4
Q
“Troubled pleasure”
A
- Wordsworth idealises the perception of the world that is exclusive to his childhood, the oxymoron “troubled pleasure” depicts how childhood permits an unorthodox blending of emotions.
- This notion of “troubled pleasure” sets the undertone for the entire poem which combines awe and fear to convey the immense power of nature.
5
Q
“little boat” “elfin pinnace”
A
- Wordsworth recalls the events of the poem through a mythical lens, describing the “little boat” as an “elfin pinnace” to convey the experience as fairy-tale like. The rhetoric of magic extends to his perceptions of the natural environment describing water ripples as “glittering idly in the moon” which is reminiscent of an angel’s halo. He celebrates the childhood ability to believe and immerse yourself within the magical realm.
6
Q
“black and huge”
A
- As the poem progresses his feeling of magical awe are overwhelmed by fear as he personifies and demonises the “black and huge” mountain that seemed to chase him(“stole after me”), which encompasses his terror.
- Moreover, the simplicity of his lexis reminds us of his youth and innocence- the adjectives “black and huge” contrast his initial eloquent language, reverting him to a vulnerable child, stricken by fear. The ability to experience such powerful emotions of awe and terror is something unique to the hypersensitivity of children, Wordsworth suggests that they are more connected with the natural environment.
7
Q
“led by her”
A
- Wordsworth characterises nature as conscious entity in order to quantify its power and magnificence in comparison to man.
- He suggests that mankind underestimates nature’s power ; the personification of nature initially paints it as a maternal figure, he claims he was “led by her”. Within poetry, felinity is often associated with gentleness and beauty, he lulled into a sense of security that nature is a compassionate entity. It is also likely it is an an allusion to the concept of ‘Mother Nature’, which is a role that humans defined for nature- perhaps by contradicting this view he is exploring that humanity is susceptible to being blinded by hubris, and some of the deeply ingrained beliefs of society are in fact misconceptions.
8
Q
“grim shape” “strode after”
A
As the poem progresses nature transforms into a “grim shape” which “strode after” him. The vague sound “shape” presents Wordsworth’s inability to fathom or identity nature, it is an omniscient being which supersedes description.
9
Q
“the horizon’s utmost boundary”
A
Wordsworth campaigns for the importance of humility and condemns man’s arrogance. The definitive statement “the horizon’s utmost boundary” advertises his unjustified sense of confidence.
10
Q
” Paradise lost”
A
Contextually, it is important to note that The Prelude was written to compete with John Milton’s “ Paradise lost”, whilst Wordsworth interrogates mankind’s hubris, Milton also explores the theme of humanity’s evil. Many poets of this era expressed similar sentiments that man was underestimating the power of the natural world and overestimating their own significance.
11
Q
“huge and mighty forms”
A
- As Wordsworth begins to understand nature’s omnipotence it becomes almost a spiritual force- it is increasingly less tangible throughout the poem.
- The repetition of the adjective “huge” demonstrates an overt loss of eloquence, nature is inexplicable to get him now. It gives the impression of stuttering which could be a physical response to fear and intimidation.
- Within his mind, the speaker was haunted by “huge and mighty forms” and incapable of articulating what his means or identifying these “forms”. This imbues them with a immaterial and ethereal quality and introduces this sense of spirituality into the poem.
12
Q
Enjambent
A
The enjambment serves to reinforce this overwhelming quality as the worlds seem to cascade in a relentless manner.
13
Q
Parallelism
A
- Parallelism is used to contrast the speaker after he has undergone the spiritual change throughout the poem.
- Initially, as he rowed he glided through water in an “unswerving line” as his oar strokes “melted all into one track” which suggests a level of control over nature and his environment”.
- This sense of ease however dissipates and on his return journey, he is “heaving through the water”, upon realising the greatness of nature, conducting his environment becomes a strenuous and exhausting feat.
14
Q
Single stanza
A
The entire extract is comprised of a single stanza which denies the reader a pause and could make them feel breathless. The overwhelming intensity of the poem is designed to allow the reader to empathise with how Wordsworth felt in response to nature.
15
Q
Hypotaxis
A
- Wordsworth uses hypotaxis to simultaneously capture an impression of mightiness and smallness. Hypotaxis is used when long strings of subordinate clauses aer used to conduct a single sentence.
“ When, from behind that craggy sleep till then The horizon’s bound, a huge peak, black and huge, As if with voluntary power instinct, Upreared its head. - This explains what the experience was like for the speaker, gradually the hugeness of the mountain continued to grow, its largeness extending to become overwhelming.
16
Q
Epic poem
A
- The prelude is an epic poem, a long narrative poem that details the extraordinary feats of a heroic protagonist. Within the prelude, the “hero” is up for debate, arguably it is Wordsworth himself, but it is possible to interpret the hero as nature personified.
- Criticism of Wordsworth’s poem suggest that the contents are comparatively mundane and lass gallant than what would be expected of an epic, yet this is telling about how profound Wordsworth believed his interactions with nature to be.
17
Q
Blank verse
A
- It is written in blank verse (iambic pentameter without rhyme), which means that each line is 10 syllables which alternate between an unstressed and stressed syllable e.g. da- DUM
- This is a useful tool with a poem so long as it established and maintains an artistic quality to keep the reader engaged.
- It also supports the suggestion that the Prelude was inspired by and intended to compete with “Paradise Lost” as this blank verse was also used by Milton.
