The Prelude

• What is the title of the epic poem by William Wordsworth discussed in the study material?

  The Prelude
• How many books comprise the epic poem The Prelude?

  Fourteen books
• From which book of The Prelude is the GCSE extract taken?

  The first book, "Introduction and school-time"
• What childhood memory does The Prelude center around?

  Stealing a boat and rowing it into the middle of a lake
• What realization does Wordsworth have about the mountain during his experience?

  The mountain is much bigger than he initially thought
• How does the experience of rowing into the lake affect Wordsworth's view of nature?

  It changes how he sees nature
• What are the key events in the synopsis of The Prelude?

  • Steals a boat and rows out onto the lake
  • Watches ripples while focusing on a fixed point
  • Sees the mountain grow bigger
  • Realizes the immensity of nature
  • Rows back to shore in fear
  • Haunted by the event for days
  • Changes in views of nature and humanity
• When was William Wordsworth born and when did he die?

  Born in 1770 and died in 1850
• What significant life events affected Wordsworth's childhood?

  His parents died during his adolescence
• What was Wordsworth's relationship with his mother's family like?

  He avoided them because they treated him badly
• What literary movement is Wordsworth associated with?

  Romanticism
• What did Wordsworth aim to resist through his poetry?

  Growing industrialism
• What was the intended purpose of The Prelude?

  To explore his moral and spiritual development
• What warning does The Prelude convey to contemporary society?

  About transforming fields to factories and woods to roads
• What was Wordsworth's view on the French Revolution?

  He was an early supporter
• What did the romantic poets aim to achieve through their work?

  Bring democracy and equality
• What did Wordsworth believe about humanity after the French Revolution turned violent?

  It showed humanity's innate evil
• What was Wordsworth's intended three-part autobiographical epic called?

  The Recluse
• What is the main conflict explored in The Prelude?

  Man vs nature
• In what poetic form is The Prelude written?

  Iambic pentameter
• What does the setting of the poem in a boat symbolize?

  A spiritual journey of realizing nature's true extent
• How does Wordsworth personify nature in The Prelude?

  By referring to nature using the pronoun "her"
• What does the phrase "troubled pleasure" suggest about Wordsworth's feelings?

  He feels conflicted about his actions
• What does the use of the verb "heaving" imply about the speaker's effort?

  It connotes sustained, intense physical effort
• What does the mountain's rising suggest about nature's power?

  Nature's supremacy becomes apparent
• How does the speaker feel after encountering the mountain?

  He feels fear and insignificance
• What does the phrase "huge and mighty forms" suggest about nature's impact on the speaker?

  It reflects the immense power nature can have
• What does the title "The Prelude" signify?

  It reflects that the poem is an introduction to a larger work
• How does Wordsworth's use of first-person narration affect the poem?

  It reveals personal details of his life
• What effect do present participles have in The Prelude?

  They blur past and present, showing ongoing influence
• What is the structure of The Prelude?

  It is written as a single stanza
• How does The Prelude compare to traditional epic poems?

  It focuses on personal and spiritual growth rather than heroic deeds
• What does the poem suggest about humanity's relationship with nature?

  Humanity often thinks it is in control but is subject to nature
• What does the phrase "call it solitude or blank desertion" imply about the speaker's state of mind?

  He feels isolated and abandoned
• What does the poem ultimately reveal about nature's power?

  Nature transcends mankind and is not bound by time
• How does the poem's structure contribute to its themes?

  The single stanza emphasizes overwhelming experiences
• What is the significance of the speaker's journey in The Prelude?

  It symbolizes a spiritual awakening to nature's power
• What does the poem suggest about the impact of nature on the individual?

  Nature has a transformative and humbling effect
• What does the phrase "the grim shape towered up" convey about the mountain?

  It conveys a sense of fear and overwhelming presence
• How does Wordsworth's experience in The Prelude reflect his views on society?

  It suggests that society often misunderstands its relationship with nature