Extract from, The Prelude Flashcards
(6 cards)
Structure and form
Structure:
The enjambment in The Prelude reflects the overwhelming force of nature, as the unbroken flow of lines mirrors the speaker’s emotional and spiritual turmoil. Parallelism highlights the contrast in his perception of nature: at first, he moves with control—his “oar strokes melted all into one track,” symbolising harmony and confidence. Later, confronted with nature’s immensity, he is “heaving through the water,” a physical struggle that echoes his inner realisation of nature’s vast, uncontrollable power. This shift marks a loss of innocence and the emergence of awe and dread—central to the poem’s exploration of the sublime.
Hypotaxis, the use of long, subordinate clauses, heightens this sense of awe. In the line “When, from behind that craggy steep till then / The horizon’s bound, a huge peak, black and huge,” the mountain’s presence intensifies gradually, its immense size symbolizing the overwhelming force of nature.
Form:
The Prelude is an epic poem that explores the profound impact of nature on the speaker. Though the content may appear mundane compared to traditional epics, this highlights how Wordsworth views his experiences with nature as transformative. The poem is written in blank verse (iambic pentameter without rhyme), a form that maintains an artistic quality throughout. This form echoes Milton’s Paradise Lost, suggesting Wordsworth intended to create a monumental work that elevates the spiritual power of nature in a comparable way..
“One summer evening led by her”
Wordsworth personifies nature as a guiding maternal force. The verb “led” reflects the speaker’s passive submission to nature, aligning with Romantic ideals of harmony between humans and the natural world. The “summer evening” evokes a peaceful, idyllic setting, reinforcing nature as nurturing. However, this tranquility subtly foreshadows nature’s darker, more overwhelming power, revealed later in the poem. The tone shifts from comforting to awe-inspiring, as nature’s beauty becomes intimidating. Through this contrast, Wordsworth highlights nature’s duality: both a source of solace and an uncontrollable force that humbles humanity, reminding us that our attempts to control nature are ultimately futile.
It was an act of stealth and troubled pleasures”
captures the speaker’s guilt and inner conflict as he reflects on his actions. The phrase “act of stealth” implies secrecy, suggesting that the speaker’s actions were dishonest or underhanded, reinforcing a sense of moral wrongdoing. The juxtaposition of “stealth” with “troubled pleasures” creates an oxymoron, highlighting the internal turmoil the speaker feels despite the fleeting satisfaction he may have gained from his actions. The term “troubled pleasures” suggests that the pleasure is not pure or fulfilling, but rather tainted by guilt and uncertainty, which foreshadows the psychological burden the speaker will carry. The line encapsulates the Romantic themes of conflict between human desires and moral consequences, revealing how the speaker’s actions, though initially pleasurable, lead to lasting emotional distress.
Writer’s Intention: Wordsworth uses the oxymoron to show the inner conflict of the speaker, capturing the tension between guilt and fleeting satisfaction. The speaker’s moral awareness taints the pleasure, highlighting the emotional cost of indulgence.
Effect on the Reader: The reader is invited to experience the psychological tension of the speaker, which provokes introspection. They may feel unease and discomfort, forcing them to reflect on how desires and guilt are interwoven in their own lives.
Grim shape towered up me like stars
uses vivid imagery and simile to convey the speaker’s overwhelming fear and awe. The phrase “grim shape” personifies the natural world as a threatening, almost monstrous figure, reflecting the speaker’s perception of nature as both vast and dangerous. The word “grim” suggests something dark, ominous, and foreboding, contrasting sharply with the peaceful imagery that initially dominates the poem. The simile “like stars” juxtaposes this threatening figure with the idea of something majestic and distant, implying that although the shape seems intimidating, it also holds a sense of awe-inspiring power. The comparison of the “grim shape” to stars suggests that the speaker is confronting something beyond his control, a force that is vast and insignificant in comparison to human life. In this moment, Wordsworth highlights the sublime power of nature, which both inspires reverence and apprehension, illustrating the Romantic fascination with the tension between human vulnerability and nature’s overwhelming power.
Writer’s Intention: Wordsworth presents nature as a force of both terror and awe, tapping into the sublime. The simile contrasts a threatening presence with the grandeur of the universe, illustrating nature’s overwhelming and uncontrollable power.
Effect on the Reader: The reader is swept into the speaker’s encounter with the sublime, feeling both a sense of fear and wonder. It forces the reader to confront the vastness of nature, and by extension, their own insignificance in the face of it, encouraging a humbling experience.
Context
Romanticism and Nature:
Wordsworth celebrates nature’s transformative power, presenting it as a force that shapes human experience and connects individuals to something larger than themselves.
Personal Context:
The Prelude is autobiographical, reflecting Wordsworth’s childhood in the Lake District, where nature played a central role in shaping his identity and philosophical views.
The Industrial Revolution:
The poem critiques industrialization, positioning nature as a refuge and contrasting it with the dehumanizing effects of urbanization.
Nature as the Sublime:
Nature evokes both awe and fear, pushing the speaker to reflect on existential questions about life and mortality.
The Lake District:
The landscape of the Lake District represents nature’s restorative power and serves as the backdrop for the speaker’s self-discovery.
Message
Wordsworth illustrates the profound influence of nature on the individual, highlighting its power to both inspire awe and instill fear, ultimately revealing the speaker’s growing awareness of human vulnerability and the limits of personal control.
