What is this poem about?
The Prelude is an autobiographyA description of a personâs life written by that person. poem written by William Wordsworth.
Wordsworth began writing The Prelude in 1798 and continued to add to and edit it throughout his life.
He never completed it, and it was published after his death in 1850.
Extract from the Prelude is a short section from this epic poemA long poem which tells a story. and is about Wordsworthâs memory of stealing a boat as a child.
Comparing poems: 'Extract from the Prelude' and 'Exposure'
In the poetry section of your English Literature exam, you will be asked to compare two poems. Listen to this podcast to hear an example of how you could approach this task.
In this episode, writer and rapper Testament and poet Owen Sheers compare the poems Extract from the Prelude by William Wordsworth and Exposure by Wilfred Owen.
Listen on ±«Óătv Sounds
What is 'Extract from the Prelude' about?
Context
Extract from the Prelude is taken from Book 1 which is about Wordsworthâs childhood. The other books focus on different periods in his life, such as his time living in France or falling in love.
Wordsworth experienced lots of difficulties during his life. These included the death of both parents when he was young and the loss of two of his children. These experiences influenced the The Prelude.
Wordsworth grew up in Cumbria, spending much of his life there. The natural beauty of the Lake District inspired much of his poetry.
The Prelude is an epic poem made up of 14 books thatâŻWordsworth wrote as hisâŻautobiographyA description of a personâs life written by that person.. This means that the narrator and the writer are the same person in this poem.
The poem
In Extract from the Prelude, Wordsworth describes stealing a boat when he was younger. He rows it out into a lake and sees a mountain which troubles him due to its sheer size.
At the beginning of the poem, Wordsworth is a confident young man, comfortable with his place in nature and his surroundings. He describes the beauty and peace of being on the water. However, there is a shift in mood when he comes upon a huge mountain and feels frightened by its size and the imposing power of nature it represents.
In the poem, he cannot stop thinking or dreaming about the mountain in the days that follow.
Question
Extract from the Prelude, is from Book 1 of Wordsworthâs autobiographical poem. What does Book 1 focus on?
Answer
Book 1 focuses on Wordsworthâs childhood and his time in school. Book 2 continues to focus on his school days.
Themes
The power of nature
Wordsworth was a Romantic poet. This means that he wrote during the Romantic era in the late 18th and early 19th century. The rapid industrialisationChanges in the way products are made, usually involving factories where the work is increasingly done by machines. of towns and cities inspired many artists and poets to seek escape. They focused on topics like nature, creativity and individuality, often while still hinting at the hardships and difficulties faced in everyday life.
Extract from the Prelude is a Romantic poem as it focuses on natureâs beauty and power.
An important feature of Romantic poetry was the sublimeThe impact that art, nature or beauty can have on an individual.. The âsublimeâ refers to the intense feeling of awe that art, nature or beauty can inspire. In Extract from the Prelude, Wordsworthâs feelings of powerlessness inspired by the mountain are an example of the sublime.
The experience could be something artistic, natural or spiritual. For instance, in Extract from the Prelude, the sublime can be seen when Wordsworth sees the mountain and remarks:
The horizon's bound, a huge peak, black and huge,
As if with voluntary power instinct,
Upreared its head.
Inner conflict
Wordsworth is not in physical danger but is still affected by the imposing presence of the mountain. He describes it as a âgrim shapeâ that âtowered upâ over him, suggesting the feelings of fear and insignificance he felt in its presence. He repeats âhugeâ twice in one line to emphasise his shock.
He also describes how there âhung a darknessâ over his thoughts for days afterwards. This could also be a metaphorWords or phrases that describe something by saying it is something else. for the shadow the mountain created on the natural landscape.
The fact that Wordsworth is so affected by something which cannot harm him suggests that he is experiencing a conflict between emotion and reason.
It can be inferred that Wordsworth uses the mountain as a metaphor for traumaA term for situations or events that cause feelings of fear, humiliation, vulnerability or rejection. because he cannot forget the impact it has on him. Likewise, the experiences of death that he has experienced during his lifetime were a trauma he couldnât forget.
