"trouble to my dreams"

• Language

  • “a trouble” – abstract noun that suggests lingering psychological disturbance. It’s subtle but emotionally heavy, showing how deeply the speaker is affected.
  • “to my dreams” – this phrase tells us the effect of the experience isn’t just conscious, but subconscious — nature has invaded his inner self, causing spiritual unrest.
  • The simplicity of the diction contrasts with the depth of the emotional impact, making the trauma feel personal and inescapable.
• Structure

  • This quote comes at the end of the episode, acting as a conclusion that reflects the lasting effect of the mountain encounter.
  • The speaker begins with pride and excitement, but ends in isolation, fear, and confusion – this structural shift mirrors a loss of innocence.
  • It’s part of a cyclical structure of nature leading to reflection, linking early awe to final discomfort.
• Writer's Intent

  • Wordsworth aims to show how powerful and sublime nature is — not always beautiful, but terrifying and transformative.
  • He explores pantheism, suggesting nature acts with divine force. The psychological impact ("trouble") could be a spiritual punishment or divine lesson.
  • He also explores forbidden desire: the troubling dreams could symbolise repressed feelings (e.g. towards the female nature figure in “led by her”), possibly touching on Freudian interpretations, like unconscious incestuous desire — especially if the feminine presence is interpreted as a stand-in for the speaker’s mother (or sister).
  • The “trouble” becomes not just fear of nature, but fear of social taboo, such as incestuous desire, which was seen as morally and religiously shameful.
• Theme Links

  1. Power of Nature: Nature dominates the speakers minds and haunts his dreams.
  2. Fear: the fear lingers after the event showing nature's persistent psychological event
  3. Memory: The speakers memory becomes a source of anxiety and reflection instead of comfort in nature.
  4. Pride: The speakers initial pride has deteriorated, leaving discomfort and guilt.
  5. Individual experience: The speakers experience is very personal as he is alone and troubled. This suggests that nature is effect is highly spiritural and subjective.