I Wander Lonely
I Wander Lonely
I Wander Lonely
1st stanza
Paraphrase
The poet says while he was walking alone without any aim, like a cloud
Which flies high over valley and hills, he suddenly saw a large number of the
daffodils. They were beside the lake and under the trees. They were moving and
dancing in the gentle air.
Rhyme scheme; ( a b a b c c )
Figures of speech
1- simile ; " as a cloud "
The poet likens himself to a cloud.
Devices
Figures of speech
Figures of speech
1- Personification ; " The waves beside them danced "
The poet gives the waves the image of people who can dance.
Devices
4th stanza
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasures fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Paraphrase
The poet often lies on his sofa while he is busy or free minded, the daffodils
appear in his mind and they become happiness in his loneliness. His heart becomes
full of happiness and dances with the daffodils.
Figures of speech
1- Personification " And dances with the daffodils "
The poet gives his heart the image of a person who can dance.
Devices
1- Contrast (vacant x pensive )
2- Alliteration (dances – daffodils) to give music.
Commentary
As a romantic poet William Wordsworth shows his great love to the nature.
He describes it perfectly well. He shows his happiness when he sees the happy
nature. The poet uses simple but beautiful language with many figures of speech like;
simile and personification. The poet shows his great skill and rich vocabulary in
using many words to express happiness in the 3rd stanza (glee – gay – jocund –
wealth). The poet uses devices, contrast and alliteration, well. The rhyme scheme is
simple and regular.