the prelude

• no rhyme scheme, written in iambic pentameter and blank verse, which is normal conversation.
• wordsworth was a stereotypical romantic poet, who spent most of his life composing poetry, as he walked around the lake district. he was also a pantheist, seeing God in the all-embracing natural world.
• '(led by her)' suggests that all-powerful nature leads, which is appropriate to romantic poets.
• the first person narrator suggests an informal conversation
• in 'her chain', the use of this third person pronoun personifies the boat, which indicates a familiarity, and almost spiritual relationship between man and boat.
• 'act of stealth' suggests he is trespassing which symbolises how mankind is selfish in taking from nature.
• in 'her chain' the use of the third person pronoun suggests that the boat is a mother figure or goddess protecting the poet.
• the oxymoron 'troubled pleasure' shows that nature is intimidating yet beautiful, and how overwhelmed Wordsworth is feeling.
• the compound noun 'mountain echoes' personifies the echoes as they have a voice, this portrays it as a spiritual experience. this personification also foreshadows the supernatural omnipresence of nature.
• 'the voice of mountain echoes' suggests he is being drawn to the mountains.
• the 'small circles glittering idly in the moon' is a vivid atmospheric description and makes the scene feel alive. it also contrasts light to dark which foreshadows mysterious things.
• 'proud of his skill' portrays a sense of arrogance, as he is pleased with his ability.
• the verb 'fixed' portrays him as ambitious and determined.
• 'far above' conveys the vastness of natural scenery, and how he is diminished by his surroundings.
• 'the horizon's utmost boundary' suggests that man is naive in not recognising the true darkness and power that exists.
• the third person pronoun 'she' is very feminine, and is quite a sweet and unexpected image, it also suggests that the poet isn't quite in control.
• 'elfin pinnace' has connotations of agility and lightness, which has fairy tale connotations of childhood, beauty and grace. this also shows how the poet is dwarfed by the massive scenery.
• the semantic field intimacy; 'troubled pleasure', 'lustily' and 'heaving' suggests intimacy with nature rather than humans.
• 'when, from behind that craggy steep till' is volta of the poem. it suggests danger or a threat is coming.
• in 'a huge peak, black and huge', the repetition of 'huge' is very disjointed. this suggests the impact that it has on the mind as he cannot compose a syntactically sound sentence
• 'black and huge' could be interpreted as a metaphor for death, suggesting that the speaker is scared of his own mortality.
• 'voluntary power' suggests that nature is dominant over him, like a gothic monster. it is an aggressive predator, and once again conveys his overwhelming fear of nature.
• the verb 'upreared' symbolises a predator attacking - there is a complete change in the tone, tension and suspense of the poem
• the repetition in 'struck and struck again' suggests the poet is almost hypnotised and competing with nature.
• the semantic field of animalistic behaviour, for example 'upreared', 'purpose', 'like a living thing' and 'strode after me' personifies nature
• the simile of 'like a living thing' shows how nature is alive, dangerous and threatening.
• there is a semantic field of power and dominance, for example 'stature', 'grim', 'towered up' and 'huge'
• 'with a purpose of its own and measured motion' suggest nature is consistent, planned and thoughtful, also shows that it has a conscience and wants to hurt him.
• 'strode after me' shows the large steps, therefore huge size of the mountain. it suggests it is chasing after him, but the mountain only 'strode' suggests the mountain is slow and casual as it knows it will catch up eventually, it is inescapable. it also shows the insignificance and unimportance of the poet compared to the mountain.
• 'trembling oars' shows his fear as it is an example of hypallage, as the person is manipulating the 'trembling oars', and this shows the fragility of the poet.
• the verb 'stole' suggests fear and hesitation from the poet.
• 'covert' suggests he craves calm
• ironic that wordsworth is disturbed by nature, when in reality nature is disturbed by man.
• 'in grave and serious mood' - 'grave' means serious but is also synonymous with death, could symbolise the figurative death of wordsoworth's arrogant, childish and naive views of nature. he is humbled by this life-shaking experience
• 'spectacle' suggests that this was a show/performance put on by nature, and that it was extraordinary to look at.
• 'dim and undetermined' - alliterative 'd's suggest depression - these sounds are sinister and forbidding.
• ambiguous language shows poet's struggle to describe what he doesn't understand
• 'no familiar shapes' suggests that this experience has taken away all hope and happiness. shows how he feels lost and alone, and how it has distorted his deception of them.
• 'there hung a darkness' suggests a sense of depression, and that a shadow is hanging over him which could symbolise the mountain still watching him.
• 'moved slowly' links back to the mountain's strides.