Memory
The fact that Wordsworth chose to recount this experience of encountering the mountain suggests that the memory is very strong. Even though, at first, it might seem like an insignificant event to the reader.
Wordsworth remembers the discomfort he felt more than the beauty of the lake and mountain. He says that, after being out on the lake, he recalls that the mountain:
moved slowly through the mind
By day, and were a trouble to my dreams.
The fact that the mountain is even present in his dreams highlights how strong the memory is, and the power of natureâs effect on hispsycheA term for the mindâs deepest thoughts, feelings or beliefs.. Wordsworth does not, or perhaps cannot, explain why the mountain disturbed him so much, but he can remember how it made him feel very clearly. He is reflecting on the power of emotion to evoke memory.
Mini quiz
Language
Figurative language is language which uses a non-literal meaning, examples include similes and metaphors.
Figurative language is used throughout Extract from the Prelude to describe the nature surrounding Wordsworth.
Activity
Read the quotations below and then the interpretations that follow.
Structure
In poetry, structure is anything to do with the layout and organisation of the poem.
Juxtaposition
juxtaposeTo place two contrasting things closely together. is when two contrasting things are placed close together.
The first part of this poem is full of positive words to describe Wordsworthâs excitement at stealing the boat. For example, âhomeâ, âpleasureâ, âglitteringâ and âsparklingâ create a positive semantic fieldSemantic field refers to groups of words which have similar meanings or are about a similar topic. that highlights the beauty of the natural world.
The second part of the poem has a darker, more serious feel. Wordsworth uses a negative semantic field to show the mountainâs impact. Words such as âgrimâ, âtremblingâ, âgraveâ and âdarknessâ.
This juxtaposition highlights the insignificance of humans in comparison to nature. There is also a juxtaposition between the positive and negative feelings that nature can inspire.
Volta
A volta is a dramatic change in thought or emotion. In Extract from the Prelude, this happens at the halfway point when the positive semantic field turns negative.
Wordsworth initially describes the beauty of the lake and his enjoyment as he rows across it. However, when he sees the âhugeâ, âblackâ mountain, the tone shifts and he starts describing his discomfort.
Form
In poetry, form refers to the type of poem that the poet has chosen to write.
Epic poem
The Prelude in its full form is an epic poem. This is a long narrativeA story. poem which tells a story, usually about an adventure. Epic poems, particularly in Romantic era, were often based on historical events or mythology.
Blank verse
Extract from the Prelude is written in blank verseUnrhymed poetry which uses a certain number of beats per line.. This means that it does not rhyme but does use a set number of syllables per line. This creates a more free, narrative effect â like Wordsworth is telling a story, unrestricted by a rhyme scheme.
Mini quiz
Top Tips (Edexcel)
Remember
Read the question carefully. Highlight the key words and focus of the question.
Make a plan. subject terminologytechnical language relating to a particular subject. For English Literature, this includes words relating to language, structure and form techniques such as âmetaphorâ, âpronounsâ, âellipsesâ and so on the poem or create a short list of points you could make, supported by evidence. This will help you to stay focused and relevant.
Analyse features. When you identify a feature, always consider why it has been used and what effect it creates.
Reread your answer. Keep checking that you are on topic throughout the writing process.
ÌęÌęÌęÌę
Making comparisons
You will need to write your response using comparative connectives, such as:
Similarly
Likewise
However
In contrast
In the exam
This poem could be assessed in the anthology poetry part of the exam.
You will be asked to compare a named poem with a poem of your choice.
The choice must be from the cluster of poems you have studied. The named poem will be provided.
This question assesses AO2 and AO3:
AO2 | AO2 assesses your ability to explore the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects. |
AO3 | AO3 looks at how you can link the contextual background of the poem(s) into your ideas. |
Quiz
Test your understanding of this Extract from the Prelude by taking this quiz.
More on Poems
Find out more by working through a topic
- count1 of 4
- count2 of 4