The Prelude

• Who wrote the Prelude

  Wordsworth
• Themes of the Prelude

  • The power of nature
  • Personal transformation
• The Form of The Prelude

  • single stanza with no breaks or pauses
  • intended to make the reader feel breathless and overwhelmed by the intensity of the poem
  • reflects how Wordsworth was overwhelmed by the immensity of the mountain and the power of nature
• The structure of the Prelude

  • Cyclical structure
  • blank verse within iambic pentameter
• What does the cyclical structure of the Prelude show and how


  • begins and ends with the mooring of the boat
  • emphasises the change that takes place during the journey
  • However, as the poem starts and finishes at the same place, the change is internal and psychological, rather than external and physical
• What does the blank verse within iambic pentameter in the Prelude show and how



  • lines do not follow a specific rhyme scheme, but are structured with iambic pentameter
  • wanted to describe the development of his own imagination and spiritual growth through his experience of the power of nature
  • Iambic pentameter reflects a form of natural speech, further reinforcing the idea of self-reflection and the poet’s inner monologue
• Language showing the Power of Nature

  • "(led by her)"
  • "Until they melted all into one track"
  • "heaving through the water"
  • "Upreared it's head."... "Strode after me"
  • "I struck and struck"
• Language showing personal transformation

  • "Small circles glittering idly in the moon"
  • "elfin pinnace"
  • "black and huge"
• "(led by her)" and the power of nature

  • Personification
  • alludes to idea of Mother Nature and nature being seen as female, as it is responsible for the feminine task of creating, sustaining and nurturing life
  • speaker is “led” by nature reinforcing its power, as the speaker is not in control of his actions
• "Until they melted all into one track" and the power of nature

  • clear that, at the beginning of the poem, the speaker has a peaceful view of, and relationship with, nature
  • paints a tranquil and beautiful picture of nature and a boy’s ability to engage with it
  • shows how easily he is able to move in the water
• "Heaving through the water" and the power of nature

  • contrasts with "Until they all melted into one track"
  • rowing has become more difficult
  • the speaker’s feeling of control is broken as nature’s supremacy becomes apparent
  • The initial calm and relaxed rowing is contrasted with the frantic rowing back to shore, demonstrated through the repetition of "struck"
• "Upreared it's head."... "Strode after me" and the power of nature


  • It is as though nature is pursuing the speaker with strength and determination, again demonstrating the power of the mountain
  • Makes it more intimidating
• "I struck and struck" and the power of nature

  • The initial calm and relaxed rowing is contrasted with the frantic rowing back to shore, demonstrated through the repetition of "struck"
• "Small circles glittering idly in the moon" and personal transformation

  • The oars leave circular ripples in the water that glitter in the moonlight, and merge into one in the wake of the boat
  • Nature presented as mystical
• "elfin pinnace... black and huge" and personal transformation

  • These magical and mythical references fade as the poem progresses, with the language becoming more blunt, such as the huge peak being described as “black and huge”
  • This symbolises the transition from the magic and innocence of childhood to the reality and dangers of adulthood