The Prelude Flashcards
‘Small circles glittering’ & ‘Sparkling
light’
imagery at the start shows how nature can initially appear beautiful and harmless – a positive
mood is created.
‘Huge peak…upreared its head’
Personification: the mountain is made to appear threatening. Evokes image of a predator lying in wait, raising its head to observe its prey (the boy in the boat).
‘No familiar shapes remained’
Once the boy has seen the true power of nature, the natural world seems unfamiliar and alien to him. He is seeing the world in a new light.
Structure
Iambic pentameter creates a steady and repetitive rhythm, mirroring the sound of the oars moving through the water.
Idea/Perspective/Context (AO3)
As a Romantic, Wordsworth opposes humans exploiting or damaging nature. Poem shows the true power of nature and how puny humans are in comparison.
Links
London
Storm on the Island
