I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

"I wandered lonely as a cloud" WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, Across When all at once I saw a crowd, 2. perfect happiness (stanza 4) A host, of golden daffodils; 4. valleys (stanza 1) Beside the lake, beneath the trees, 5 6. a contraction of the word Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. “over” (stanza 1) 7. riches (stanza 3) Continuous as the stars that shine 8. jovial, merry, lighthearted And twinkle on the milky way, (stanza 3) They stretched in never-ending line 9. in a lively and vigorous way Along the margin of a bay: 10 (stanza 2) Ten thousand saw I at a glance, 10. the edge (stanza 2) Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. 12. a brilliant yellow flower (stanza 1) The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: Down A poet could not but be gay, 15 1. to look briefly (stanza 2) In such a jocund company: 3. state of being alone (stanza 4) I gazed---and gazed---but little thought 4. not occupied, empty (stanza 4) What wealth the show to me had brought: 5. looking thoughtful (stanza 4) 10. the galaxy in which the earth For oft, when on my couch I lie is located (stanza 2) In vacant or in pensive mood, 20 11. a large number of items They flash upon that inward eye (stanza1) Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. Summary

The speaker says that, wandering like a cloud floating above hills and valleys, he encountered a field of daffodils beside a lake. The dancing, fluttering flowers stretched endlessly along the shore, and though the waves of the lake danced beside the flowers, the daffodils outdid the water in glee. The speaker says that a poet could not help but be happy in such a joyful company of flowers. He says that he stared and stared, but did not realize what wealth the scene would bring him. For now, whenever he feels "vacant" or "pensive," the memory flashes upon "that inward eye / That is the bliss of solitude," and his heart fills with pleasure, "and dances with the daffodils."

Questions

1. What figure of is found in lines 1 and 7? Which two things are being compared in each case?

2. Quote TWO VERBS from stanza 1 which describe the movement of the daffodils.

3. What mood is created by the words mentioned in questions 2?

4. What is the poet saying about the daffodils when comparing them to the stars in the Milky Way?

5. Which figure of speech is evident in line 12 – “Tossing their heads in sprightly dance”?

6. What effect do the waves and daffodils have on the poet in stanza 3?

7. Comment on the repetition of the word “gazed” in line 17.

8. Does the poet use the word “wealth” literally of figuratively in line 18? Give a reason for your answer.

9. What is the “inward eye” mentioned in line 21?

10. What effect does the memory of the daffodils have on the poet?