OPPapers.com Essay Index >> English >> A Close Reading Of 'Daffodils' By William Wordsworth
We have many free term papers and essays on A Close Reading Of 'Daffodils' By William Wordsworth. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
Submitted by lizzie262 on March 18, 2008
Category: English
Words: 1372 | Pages: 6
Views: 377
Popularity Rank: 23,963
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
A Close-Reading of ‘DAFFODILS’ By William Wordsworth
The poem ‘Daffodils’ by William Wordsworth reflects the inherent connection between man and nature, which is so commonly found in his poetry; for example, in ‘Tintern Abbey’, and ‘The Two-Part Prelude’. In my essay I am going to explore and analyse the variety of figurative devices Wordsworth uses to communicate this idea, and the poetic motives behind his writing. ‘ Daffodils’ is essentially a lyric poem which is expressive of the feelings of joy the poet encounters when seeing the multitude of daffodils.
In the preface to The Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth writes that “poetry is the image of man and nature”. Wordsworth uses a variety of figurative devices to communicate this idea: for example, in the first line of the poem he uses reverse personification in representing himself metaphorically “as a cloud”. Wordsworth then proceeds to personify the daffodils as humans, “dancing” (line 6) and “tossing their heads” (line 12). He also personifies the daffodils as a “jocund company”(line 16), suggesting the flowers have feelings just as humans do. Again, there is the suggestion of unity between man and nature when Wordsworth describes himself as feeling ‘gay’ in the company of the daffodils.
The fact Wordsworth shows himself and nature as interchangeable, signifies the close relationship there is between man and nature in the Wordsworthian world. The poetic diction Wordsworth uses depicts nature in a positive, almost heavenly light ; for example, “a host” of daffodils, suggests perhaps a congregation of angels. The choice of the word ‘host’ is, I think, deliberate –it has far more connotations than the word ‘crowd’. Also its position at the start of the line helps to emphasise not only the sheer multitude of daffodils but also the immediacy of impact on the beholder. Such description creates a feeling of nature as a Utopia.
The...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!