The Prelude

Question 1

‘One summer evening (led by her)’

Answer 1

• Anecdotally sets the scene to a ‘summer evening’ -often image of warmth and romance
• Personified as female, allusion to ‘Mother Nature’ responsible for the feminine task of creating and nurturing
• Contrasts role of nature to role of human, women nurture a single child, nature nurtured entire planet, demonstrates its power
• Introduces idea of pantheism

Question 2

‘Was nothing but the stars and the grey sky’