Main message

• The poem recounts an incident from Wordsworth’s life when, as a young teenager, he ‘borrowed’ a boat and went sailing on a lake. While out on the lake, he had an encounter with nature that changed him. 
• Nature has a powerful impact over young Wordsworth (autobiographical). Natures makes him feel guilty over stealing the boat (which he very casually does without much fear and realisation of consequences). The moral consequence then lasts with him for a long time. Conflict centres around the theft of the boat- internal conflict and guilt.
• Romantic poem: shows nature as a moral and spiritual guide, shows the psychology of a young boy and his intense feeling of guilt, shows the attractiveness of wrong doing and effects of a guilty conscience, and deep love for nature.