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Poetry
Extract from the prelude by Wordsworth
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English literature > Poetry > Extract from the prelude by Wordsworth
4 cards
Cards (13)
“One summer evening led by
her”
personification to show this is a romantic poem
demonstrates his arrogance as he gives nature an identity, he believes he can control nature.
nature leads him out there in order to teach him a lesson which portrays the unconquerable power of nature.
“Straight, I
unloosed
her chain and pushed from the
shore”
“unloosed” and “pushes are active verbs to show he is taking control
He believes he is undermining the power of nature- this illusion of power is later shattered by nature
exhibits the false self-assurance of man
“It was an act of
stealth”
“Stealth” is sneaky and sly
he believes he is deceiving nature
He knows this action is morally wrong, shows how humans succumb to their hubris.
Takes whatever he wants without thinking of the consequences -link to “proud of his skill” - pride
“Small circles
glittering
idly
in the moon until they melted all into one
track
of sparkling light“
Semantic field of beauty and elegance
“sparkling”, “moon”- celestial imagery which establishes nature as a higher power to consolidate its power over humans
Very romantic positive imagery- which is contrasted later in the poem
“Lustily
I dipped my oars into the silent lake”
“Lustily” - greedy, voraciness, lasciviousness of humans
“silent” - peaceful and tranquil imagery
“dipped”- graceful, prideful imagery, suggesting he thinks he still has a chose.
Volta: “My boat went
heaving
through the water like a
swan”
“Heaving” a violent active verb, delineating he no longer has a choice.
juxtaposes the previous sophisticated, idyllic imagery
“swan” suggests the enigmatic nature of nature, nature can be many forms at once- vengeful yet graceful.
nature should not be disparaged
” A huge peak,
black
and huge“
“Black” has ominous connotations of fear and danger, foreshadowing natures revenge.
the repetition of huge conveys he is flabbergasted by this revelation, it has diminished his previous dramatised vocabulary.
self-realisation, there is much more In the world than he sees.
Humans don’t know everything and they’re very minute compared to the vastness of nature.
“Its”
The
personification
disappears
The poet loses the power to define nature
He no longer sees the alluring side to nature
shows how surprised he is- nature has broken his bubble of pomposity.
”Towered”
He finally sees that nature is
sublime
and superior
link to “trembling” he fears nature
juxtaposes his previous facade of self-pride
See all 13 cards