The prelude (excerpt) Flashcards
(9 cards)
“In the _ season”
“In the frosty season”
Poem is filled with imagery to do with winter and the end of the year as well as the end of the day.
“the twilight _”
“The twilight blaz’d”
Images of warmth, contrasting the wintry scene and images of darkness. The verb “blaz’d” suggests fire and comfort. This warmth reflects Wordsworth’s warm feelings when looking back on childhood.
“It was a _ of _”
“It was a time of rapture”
“rapture” suggests a joyous ecstasy and a time of celebration.
“_ and exalting, like an _ _”
“Proud and exalting, like an untir’d horse”
The similie “untir’d horse” gives the idea the boys are untamed, still wild at heart, with no fear and full of energy to discover the world.
“We _ along”
The poet uses verbs such as “hissed” to show the movement and sounds of the boys, emphasising their skilful speed and their sense of freedom.
“The _ _ bellowing”
Wordsworth summons up the idea of the hunt as the boys chase each other across the ice - the imagery used is vivid due to his use of the senses.
“the precipices _ aloud”
The natural world is drawn as hard and frozen, but it has its own voice. The verb “rang” suggests the countryside is alive, almost with music.
“an alien sound of _”
The idea of “melancholy” introduces us to a sense of sadness and an insight into Wordsworth’s nostalgia, these happier days of innocence are now long passed. The tone seems almost wistful here, Wordsworth yearning for those simpler times of youth.
“The _ sky of evening _ away”
The final image reminds us the day is ending and so is the year, as did his childhood as he became an adult. The intensity of the orange sky and sparkling stars reflect the energy and vibrancy of youth, something that declines with the aging process.
