Analysis

Here we outline the main elements of our analysis of "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" - Wordsworth's Romantic poem about the daffodils.

When looking at its composition, you will see that the poem is very simple and describes a very common image – that of a group of daffodils. Overall, the poem is very methodical in terms of rhythm and rhyme, suggesting through form, the perfection of nature it describes.

The only human character in the poem is the speaker, or lyrical I, who appears to be an alter-ego of the poet himself. Some of the specific figures of speech employed by the poet to create imagery are similes, hyberboles, metaphors, and personifications.

The language and style of the poem make the text very lyrical and poetic, focusing on feelings inspired by the natural setting. The epithets and the folky words, together with the verbs in the past tense, inspire a lyrical melancholy. 

You can find the full analysis in the next pages.

Extract

Below, you can read a short extract from our analysis of "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth.

Style and mode of expression

The style of the poem is folky and inspiring. The poet uses words as simple as the setting to depict the view. The idea is that simplicity can be more inspiring than grandeur. Notice how everything in the setting of the daffodils inspires a simple, rustic joy with “sprightly dance” (l. 12) and “sparkling waves” (l. 14).

The mode of expression is that of a lyrical account. The poet remembers the feelings a daffodils host inspired him, during a walk somewhere in the countryside. He does not address anyone, the poem seems written mostly for the poet himself, a reminder of how one’s loneliness can be soothed by natural elements.

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