Prelude Flashcards
Who wrote Prelude
William Wordsworth
What is Prelude about
the extract begins on a summer evening when the narrator finds a boat tied to a tree, he unties the boat and takes it out on the lake, initially he seems happy and confident and he describes a beautiful scene when a mountain appears on the horizon and the narrator is terrified of its size and power, he turns back home but his view of nature has changed
What is the form of Prelude
first person narrative, personal, describes a turning point in the poet’s life, use of blank verse (unrhymed in iambic pentameter) makes it sound serious and important but the regular rhythm makes it sound like natural speech,
What is the structure of Prelude
there are 3 main section in the extract, the first is the tone which is fairly light and carefree, there is then a distinct change when the mountains appears the tone becomes darker and more fearful, in the final section the narrator reflects on how the experience has changed him, ‘when’ - volta emphasised by a simple word being at the start of the line
What is the beautiful language of Prelude
poem begins with a series of pretty, pastoral images of nature, ‘a little boat tied to a willow tree’ - happy rural image, ‘leaving’ ‘still’ ‘small’ - repetition of ‘l’ sounds makes the poem flow like the boats across the lake, ‘no pleasant images of trees’ - no longer thinks nature is pretty but there is more behind it
What is the confident language of Prelude
narrator appears sure of himself at first, almost arrogant in his view of himself and his place in the world, he gives the impression of feeling powerful, ‘straight’ - confidence, ‘its usual home’ - seems familiar, ‘like a swan’ - natural simile shows that he is confident and in control enhances the contrast the the volta on the next line
What is the dramatic language of Prelude
initial glimpse of threatening language become more intense after the mountain appears, the narrator comes to understand how powerful nature is, ‘troubled pleasure’ - oxymoron hints at the narrator’s guilt, ‘huge peak, black and huge’ - different language more threatening, ‘upreared its head’ - personification uglier image contrasts beautiful imagery earlier, ‘purpose after me’ ‘measured motion’ - mountain is powerful and clam which contrasts the narrator’s fear
What is the fearful language of Prelude
narrator is far less confident at the end of the extract, he is troubled by the ‘huge and might forms’ of nature, his experience has a lasting haunting affect on him, ‘shape’ ‘stars’ ‘still’ - sibilance creates a sinister mood, ‘in grave’ - double meaning = serious and his own mortality, ‘But huge and mighty forms’ - conscious being able to influence our lives, ‘trouble to my dreams’ - unsettling image that contrasts the beginning tone
What are the feelings and attitude of Prelude
confidence - narrator feels comfortable and in control at the start but his confidence in himself and the world around him is shaken by one event, fear - nature is shown to be more powerful than a human being, the narrator is left with a feeling of awe and respect of nature but also scared, reflection - the poem ends with the narrator reflecting on how he has been changed by the event, his thoughts and dreams are still troubled
What are the themes of Prelude
power of nature, memory, negative emotions - fear, negative emotions - pride, individual experiances
What language/techniques does The Prelude have
beautiful language, dramatic language, fearful language
