Excerpt from The Prelude Flashcards
(10 cards)
What was it about ?
The poem describes the sheer thrill and exultation of children as they skate in the gathering darkness of a frosty day. Wordsworth uses imageryof sound, sight and the natural world tobring alive the vividand joyous experience. The poem has a nostalgic feel and Wordsworth looks back at the innocence and happiness of his childhood.
What is the context ?
William Wordsworth was one of the first and most influential of the Romantic era
The Prelude is nostalgic in its thoughts about his childhood and the intense feelings of delight he
experienced when he was walked or, as a child, played in the countryside
They were skating on a lake in cumbria where Wordsworth grew up
When was it published ?
1800
What is the structure of the poem ?
- 1 Stanza =
1 memory - The poem begins with the end of the day and the warm light of the setting sun reflecting in the
cottage windows
In the middle of the poem, the young Wordsworth ignores his mother’scallsto come in for his tea and instead delights at skating with the other boys from the village. They are playing tag and chasing each other across the ice and this reminds Wordsworth of a pack of hounds hunting a fox.
The end of the poem reflects the end of the day as the sun sets and the star appear
What are the possible Themes and links ?
The natural word/ childhood memory/ growing up: Death of a naturalist
Passing of time: To Autum
Imagery of winter like “frosty” is contrasted with what imagery of summer and why ?
Imagery of winter like “frosty” is contrasted with imagery of summer like “blaze’s” and “the sun”. This is because he was describing the cold winter atmosphere which could have negative connotations yet they are being contrasted with positive imagery of “the sun” and warmth. Presenting how Wordsworth finds comfort in retelling or remembering this memory
How are verbs shown in a positive light “hiss’d”, “wheel’d” and “flew” ?
These verbs represent such rapid movement of the skater of the ice and could be dangerous, yet we know this did not scare the boys since Wordsworth uses the noun “rapture” which portrays the intense ecstasy and time of celebration
In what ways is nature presented in this poem and how are humans presented in it aswell ?
Nature is described to be calm “the leafless tress” and “woodland pleasures” yet animals are compared to animals “untire’d horses”, this simile gives the idea that are not calm and they are not tamed. They are still wild at the heart and full of energy from all their excitement
What imagery of sound is there in this poem and what does it mean ?
“bellowing”
“ice crags “tinkled like iron” and “alien sound of melancholy” - melancholy are his parents telling him to come home and it introduces a sense of sadness amongst all the excitement and contentment because it is the first sign that the memory is coming to an end/ childhood coming to an end
What does the last line “The orange sky of the evening died away “ represent?
That the memory is coming to an end, like his childhood has.
