Extract from, The Prelude

Poem 3 of the Power and Conflict Anthology

Who wrote The Prelude?

William Wordsworth

Context

William Wordsworth was a Romantic Poet, so his poetry explores themes of nature, human emotion and how humans are shaped by their interaction with nature. The Prelude was a very long poem, published shortly after his death, and told the story of Wordsworth’s life. This extract is the first part of a book entitled ‘Introduction – Childhood and School-Time’.

Big Ideas

* Confidence
* Fear
* Reflection
* Power of nature

Message of the poem

The message does not really have a takeaway, due to it being an autobiography, however the power of nature compared to that of humans plays a large role in it. We should respect nature and not take it for granted.

Structure

It is written as a first person narrative, creating a sense that it is a personal poem. The poem has a regular rhythm and enjambment add to the effect of natural speech and a personal voice. The poem starts off carefree and confident, then when the mountain appears dark and fearful, finally reflective and troubled. Finally, throughout the poem there are many contrasts in tone.

“One summer __________________“

“One summer evening (led by her)“

“Straight I unloosed __________________ in“

“Straight I unloosed her chain, and stepping in“

“It was an act of __________________ pleasure“

“It was an act of stealth / And troubled pleasure,“

“Went __________________________ swan“

“Went heaving through the water like a swan;“

“The horizon’s __________________ and huge“

“The horizon’s bound, a huge peak, black and huge“

“By day, __________________ dreams“

“By day, and were a trouble to my dreams.“

“Straight I unloosed her chain, and stepping in“

This shows us that the speaker is very confident in what they are doing, and that they have most likely done this many times before. Refers to the boat as “her“, possibly in correlation to nature.

“It was an act of stealth / And troubled pleasure,“

Oxymoron of “stealth“ and “troubled pleasure“, something cannot be pleasure full if it is troubled, already adds a sense of danger and mystery to the extract. Foreshadows to future events that happen.

“Went heaving through the water like a swan;“

Simile, proves how gracefully and skilfully they move through the water. However verb “heaving“ contrasts to a swans often dignified movements. In addition, this phrase proceeds a Volta in the play, where it presents the danger of nature and how humans are powerless too it. Before it was the beauty of nature.

“The horizon’s bound, a huge peak, black and huge“

The bleak image of the mountains is affective compared to the previously beautiful and peaceful image of nature. Repetition of the adjective “huge“ show just how high and mighty it was compared to the surrounding landscape. Shows how powerless humans are compared to nature.

“By day, and were a trouble to my dreams.“

Shows the lasting affects of what the speaker saw, and how they realise how they are nothing compared to nature.