The Prelude

Question 1

who wrote The Prelude?

Answer 1

William Wordsworth

Question 2

main themes in The Prelude?

Answer 2

Nature, power

Question 3

context (William Wordsworth):

Answer 3

• 1770-1850
• his mother died when he was young
• rural upbringing
• was enthusiastic about the French Revolution- travelled widely
• believed that nature could act as a parent or as a teacher
• set in the Lake District
• autobiographical poem
• part of the romantics

Question 4

context (the romantics):

Answer 4

• 18th and 19th century
• themes of freedom and nature
• sublime- feeling of awe at the power of nature
• believed in nature and valued all emotion, power and imagination
• rebelled against any kind of control
• valued the French Revolution

Question 5

structure:

Answer 5

• lots of caesura- highlights spiritual awe and wonder
• “distant hills”- shifts the focus onto the mountains (nature)
• beginning feels joyful- end is full of melancholy

Question 6

“And in the….”

Answer 6

“And in the frosty season”
- sibilance- highlighting the temperature
- winter signifying the end of the year
- adult voice saying that it is transient

Question 7

“the twilight…”

Answer 7

“the twilight blazed”
- warmth and comfort
- young voice

Question 8

“we hi….”

Answer 8

“we hiss’d along polish’d ice”
- sudden change in tone
- connotations of snake
- foreshadowing the change of perspective on nature

Question 9

“The Pack…”

Answer 9

“The Pack loud bellowing”
“hunted hare”
- nature is in the most control
- vivid verbs

Question 10

“Tinkled..”

Answer 10

“Tinkled like iron”
- still joyful but not the same anymore
- reinforced by “melancholy”

Question 11

“died..”

Answer 11

“died away.”
- last line
- nature reflects the sadness of time passing