The Prelude Flashcards
Context
Troubled relationship with parents, (mother, father died when he was a teen)
Him and sibling were set apart after death
Considered suicide cuz of bad rs with relatives so he spent time outside.
quote 1 beginning (childhood/time)
‘And in the frosty season, when the sun was set and visible for many a mile’
Wordsworth brings attention to the day coming to an end, similar to childhood, however, these memories of childhood can still be accessed through ‘spots of time.’
· The idea of something coming to an end is further exemplified through use of the adjective “frosty”, which is indicative of the winter season. This may be Wordsworth admiring the beauty of the seasons as a Romantic poet however, winter marks the end of the cycle of the seasons. This is reflective of something that has passed but can still be accessed through memories and ‘spots of time.’
Quote 2 (opening) nature/childhood
“Happy time it was, indeed, for all of us:… the village clock toll’d six;” -symbolises the time when these carefree moments occur.
Joyful and nostalgic reflecting the poets happiness and the sense of freedom during his childhood activities/ time spent in the nature
Repetition of “:” demonstrates caesura, this could show passion and excitement for nature and how fast paced his childhood went because of it.
quote 3 (nature) mid
‘All shod with steel, we hissed along the polished ice’
· Wordsworth further emphasises the speaker’s enthusiasm regarding nature and ice skating by making the poem more immersive for the reader through the sibilance of “hissed” and “steel.” This creates a more vivid imagery that can be easily accessed through spots of time.
· The phrase “shod with steel” indicates that the speaker may feel protected amongst nature, almost as if they are wearing an armour, which is typically made of steel.
· The verb “shod” can also link to horses, which once again implies the freeing feeling that accompanies nature due to the freedom associated with animals.
s sound- sleepy sound , sense of comfort to do with nature
quote 4 mid (more childhood) mid
‘and woodland pleasures, the resounding horn, the pack loud bellowed and the hunted hare’
- auditory language to echo the joy and pleasure of childhood they had as a more immersive experience
- ‘pack loudly bellowed’ where children are playing with animalistic qualities
- ‘hunted hare’ uses an alliterative phrase to show extent of childhood nature and mirrors how they are out of breath as they have been playing
quote 5 time/ nature mid
Quote 4 (from second poem) – ‘the leafless trees, every icy crag, tinkled in iron’
- passage of time reinforced by the wether season of ‘winter’ indicating the end of the childhood memories through a sudden Volta - change of mood or tone in poem
- the verb ‘tinkled’ is very gentle in direct antithesis to hard, deep resonate sound of ‘iron’ and displays the bittersweet moment. Shows appreciation of natural environment however uses rhetoric of ‘iron’ to hint at the industrial activity. Links to growth of industrial revolution, that Wordsworth was severely against due to his elevated views of nature as a romantic poet, spoiled the environmental landscape that lifted one’s mood and serenity.
Quote 6 (end) end nature
“Precipices rang aloud” - personification, nature is given human like qualities
Quote 7 (end) time/ childgood
“While the stars… orange sky evening” - the stars and orange sky of evening symbolises the passage of time and the transition from day to night, reflecting fleeting nature of childhood joy
