Extract from The Prelude

“one summer evening (led by her)”

nature is personified. It is power but also gentle and benevolent (well-meaning) at this point

“troubled pleasure”

This oxymoron creates a sense of foreboding and foreshadows the guilt he feels

“small circles glittering idly in the moon”

The poet creates positive images of nature at the beginning and presents it as awe-inspiring and magical

“a huge peak, black and huge”

nature is personified as something menacing and frightening. “black” associated with power and death.

This line breaks the iambic pentameter and shows how overwhelming the experience was and how natures power cannot be tamed.

“i struck and struck again”

Repetition and violent language. The repetition highlights the speakers panic and fear. This is the first time violent language is introduced in the poem, signifying man’s battle with nature