prelude

• What is the title of the poem by William Wordsworth that is discussed in the study material?

  The Prelude
• How many books comprise the epic poem The Prelude?

  Fourteen books
• From which book of The Prelude is the GCSE extract taken?

  The first book, "Introduction and school-time"
• What childhood memory does Wordsworth explore in The Prelude?

  Stealing a boat and rowing it into the middle of a lake
• What realization does Wordsworth have about the mountain during his experience on the lake?

  The mountain is much bigger than he initially thought
• What are the key events in the extract from The Prelude?

  • Steals a boat and rows out onto the lake
  • Watches ripples while focusing on a fixed point
  • Sees the mountain grow larger
  • Realizes the immensity of nature
  • Becomes scared and rows back to shore
  • Is haunted by the event for days
  • Changes his view of nature and humanity

  
• What years did William Wordsworth live?

  1770 - 1850
• What difficult experiences did Wordsworth face during his childhood?

  He had a troubled relationship with his father and lost both parents
• How did Wordsworth's childhood experiences influence his affection for the Lake District?

  He spent time outside to escape his problems
• What literary movement is Wordsworth associated with?

  Romanticism
• What did Romantic poets, including Wordsworth, resist?

  Growing industrialism
• What was the aim of the Romantic poets regarding society?

  To bring democracy and equality instead of monarchs and established religion
• What was Wordsworth's intended three-part autobiographical epic called?

  The Recluse
• What is the main conflict explored in The Prelude?

  Man vs nature
• In what poetic form is The Prelude written?

  In iambic pentameter
• What does the setting of the poem in a boat symbolize?

  A metaphorical spiritual journey
• How does Wordsworth personify nature in The Prelude?

  By referring to nature using the pronoun "her"
• What does the phrase "troubled pleasure" suggest about Wordsworth's feelings?

  He feels conflicted about his actions
• What does the active verb "heaving" imply about the speaker's effort?

  It connotes sustained, intense physical effort
• What does the mountain's rising suggest about nature's power?

  Nature's supremacy becomes apparent
• How does the speaker feel after encountering the mountain?

  He feels fear and insignificance
• What does the title "The Prelude" signify?

  It reflects that the poem is an introduction to a larger work
• What narrative style is used in The Prelude?

  First person narration
• How does Wordsworth blur the lines between past and present in The Prelude?

  By using present participles for description
• What is the structure of The Prelude as a poem?

  It is written as a single stanza
• What are the characteristics of an epic poem?

  • Lengthy narrative poems
  • Focus on a heroic protagonist
  • Legendary events
  • Aim to incite awe in the reader

  
• How does Wordsworth's portrayal of nature differ from traditional heroic narratives?

  • Focuses on nature's power rather than human heroism
  • Presents a scared child rather than a traditional hero
  • Emphasizes spiritual growth over physical actions

  
• What themes are explored in The Prelude?

  • The relationship between man and nature
  • The transformative power of nature
  • The insignificance of humanity in the face of nature

  
• What is the significance of the first-person perspective in The Prelude?

  • Provides personal insights into Wordsworth's life
  • Enhances the autobiographical nature of the poem
  • Allows readers to connect with the speaker's experiences

  
• How does Wordsworth's experience on the lake reflect the Romantic ideals?

  • Emphasizes emotional and subjective views of nature
  • Highlights the beauty of nature against industrialization
  • Reflects a personal journey of self-discovery

  
• What is the central focus of the narrative in The Prelude?

  The heroism of the central character
• How can The Prelude be considered an epic biography poem?

  It is autobiographical, with Wordsworth as its hero or nature personified as the hero.
• What do some critics argue about the poem's focus on nature and mundane life?

  It makes the poem seem underwhelming compared to traditional epics.
• What does Wordsworth's adventure in The Prelude symbolize?

  His spiritual growth and journey to becoming a poet.
• What is the structure of the stanza in The Prelude?

  It is a single stanza.
• How does the single stanza structure affect the reader's experience?

  It emphasizes the overwhelming power of nature and creates a breathless feeling.
• What sensation does the lack of breaks in the stanza create for the reader?

  It contributes to a feeling of being overwhelmed, similar to the speaker's experience with nature.

  
• What literary device does Wordsworth use to enhance the poem's pace?

  Enjambment and connectives.
• How does Wordsworth's structure of the poem relate to John Milton's "Paradise Lost"?

  Both use lengthy stanzas and iambic pentameter, reflecting epic poetry.
• What is parallelism in the context of Wordsworth's poem?

  The use of grammatically identical or similar components repeated in a sentence or multiple sentences.