The Prelude

• "(led by her)"

  Can be considered an allusion to the idea of mother nature, and nature can be seen as female in that is responsible for the feminine task of creating, sustaining and nurturing life - just as a mother does. By using personification, Wordsworth is able to contrast the role of nature to the role of a human - whilst women nurture a single child; nature nurtures and entire planet, thus demonstrating its superior power.
• "Proud of his skill, to reach a chosen point"

  Thinks he is in control despite being led by nature. Deceived into a sense of control, but nature has chose the point as a destination where he will be humbled. This has the larger suggestion that it is only when mankind tries to work against nature that it becomes arduous and laborious.
• "my boat went heaving through the water"

  The active verb "heaving" connotes sustained, immense physical effort. The illusion of control is broken as the mountain rises from the water, and nature's supremacy becomes apparent.
• "like a living thing, strode after me"

  Use of simile here implies that the speaker is no longer choosing to personify nature as a motherly figure, but to something above his level; something other-worldly. The violent verb "strode" creates daunting connotations, implying that nature can easily become more powerful than the individual man himself.
• Comparison To Ozymandias


  Both poems explore the power of nature over man BUT Ozymandias focusses on impermanence and decay of power & Prelude focusses on the transcendental effect of nature.