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I Wandered Lonely AS A Cloud
I Wandered Lonely AS A Cloud
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Reflection, English (Gen Ed 310)
316 Documents
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Academic year: 2023/2024
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I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD (William Wordsworth) 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.
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
- Born: April 7, 1770 - Cockermouth, Cumberland, England
- Died: April 23, 1850 - Rydal Mount, Westmorland
- William Wordsworth was one of the founders of English Romanticism and one of the most central figures and important intellects.
- Wordsworth was one of England's most popular poets throughout his lifetime, and he became Poet Laureate (eminent poet) in 1843.
- He is remembered as a poet of spiritual and epistemological speculation, a poet concerned with the human relationship to nature and a fierce advocate of using the vocabulary and speech patterns of common people in poetry.
- He began writing poetry as a young boy in grammar school, and before graduating from college, he went on a walking tour of Europe, which deepened his love for nature and his sympathy for the common man: both major themes in his poetry.
- Wordsworth is best known for Lyrical Ballads BACKGROUND OF THE POEM
- The poem was first published in 1807 in the collection “Poems in Two Volumes,” and a revised version was published in 1815.
- The poem is simple and orderly, harkening to classical forms, and written in iambic tetrameter.
- The poem made no immediate impact upon publication, but over the decades it has become Wordsworth’s most famous poem. The rhythm and language so elegantly capture the sense of peace and solitude one gets in nature. The poem has an expansive, enormous canvas, first with Wordsworth giving sense of imagery as viewed from above (as if from the viewpoint of a cloud), and then with him cleverly using the galaxy as a metaphor for the scope of a wild flower field.
- The poem was inspired by an event that happened on April 15, 1802. That day, William Wordsworth was out for a walk in the countryside. He was walking beside a lake with his sister, Dorothy. It was Dorothy’s notes that described this day. It was during the walk when Wordsworth came across a field of daffodils. Dorothy described that day to be a windy one and hence there were a lot of waves in the sea as well as dancing daffodils which are well described in the poem itself. This poem is about finding happiness in what you have
- At the time of this encounter with the daffodils, Wordsworth was going through a period of emotional turmoil and inner reflection.
- The poem was inspired by the stark contrast between the solitary and somewhat despondent state of his mind ("I wandered lonely as a cloud") and the joyful, carefree dance of the daffodils. The daffodils' beauty and vitality provided Wordsworth with a sense of solace and inspiration, serving as a reminder of the enduring power of nature to uplift the human spirit.
- Wordsworth's creative process often involved revisiting and reflecting upon his experiences in nature. He didn't immediately write the poem after seeing the daffodils but allowed the memory to mature over time. The poem, composed in 1804, is the product of his reflective and contemplative approach to poetry. It captures the essence of the original experience and the emotions it evoked.
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I Wandered Lonely AS A Cloud
Course: Reflection, English (Gen Ed 310)
316 Documents
Students shared 316 documents in this course
University: Philippine Normal University - North Luzon
Was this document helpful?
I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD (William Wordsworth)
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.
