For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Why do you think the speaker is alone in the poems first lines? The speaker, likely William Wordsworthhimself, is wandering down the hills and valley when he stumbled upon a beautiful field of daffodils. A short BBC clip about Wordsworth's early relationship with nature. Read about our approach to external linking. Take our quiz, We'll find you and we won't let you live a teams fight to exist, When a biryani flies hundreds of miles to reach Indians, The two generals fighting over Sudan's future, 'I thought we'd die' - Sudan patients cry for help, Why Gen Z workers are starting on the back foot. On 15 April 1802, Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy came across a host of daffodils around Glencoyne Bay in the Lake District. Ne'er to be found again. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. The last stanza describes the inspiration behind writing I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. According to Wordsworth, whenever he lies on his couch in a vacant or thoughtful mood, the image flashes in his minds eyes. The speaker, who is probably William Wordsworth himself, is lost in thought as he strolls over the hills and valleys and comes across a stunning field of daffodils. The only human character in the poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth is the speaker, who is an alter-ego of the poet himself. This piece contains a regular meter. Log in here. This well-loved William Wordsworth poem is cited by many readers as their favorite and for good reason. Hewas alsothe poet laureate for queen Victoria for seven years. Nonetheless, the vision is spontaneous, like a crack of lightning. In the poems opening line, the poet likens himself to a cloud. When the memory of the flowers and the lake flashes into his head, he feels happy again. Metaphorically, the speaker compares these dancing flowers to the number of stars that twinkle throughout the Milky Way, too many to count and impossible to fully appreciate individually. Can banks make loans out of their required reserves? It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. The daffodils are a happy memory the speaker chooses to think about when he is feeling sad or lonely. Why does the speaker find the sight so special? Until the hasting day Therefore, he was lonely at the beginning of the poem because he was not using his imagination. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". How do we know that the poet was a lover of nature in Daffodils? answer choices gloomy or sad Moreover, daffodils are compared to star clusters in Milky Way to explicate the magnitude of daffodils fluttering freely beside the lake. There are more than 1,500 different varieties of daffodils, and their bulbs all . Photos and video of daffodils at the actual location mentioned in Wordsworth's account of the walk. So, whenever the poets mind becomes empty of thoughts, the image supplies him the source of energy to re-think. They flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the Daffodils, 2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. But Wordsworth did marry and lived with both his wife and sister. The daffodils are described as conscious beings, as living things with the capacity to express happiness, and this gives a purposefulness to nature, and helps to justify its healing quality in the minds of human beings. The speaker describes the daffodils as stretching out endlessly, like the stars in the Milky Way. The memory of the daffodils is as good as the real thing. The breeze causes the waves on the lake to seem to dance too, but the dancing of the daffodils seems much more gleeful and alive. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud at Wikisource. It is through you visiting Poem Analysis that we are able to contribute to charity. While going through the poem, readers can feel this relaxing mood. Photos and video of daffodils at the actual location mentioned in Wordsworth's account of the walk. The poem flows akin to a planned song in a rhythmic structure. Instant PDF downloads. Lets take a step back for a brief moment to locate the premises of the poets inspiration. Why does the poet call the daffodils Golden? Personification is the attribution of human qualities to things that are not alive. The poet is overjoyed and chirpy at this captivating natural scene. 3 What does the speaker mean by saying I wandered lonely as a cloud? The waves beside them danced; but they "even-song"). Now, whenever he feels depressed, he just thinks of the daffodils, and his heart finds back the joy of living. The poetic persona is the embodiment of such a cloud. For instance, he writes about the daffodils "tossing their heads in sprightly dance" and that they are "jocund company" to him, as if they were humans that could keep him company. The themes of this poem are nature and humanity, memory and imagination. The poems main idea deals with the role of nature in the poets life. In William Wordsworth 's poem "The Daffodils," the speaker reflects upon a time when, during a solitary stroll, the speaker came upon a field of daffodils. The research could solve the problem of how to make sure daffodil bulbs planted in bulk come up the same colour. The space continuum holds great mystery for our Romantic Era poet as he envisions the daffodils to be in a constant state of wonder, as are the stars beyond the reach of humans. However, he clearly mentions his passing through valleys and hills on a routine walk, simplifying the narrative. Thats why it is considered one of the best-loved poems of English literature. The speaker, or the lyrical I, who seems to be the poets alter ego, is the lone human figure in William Wordsworths poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. You can argue, though, that personification transforms the daffodils into people in and of themselves, as do the lakes waves. Wordsworth lived through the French Revolution, which he initially supported and later rebuked. