The Prelude Quotes and Ideas Flashcards
The oxymoron is used to show that William feels some guilt for stealing the boat, but it feels good all the same - a mischievous deed relating to power of man increasing in this poem.
“Troubled Pleasure,”
William feels confident and controlled with his manoeuvring of the boat. Also uses a simile personifying the boat as an animal which has control gliding in waters.
“my boat Went heaving through the water like a swan;”
The repetition of ‘huge’ shows the surprise and sudden fear of the mountain as it towered upon William. Furthermore, this is the volta within the poem as the mood changes and the language used is mostly related to negativity.
“a huge peak, black and huge,”
William shows the unsettling image he’s branded with of the mountain which cannot be cleared of, emphasising his suffering and the power of nature ruling over man.
“moved slowly through the mind By day, and were a trouble to my dreams.”
William’s trauma effects him daily and makes him see that everything has a ‘dark side’.
“No familiar shapes Remained, no pleasant images of trees, of sea or sky, no colour of green fields;”
William’s ego shoots as his arrogance peaks; he explains his pathway to ‘success’ as being simple.
“Proud of his skill, to reach a chosen point With an unswerving line,”
The boat is metaphorically described as a magical creature portraying the majestic and magical nature is has.
“She was an elfin pinnace”
As William progressively rows away from the mountain it gets increasingly bigger. This quote has many sibilant sound suggesting the negative atmosphere/tone/imagery he is shone with. Furthermore, the mountain is metaphorically described as a split between William and extra-terrestrial boundaries showing the significance in the power of nature.
“growing still in stature the grim shape Towered up between me and the stars,”
