⦁ Excerpt from The Prelude

Theme

Nature - death of a naturalist

Opening line

• "One summer evening (led by her)."

• Analysis: The phrase "led by her" personifies nature as a guiding force, suggesting the speaker's deep connection to the natural world. This line sets a tranquil and reflective tone.

• Context: Wordsworth, a Romantic poet, often depicted nature as a source of inspiration and spiritual guidance

Start

• "A little boat tied to a willow tree."

• Analysis: The imagery of the "little boat" and "willow tree" evokes a peaceful, rural setting. The boat symbolizes freedom and exploration, while the tree represents stability and connection to nature.

• Context: Wordsworth's upbringing in the Lake District heavily influenced his appreciation for the natural world.

Middle

• "Troubled pleasure."

• Analysis: This oxymoron reflects the speaker's conflicting emotions—excitement and guilt—during his act of "stealing" the boat. It foreshadows the darker, more introspective tone later in the poem.

• Context: Wordsworth often explored the complexities of human emotions and their relationship with nature.

Middle second

• "The horizon's bound, a huge peak, black and huge."

• Analysis: The repetition of "huge" and the dark imagery of the "black peak" convey the speaker's awe and fear of nature's power. This moment marks a turning point, as the speaker realizes the overwhelming force of the natural world.

• Context: Reflects Romantic themes of the sublime, where nature's grandeur inspires both wonder and fear.

Final section

• "There hung a darkness, call it solitude."

• Analysis: The metaphor "hung a darkness" suggests the lingering impact of the speaker's experience, symbolizing his newfound awareness of nature's power and his own insignificance.

• Context: Wordsworth's poetry often explores the transformative power of nature and its ability to evoke deep introspection

Historical Context

• Written in 1799 as part of Wordsworth's autobiographical poem The Prelude, which reflects on his childhood and spiritual growth.

• Wordsworth was a key figure in the Romantic movement, emphasizing the beauty and power of nature

Literary Devices:

• Personification: "Led by her" gives nature a guiding role.

• Oxymoron: "Troubled pleasure" captures conflicting emotions.

• Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the boat, peak, and darkness evoke the speaker's journey.

• Repetition: "Huge" emphasizes the overwhelming power of the mountain.

• Blank Verse: The poem's unrhymed iambic pentameter mirrors natural speech and thought.