I wandered lonely as a cloud - William Wordsworth - review.

I wandered lonely as a cloud - William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud, by William Wordsworth is a poem that reflects both the author and the Romantic age, in which it was written. The Romantic Age was an amazing time for many poets, the age let Wordsworth embrace the strong felt emotions, the appreciation of nature and realisation of the importance of the imagination. The poem starts with him walking lonely along the coast, he then comes across a field of daffodils. They overwhelm Wordsworth strong feelings that appreciate the beauty of nature. He then reflects on not only the powers of nature but also on the imagination and memory. This poem by Wordsworth reflects the feelings of the writer and those felt by society in the Romantic Age.

The Romantic Age was a very emotional time and this is clearly expressed in Wordsworth’s poem. Wordsworth uses emotive words to portray the feeling of isolation felt as he was walking, “I wandered lonely as a cloud”. The single cloud is then quickly replaced by with words such as “crowd”, “host”, “ten-thousand” and “company”. This sudden structural change can also be seen in relation to movement “wandered” and “floats” becomes “dancing” and “danced”, and about relation, the isolated image of a single cloud is replaced by doubling, echoing images of fluttering daffodils, twinkling stars and dancing waves. This shows strong emotions that, while they can change quickly embrace nature. Wordsworth uses what can be classified as a hyperbole when describing the flowers, he writes that they were “Continuos as the stars that shine”. This along with the overwhelming amount of descriptions portrays Wordsworth’s emotional and enthusiastic feelings towards the daffodils. This poem shows Wordsworth’s reflection on the emotion, which was strongly felt during the Romantic Age.

Wordsworth held a keen interest in nature, this can be clearly seen throughout the context of the poem. Descriptive words such as “sparkling wave” and “golden daffodils” show his enthusiasm and love of nature. A simile noted between the daffodils and the stars shows how Wordsworth linked all typed of nature together and with religion as the stars have a close relation with heaven and god. This clearly shows Wordsworth’s love and respect towards nature. Throughout the poem Wordsworth uses personification to describe things, “wanders lonely as a cloud”, and watches as the daffodils toss “their heads in sprightly dance”. ...

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The Romantic Age showed a new found respect for the imagination rather then intelligence; this is shown during the poem. Wordsworth describes how he stopped and “gazed and gazed but little thought”, this portrays his feelings of the importance of just standing back and appreciating your surroundings. It is obvious also that the level of words expressed by him is a reasonable standard, which meant that all types of people could enjoy the imagination without being extremely intelligent. Contrast shows the imagination featuring in different types of moods, “In vacant or in pensive mood”, this shows that the imagination plays a large role in life and that it is easy to be overwhelmed by it. Wordsworth writes about the “inward eye” describing it as the “bliss of solitude”, these are clear examples of how important he considers the imagination. The use of the word “oft” (often) shows Wordsworth’s idea that this kind of experience is not subject to loss because it can be repeated inside your head. The imagination, the inner landscape, is expressed because of that word as a permanent position. By showing us his feelings on imagination it persuades us to see just how important it is.

Wordsworth’s poem, I wandered lonely as a cloud, clearly expresses the feelings felt by himself and those evident in the Romantic Age. Emotion played a large part in that stage in history and the descriptions that get slightly carried away. Nature is one of the topics of the poem and is portrayed as an important part of life. We are also given information on the importance of the imagination was strongly felt through the Romantic Age. This short poem is able to reflect on the historical period in which it was written and on the poet who wrote it.