13 Questions
In 'The Prelude', Wordsworth steals a boat and rows across Ullswater Lake because he feels ________________.
powerful and proud
What effect does seeing the mountain have on Wordsworth in 'The Prelude'?
It terrifies him
How is Wordsworth's experience in 'The Prelude' after seeing the mountain different from his initial feelings?
He becomes traumatized and haunted by the memory
Which literary movement did William Wordsworth belong to?
Romanticism
'The Prelude' reflects the conventions of Romantic poetry, particularly in its emphasis on ________________.
the speaker's connection to nature
'The Prelude' is structured as one long stanza with enjambment, which serves to convey ________________.
the overwhelming effect nature has on the speaker
'The Prelude' opens with Wordsworth's act of stealing a boat described as an 'act of stealth', conveying a sense of ________________.
power and magical imagery
'The Prelude' shares similar themes with which other poem mentioned in the text?
'Storm on the Island'
'The Prelude' by William Wordsworth takes place in the Lake District, an area known for its urban development.
False
In 'The Prelude', Wordsworth rows across Windermere Lake instead of Ullswater Lake.
False
The structure of 'The Prelude' consists of multiple stanzas with clear breaks between them.
False
Wordsworth's experience in 'The Prelude' leaves him feeling empowered and fearless throughout the poem.
False
'The Prelude' by Wordsworth does not contain any themes related to the power of nature.
False
Study Notes
- 'The Prelude' is a poem by William Wordsworth based on his childhood experience.
- The poem takes place in the Lake District, an area in North West England known for its natural beauty.
- Wordsworth describes himself as a young boy who steals a boat and rows across Ullswater Lake.
- He is filled with a sense of power and pride as he rows, fixating on a mountain in the distance.
- However, upon seeing the mountain's size, Wordsworth becomes terrified and rows back to shore.
- He is left traumatized by the experience, haunted by the memory for days.
- Wordsworth was a Romantic poet known for his disdain for urban life and embrace of nature.
- The poem reflects the conventions of Romantic poetry, such as the speaker's connection to nature.
- The opening lines describe Wordsworth taking the boat as an 'act of stealth', presenting a sense of power and magical imagery.
- Upon seeing the mountain, the poet's use of language shifts to a simplistic definition, highlighting the impact nature has on him.
- The poem is structured as one long stanza with enjambment, reflecting the overwhelming effect nature has on the speaker.
- Other poems with similar themes of misguided human power and the power of nature include 'Ozymandias', 'My Last Duchess', 'Kamikaze', 'Tissue', 'Kamikaze', 'Storm on the Island', 'Exposure', and 'Tissue'.
Explore the themes and structure of William Wordsworth's poem 'The Prelude', focusing on his childhood experience in the Lake District and his encounter with nature's power. Learn about Romantic poetry conventions and the impact of nature on the speaker.
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