Overview
This lecture analyzes William Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," focusing on its form, literary devices, tone, and meaning.
Poem Form and Structure
- The poem consists of four stanzas, each made of several lines.
- Written in iambic tetrameter: each line has four iambs (one unstressed + one stressed syllable per iamb).
- The rhyme scheme for each stanza is ABABCC, with the last two lines forming a couplet.
- The iambic tetrameter and rhyme scheme give the poem a harmonious, musical quality.
Literary Devices
- Simile: The speaker compares himself to a cloud, suggesting loneliness and a passive perspective.
- Simile: The daffodils are compared to stars on the Milky Way, highlighting their vastness and beauty.
- Hyperbole: The speaker claims to see "ten thousand" daffodils in a "never-ending line," exaggerating their abundance.
- Personification: The daffodils are described as "dancing" and "tossing their heads," making nature feel alive and joyful.
- Personification extends to waves "dancing," connecting the speaker's mood to the scene.
- The speaker's "heart dances" with the daffodils, showing emotional connection to nature.
Tone and Diction
- The tone shifts from loneliness to joy and fascination as the poem progresses.
- Beginning: The speaker feels isolated ("lonely").
- End: The speaker enjoys the "bliss of solitude" and the simple pleasure nature brings.
- Uses simple, picturesque words like "twinkle," "sparkling," "solitude," and "pleasure" to reinforce the poem's calm and joyful mood.
Meaning and Message
- The poem emphasizes the strong emotional effect nature can have on people, inspiring awe and happiness.
- The memory of the daffodils becomes "indelible"—evoked even when the speaker is alone indoors.
- Demonstrates a spiritual connection between man and nature.
- The "wealth" the speaker gains is not material but a deeper appreciation and understanding of life's simple pleasures.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Iambic Tetrameter — A rhythmic pattern with four iambs (unstressed-stressed syllable pairs) per line.
- Simile — A figure of speech comparing two things using "like" or "as."
- Personification — Giving human qualities to non-human objects or nature.
- Hyperbole — Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
- Rhyme Scheme — The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line, marked by letters.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Re-read "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" and identify examples of simile, personification, and hyperbole.
- Reflect on how the tone shifts from start to finish.
- Prepare notes on how the poem’s structure and diction contribute to its overall meaning.