The prelude Flashcards
1
Q
What is the context for William Wadsworth’s “The Prelude”?
A
- Wadsworth was a romantic poet who wrote about the world we live in, that challenged people and what they thought at the time
- Extract from much larger poem looking at the spiritual and moral development of a man growing up
2
Q
“one summer evening (led by her)”
A
- boat is a metaphor of man’s influence being still anchored by the tree which represents nature
3
Q
“troubled pleasure”
A
- oxymoron
- suggests narrators guilt
4
Q
“a huge peak, black and huge”
A
- “horizon bound” just before - shift in tone
- language becomes darker and dangerous
5
Q
“lustily i dipped my oars into the silent lake”
A
- metaphor for heated mood of the poet
6
Q
“there hung a darkness, call it solitude/ or blank desertion”
A
- darkness hanging over him reflects change to darker mood
- reflecting on conflict in his mind of the juxtaposed peaceful side of nature and harsh extremes
- also contains “big and might forms”
7
Q
“elfin pinnance”
A
- translates to fairy boat, represents magical, sexual, lustful mood
8
Q
Describe the structure of the prelude
A
- dramatic monologue
- build up, admiration
- event, fear
- post-event, traumatised
