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Prelude (extract) - Coggle Diagram
Prelude (extract)
Feelings and attitudes
Confidence. The narrator feels comfortable and in control to start with, but his confidence in himself and the world around him is shaken by this one event
Fear. Nature is shown to be more powerful than a human being. The narrator is left with a feeling of awe and respect for nature, but he's also scared by it.
Reflection. The poem ends with the narrator reflecting on how he's been changed by the event. His thoughts and dreams are still troubled by what he's experienced
Power of nature
The almost magical beauty of nature is present in the poem, with the "circles glittering" on the lake and the "sparking light". The narrator initially seems to be inspired and relaxed by nature.
When the mountain appears, it's personified as a terrifying, monstrous being- it "Upreared its head" and the narrator thinks that it "Stode after" him. It seems to be this that makes him return the boat he stole, suggesting that nature is able to influence our behaviour.
The poem ends with the phrase "a trouble to my dreams". This acts as a reminder of how nature is not just beautiful and gentle- the narrator has been unsettled and changed by the experience, and the "pleasant images" of nature in his mind have been replaced with have been replaced with troubling ones.
Negative emotions. Fear
The narrator's mood changes from carefree confidence to deep fear after encountering the mountain. This fear has a lasting effect, with the experience troubling his thoughts dreams "for many days".
The mountain's solid "statue" and "measure motion" is contrasted with the speaker's trembling- the personified mountain is calm and in control, whereas the speaker is frantically trying to escape
About
The extract begins on a summer evening when the narrator finds a boat tied to a tree. He unties the boat and takes it out on the lake. Initially the narrator seems happy and confident, and he describes a beautiful scene. A mountain appears on the horizon and the narrator is afraid of its size and power. He turns the boat around and goes home, but his view of nature has changed.
Dramatic language
The initial glimpses of threatening language become more intense after the mountain appears. The narrator comes to understand how powerful nature is.
Fearful language
The narrator is far less confident at the end of the extract. He's troubled by the "huge and mighty forms" of nature he's glimpsed. The experience has a lasting, haunting effect on him.
Confident language
The narrator appears sure of himself at first- almost arrogant in his view of himself and his place in the world. He gives the impression of feeling powerful.
Memory
Memories can be powerful, particularly memories of negative or difficult experienced.
Individual Experiences
The narrator is alone in his "act of stealth" as he takes the boat and sets out across the lake. When the mountain frightens him, he describes it in personal terms, claiming that the mountain. "Strode after me". this personification suggests that he feels nature is reacting to him as an individual
Wordsworth is considered a Romantic poet as his poems deal with Nature. The poem shows the spiritual growth of the poet, how he comes to terms with who he is, and his place in the world.
The poem symbolically uses the journey on the river to mirror the poets own spiritual journey of reflection.