M. Andrew Alvey
English 200 - 704
Dr. Weixel
10/25/17
Poetry Analysis
Dancing with Daffodils
Loneliness. Everyone in existence knows how this feels. If you are human, you have experienced some type of exclusion. William Wordsworth’s poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” gives almost a whimsical feel to being isolated. The poem begins with the line, “I wandered lonely as a cloud” (line 1) as if there was no set purpose of the speaker. The sentiment is nearly in a fantasy-like state. The poem begins with the speaker feeling lonely, isolated and detached from the world. But throughout the poem, the speaker talks about the beauty of nature. In an unforced manner, nature gives him joy. The poem is surrounded by figurative language. The
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This gives the reader a sense that the speaker is sad and isolated. The line, “When all at once I saw a crowd” (line 3) is the first true introduction to personification. The speaker is actually talking about daffodils. His emotion at this point is unclear. He is just observing what he is seeing. Wordsworth, then mentions the location of the daffodils, which shows how he has connected to nature. Personification continues as the daffodils began “fluttering and dancing in the breeze” (line 6). Flowers move and sway as the wind blows. The speaker chooses to personify the flowers by giving their movement meaning. The flowers are “happy”. They flutter and dance. Joy seems to surface. The lonely mood the speaker once endured has changed to being amused. Wordsworth continues figurative language, using personification with the following stanza. Though, he makes a change of connection. Previously he had a connection to nature. He is now relating to space. These both have to do with the sciences of creation. He uses the words “star” and “milky way” to represent the galaxy or space. “Continuous as the stars that shine” (line 7), Wordsworth compares the amount of flowers to the depth of stars in the sky. He also uses alliteration for expression, by using “stars that shine”. Personification displays itself once again by the portrayal of the flowers stretching. “They stretched in never-ending line/ Along the margin of the bay” (lines 9-10).
In Wordsworth's poem, he used syntax and diction to show how the flowers changed his once depressed lonely mood to positive and grateful. While in Muir's essay, he also uses diction to tell his story of finding calypso and his overwhelming sense of happiness when he finally sat by the beautiful flower.
However, a poem could be written without personification and still be great. In this poem the speaker states, “season when the young buttercups and daisies climb up on the mulched bodies of their forebears to wave their flags in the parade” (1096). This stanza is personification because it talks about the buttercups and daisies climbing up. This line of the poem also reminds the reader of soldiers marching in a parade.
As social beings, most of us feel the need to interact and enjoy the company of others. A popular definition of loneliness is that it's that feeling we get when this interaction is missing. However, loneliness is not the same as being alone or isolated. One can choose to be alone and enjoy a very blissful life. Or one can be very active in community groups, friends, and even family and still feel lonely. Loneliness is not an outward appearance, its an internal battle that causes weakness, and spiritual isolation within a person.
Loneliness and exclusion from society hurts and affects everyone; the emotional strain a person endures from it creates the image they present to others, but deep down they are not the display image they manufacture. As an illustration, while opening up to Lennie in the barn Curley’s wife states, “I get lonely… You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad.
Such an example of poetry is Sheldon Allen Saluta’s “Life in Isolation.” “Teaching (one) the true meaning of (an) outcast,” is the piece’s main objective, as it details of the emotional state of being separated. (Sheldon Saluta’s “Life in Isolation,” poemhunter.com). Being in the state I bring has been proven to be one of the hollowest ways to live a life. Miserable thoughts concerning one’s state of mind are brought to life through the poetry through the “aloofness benumbing (the author)” (poemhunter.com). A reader who hasn’t fallen to be my victim may achieve a hint of overwhelming
Wordsworth demonstrates his use of tone and syntax in the following stanza, “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 a sprightly dance.” The tone of the stanza is joyful because he is happy when he talks about how beautiful the daffodils are. This shows how his relationship with nature is positive since he is happy when watching the daffodils. Wordsworth uses traditional syntax in this stanza. He uses several phrases divided by commas to describe the daffodils and their movements. This gives the stanza a playful pace which again expresses that his relationship with nature is happy and
Isolation and loneliness is one of the main themes when it comes to surviving in an isolated
Wordsworth says that, wandering like a cloud floating above the hill and valleys, he encountered a field of daffodils beside a lake, in the poem. “I wandered lonely as a cloud” A poet could not help but to be happy in such a joyful company of flowers. William stared and watched but did not realize what wealth the scene would bring him. Whenever he feels “vacant” or “pensive” the picture would flash upon “that inward eye / That is the bliss of solitude. : and his heart fills with pleasure, “and dances with the daffodils.” (Wordsworth, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud). Wordsworth also created songs of innocence such as “Daffodils Song”. The Romantic poets, predominantly Wordsworth and Blake were spellbound by the natural world. The author used pastoral landscapes to evoke joy, to create peaceful scenes that were only darkened by the threat of urbanization and the Industrial Revolution. (William Wordsworth: Artistic Reaction to the Industrial Revolution, Fed 14, 2000)
