The Prelude

• Who is the poet of "The Prelude: Stealing the Boat"?

  William Wordsworth
• What does Wordsworth see nature as in "The Prelude"?

  As sublime and spiritual
• What type of poem is "The Prelude: Stealing the Boat"?

  Autobiographical poem
• What structure does "The Prelude" use?

  Blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)
• How does the lack of stanza breaks in "The Prelude" affect its meaning?

  It mirrors the overwhelming power of the moment
• What does enjambment in "The Prelude" build?

  Tension and a sense of motion
• What imagery is used to show awe and fear in "The Prelude"?

  “A huge peak, black and huge”
• What does the oxymoron “Troubled pleasure” reflect?

  Moral conflict within the speaker
• What does “There hung a darkness” imply in "The Prelude"?

  A lingering psychological impact from the experience
• How is nature personified in "The Prelude"?

  As powerful and ominous
• What are the main themes of "The Prelude: Stealing the Boat"?

  • Power and majesty of nature
  • Personal growth and reflection
  • Conflict between man and nature
  • Loss of childhood innocence