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I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth

Janet Carr

April 2

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

SHORT ANALYSIS:

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud (also commonly known as Daffodils) is a poem by William Wordsworth that is known for its celebration of the beauty of nature and its ability to bring joy and happiness in times of despair. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker describing their own personal experience of wandering through a field of daffodils.

The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the speaker's experience. The first stanza sets the scene and describes the speaker's feeling of loneliness as they wander through the countryside. The imagery of a cloud floating over hills and valleys evokes a sense of isolation and detachment, which contrasts with the vibrant and joyful scene that the speaker is about to encounter.

The second stanza describes the moment when the speaker comes across a field of daffodils. The imagery of the daffodils stretching in a "never-ending line" along the shoreline creates a sense of awe and wonder, and the comparison to the stars in the Milky Way emphasizes the vastness and beauty of the scene. The use of the word "host" to describe the daffodils also suggests that they are not just a random collection of flowers, but an organized and purposeful group.

The third stanza describes the speaker's emotional response to the scene. The use of words like "gay" and "jocund" suggest that the sight of the daffodils has brought the speaker a sense of happiness and pleasure. The phrase "I gazed—and gazed—but little thought / What wealth the show to me had brought" suggests that the speaker did not fully realize the impact the daffodils would have on them until after they had seen them.

The final stanza describes the lasting effect of the daffodils. The use of the phrase "And then my heart with pleasure fills / And dances with the daffodils" suggests that the sight of the daffodils has lifted the speaker's spirits and brought them a sense of joy and happiness.

The poem is also known for its use of imagery, particularly the image of the daffodils dancing in the breeze, which creates a sense of movement and liveliness that contrasts with the stillness and isolation of the opening lines. The poem also makes use of personification, as the daffodils are described as "dancing" and "tossing their heads" which imbues them with human-like characteristics and adds to the lively and joyful nature of the scene.

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