The Prelude

themes

• power of nature

• man vs nature

message of poem

the power of nature will always transcend mankind

structure and context

• epic poem - often depict extradoinary journeys done by heroes - so portrays nature as powerful

• blank verse gives it a natural reflective tone

o s e l b h

one summer evening (led by her)

• romantic setting

• nature personified as female shows how nature is the seducing lover of the speaker

• “led” shows how he is controlled by nature

h p, b a h

huge peak, black and huge

• shows the increasing magnitude of the mountain and the sublime

• “black” shows it as a dark, unknown place

• man is emphasised as the underdog in the fight against a powerful nature

w v p i u i h

with voluntary power instrint, upreared its head

• anthropomorphising the mountain

• portraying it as a God or titan

• “voluntary” shows how nature acts by itself; it is unpredictable and dangerous

• creates a sense of threat, reflecting the power the sublime holds

i s a s a

I struck and struck again

• repetitive action indicates fear and desparation

• repetition of this line mimics the frantic rowing to escape

h a m f t d n l l l m

huge and mighty forms that do not live like living men

• comparison between nature and man, again portraying nature as the more powerful one

• grand imagery

n f s r

no familiar shapes remained

• shows how the speaker has gained knowledge and lost innocence

• after his experience with nature’s true power, the speaker no longer sees nature as something comforting to fall back on - he knows its true power

u m o b

• shows how powerful nature is

• “unknown” shows it is transcendent and beyond human understanding