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The poet makes an allusion to the Milky Way, our galaxy filled with its own planetary solar systems stretched beyond infinity. How does the poet enjoy solitude in the poem Daffodils? He says that loneliness becomes lovely if he thinks about daffodils in his loneliness. This state is achieved when one is free from mundane thoughts. The daffodil flowers are yellow and therefore comparable to gold in its colour. The above allegory is a clear and direct referral to our native galaxy Milky Way. The speaker sees "thousands" of daffodils next to a lake. At the sight that speaks a thousand words, his heart breathes new life into him and he becomes exponentially happier. During this walk, he and his sister encountered a long strip of daffodils. What is the meaning of 'inward eye' in this poem by William Wordsworth? The sudden spark that the daffodils gave to his creative spirit is expressed in this poem. What literary elements are used in this poem? What does the speaker mean by saying I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud? It is wandering and lonely. Away, He is wandering lonely in a natural scenery as a cloud in the sky that freely floats over the hills and valleys, when suddenly he sees a beautiful spectacle of golden bright daffodils near the lake and under the boughs of the trees. Refine any search. William Wordsworths literary classic, Daffodils, also known as I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, is one of the most popular poems in the English language. The flower's impact on him until the memory provides him with pleasure at a later time. Apart from that, the daffodil acts as a symbol of rejuvenation and pure joy. The speaker is metaphorically compared to a natural object, a cloudI wandered lonely as a cloud / That floats on high, and the daffodils are continually personified as human beings, dancing and tossing their heads in a crowd, a host. This technique implies an inherent unity between man and nature, making it . The tone also follows the mood of the poem. The use of sound adds to the mood of the poem. Jocund means cheerful and light-hearted. Poem Solutions Limited International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. What is the speaker's mood in lines 12 of "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," and how does it change when the speaker sees the daffodils. The speaker's mind brings back the image when he is in a . It asserts that you can use your imagination to find new companions in the environment around you, even if youre all by yourself, lonely, and missing your pals. Explain. This poem is especially relevant now because we actively damage nature and replace our happiness with worldly items instead of actively engaging with or appreciating it. The poem has a lyrical form, uses the ABABCC rhyme pattern consistently throughout each stanza, and is delivered in the first person by the speaker as they reflect on their recollections of nature. The second half of the line quickly catches readers attention. I gazedand gazedbut little thought There are four iambs in each line. This happens because of solitude. A short BBC clip about Wordsworth's early relationship with nature. What wealth the show had purchased for me was as follows: a) To what jocund company is the poet alluding? From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. A Poets.org article on work that falls into the general category of "carpe diem" poetry. Such a golden, bright and lively memory was cherished by the poet. Why does hope sing so well at these times? Throughout the text, the poet maintains a calm and joyous mood. Hence, Option A is correct. Learn More About Robert Herrick The poets love and proximity with nature have inspired and moved generations after generations of poetry lovers and young minds. (read the full definition & explanation with examples). Right before he stumbled on them unexpectedly, he was very lonely. He doesnt know how to detect if the daffodils are glad. Why do humans believe that some objectslike a cloudare joyful while others are not? Please explain the usage. Cite This Essay. This image is contrasted with the dance of daffodils. Why did Mexican officials want to bring more settlers to Texas? With a deeper meaning, the poet could be referring to the golden, or the breathtaking and valuable moments which he spent with the daffodils. He dances along "with" them they are his cheerful companions once again. The speaker is mesmerized by the daffodils that appear to be dancing, fluttering, and waving beside the water. The poetic persona is none other than Wordsworth himself. Wordsworth also uses simile in describing the daffodils as "continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way." The way the content is organized. 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