Loneliness is a strong theme in the short story The Minister’s Black Veil written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Today, being alone doesn’t really mean being lonely, or is it always feeling gloomy about something in life. In the article, Resolutions of Aloneliness describes that loneliness can also be seen on a more positive side; “Solitude represents the more positive aspects of one’s loneliness. Solitude is either a physical state/or a state of mind. It is most often used for getting in touch with self, for rejuvenation, and as an aid to creativity” (Kubistant 462). Some people, usually introverts, absolutely are fond of having time to themselves and are totally satisfied with isolation. However, extroverts may want some alone time to themselves each day to follow-up and bounce back from a disappointing event in life. On the other hand, loneliness is a different form of isolation. When a person feels lonely, they’re not in solitary by preference, and they feel sad or empty because of it. Some people may feel cut-off, or disconnected from other people, and have no one we can really talk to. Even when we’re surrounded by others, we can still be lonesome if we don’t have a form of association with them. Mr. Hooper, in the short story, represents a vivid state of loneliness in his mind. The black veil that he wore worried the people in his village, even
Unlike society, Wordsworth does not see nature as a commodity. The verse "Little we see in Nature that is ours" (3), shows that coexisting is the relationship envisioned. This relationship appears to be at the mercy of mankind because of the vulnerable way nature is described. The verse "This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon" (5), gives the vision of a woman exposed to the heavens. In addition, the phrase "sleeping flowers"(7) might also describe how nature is being overrun unknowingly.
Throughout “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” William Wordsworth shows his relationship with nature through his choice of diction, fantastic descriptions, and shifting mood of his poem. There are also many words and phrases that Wordsworth included into his poem that shows how he feels about nature. These phrases are well written, extremely descriptive, and show how Wordsworth is influenced by the wild: “I wandered lonely as a cloud”, “When all at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils", “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”, “I gazed—and gazed—but little thought what wealth the show to me had brought”, and “For oft, when on my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood, they flash upon that inward eye [...] and then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils.” Another phrase, which indicates that the flowers were so beautiful that no true poet could be sad in their presence, also builds upon Wordsworth’s relationship with nature. These particular lines in “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” show how Wordsworth’s mood shifts from somber and lonely to joyous and content. The lines also show how the gorgeousness of nature sticks with
I became a social outcast. I would always sit in a corner and read or do my homework during these events. I would always cry and wonder about the reasons towards their hate for me. Until one day, I realized that the kids are jealous of me because they think that my life is more interesting than theirs’, which is why they are always talking about me. I learn that the only person responsible for my happiness is me. My experience is related to this line in the poem because my isolation, “the lonely roads”, made realized mankind's intention. Some people will always try to bring you down, but it is your job is to rise from the ashes and shine bright like a diamond or be crushed by
In "Daffodils", we again see all the features that make this poem fit into the tradition of Romanticism and Romantic Poetry. Wordsworth describes nature and says how beautiful it is and the beauty he sees when he looks at the daffodils. "when all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils".
Wordsworth continues to relay his experience in nature as he expounds upon the affiliation between the daffodils and another natural element. Applying simile, the poet connects the flowers to the stars, "Continuous as the stars that shine / And twinkle on the milky way" (7-8). A mental picture of infinite flowers is created, while "shine" and "twinkle" produce an image of light. Wordsworth uses the light imagery to link the two aspects of nature; the luminous stars of the night and "golden" daffodils of the day. The link shows the reader the connection the poet sees in different facets of nature. The second stanza continues the description of the dance "Ten thousand saw I at a glance, / Tossing their heads in sprightly dance" (12). The image created is of large numbers of flowers moving in unison and expresses the harmony the poet finds in nature. The usage of "sprightly" makes another reference to light, but in the sense of movement and weight as "cloud" and "floats" were utilized in the first stanza. Diction in the second stanza provides the reader with a multi-dimensional prospective of Wordsworth's imagery by giving the images action, feeling and weight.
you feel calm and relaxed while you read the poem, as it has nice and