The Prelude

Question 1

“A huge peak …

Answer 1

Black and huge “

Question 2

“It was an act of stealth …

Answer 2

and troubled pleasure” .

Question 3

“My boat went heaving through …

Answer 3

the water like a swan “ .

Question 4

“Were a trouble to my …

Answer 4

Dreams “ .

Question 5

“No pleasant images of trees, of sea or sky …

Answer 5

No colours of green fields”

Question 6

“Like one who rows, proud of his skill …

Answer 6

To reach a certain point with an unswerving line “ .

Question 7

Who wrote extract from the prelude ?

Answer 7

William wordsworth

Question 8

What kind of poet was William Wordsworth ?

Answer 8

Romantic

Question 9

What is the prelude about ?

Answer 9

It is an autobiographical poem which explores key moments and experiences in his life , like a lot of his poetry its about humanities relationship with nature .

Question 10

Explain what the prelude is about ?

Answer 10

The speaker in the poem remembers a night when he , as young boy, steals a boat and rows out to the middle of a lake. At first this was exciting, but then the boy becomes scared of a huge mountain and rows back to shire .

Question 11

What does ‘ led by her ‘ suggest ?

Answer 11

Its ambiguous , nature is almost portrayed as a lover/mother nature

Question 12

What does ‘ a little boat tied to willow tree ‘ create?

Answer 12

Creates a peaceful pastoral image , positive start to the poem .

Question 13

What does the caesura from lines 3 to 6 show ?

Answer 13

Perhaps hinting at the confident movements or a sense of guilt because he took out the boat .

Question 14

What does ‘ it was an act of stealth’ suggest ?

Answer 14

Suggests that there is something wrong about this

Question 15

What technique is shown in ‘ troubled pleasure ‘ and what does this suggest ?

Answer 15

The technique is oxymoron and it suggests that the thing he has done is weighing on him

Question 16

What technique is used in the words ‘ glittering ‘ , ‘ moon ‘ and ‘ sparkling light ‘ ?

Answer 16

Semantic field of light and beauty highlighting the beauty of nature

Question 17

What do the words ‘ leaving ‘ , ‘ still ‘ , ‘ either side ‘ , ‘ small ‘ and ‘ melted all ‘ show ?

Answer 17

Assonance , the ‘i’ and ‘ a’ sounds helps the poem flow reflecting the boat across the lake

Question 18

What are two quotes to highlight the arrogant nature of the speaker ?

Answer 18

‘Proud of his skill’ and ‘ with an unswerving line ‘

Question 19

What does the quote ‘ She was an elfin pinnace ‘ suggest ?

Answer 19

Personification and metaphor suggests the unusual and magical nature

Question 20

Why has Wordsworth used the word ‘lustily’ ?

Answer 20

He wants to make it seem like the relationship between the lake and the speaker is sexual and maybe he is taking advantage of the lake .

Question 21

On what line is the caesura that creates a shift in tone ?

Answer 21

Line 21

Question 22

What does the Volta on line 21 onwards describe ?

Answer 22

The mountain and the power of nature

Question 23

What does the similie ‘ water like a swan suggest ?

Answer 23

Shows the skill that he has to travel through the lake , overconfidence ?

Question 24

Before line 21 , it seems like the character is confident about his power over nature and the lake . Is this true ?

Answer 24

Yes

Question 25

What techniques are used in this phrase ' a huge peak, black and huge ' ? What do they suggest ?

Answer 25

Repetition of huge highlights the sheer size of the mountain . This line has 11 syllables whereas most of the poem has 10 , which could suggest the characters shocked emotions or lack of control

Question 26

What literary technique is 'upreared its head ' ? What does it suggest ?

Answer 26

Personification and it suggests that the mountain is a predator / monster and he is like the vulnerable hero

Question 27

'I struck and struck again ', what is the literary technique here and what does this show ?

Answer 27

The repetition of the single syllable panicked verb highlights his desperation

Question 28

'Strode after me ' what literary technique is this and what does it suggest ?

Answer 28

Personification and suggests that the mountain is a predator and the speaker is prey

Question 29

'Trembling oars ' is what ? And suggests what ?

Answer 29

Irony and suggests that the speaker is scared compared to the start where he was confident

Question 30

'But huge and mighty forms, that do not live like living men ' suggests what ?

Answer 30

That nature is living and is very different to humanity / could take control over us

Question 31

What does ' trouble to my dreams ' suggest at the end of the poem ?

Answer 31

Suggests that it will stay with him forever and that it is a complete contrast to the start where he was overconfident

Question 32

What are four things from structure to do with this poem ?

Answer 32

1. First person narrative 2. Single huge stanza 3. Enjambment 4. Volta

Question 33

What does the first person narrative show ?

Answer 33

Its a personal tone and shows that there is emotion to the story

Question 34

What does the single huge stanza reflect ?

Answer 34

Reflects the power of nature and our inability to control it

Question 35

What does the enjambment throughout the poem highlight ?

Answer 35

Could show the freedom the speaker has at the start , but as the poem goes on it could show the readers lack of control over his emotions

Question 36

Where is the Volta in the poem and what comes after this ?

Answer 36

Line 21 and after this the poem changes tone and focuses on the huge mountain and the effects it has on the speaker. Shows control of nature .

Question 37

What are the feelings and attitudes toward the poem ?

Answer 37

Confidence , arrogance , fear and reflection

Question 38

Poems to compare to for the power of nature ?

Answer 38

Ozymandias Exposure Storm on the island

Question 39

Poem to compare to for the power of man ?

Answer 39

My last duchess

Question 40

What is the prelude about ?

Answer 40

Explores key moments of Wordsworth's life and like a lot his poetry , it shows the power of nature over humanity and how we cannot control it .

Question 41

What kind of poet was wordsworth ?

Answer 41

Romantic poet