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Ariana Azoulai

Prof. Batty

English 102 #25031

8 December 2017

Simply Nature: an Analysis of I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

Poems are often disregarded at a first glance as a result of confusion. While question

marks have become associated with poetry, William Wordsworth (a well-known lyrical poet)

does the opposite of whats expected and erases any confusion. His poem I Wandered Lonely as

a Cloud, are one of his more popular pieces which actually focuses on a simpler message. While

some students believe Wordsworths poem to hold an underlying meaning of solitude, I disagree

and believe his poem to be an appreciation of nature. He captures this message through the use

of: imagery/personification, meter, and inspiration from his life.

The use of imagery and personification in: I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud is clearly

present throughout each stanza and adds to Wordsworths admiration of nature. Having a clear

image in ones mind sets up a sense of reality, which in turn, allows the reader to feel a

connection to the poem. Imagery is created by Wordsworth when he speaks of the daffodils and

constructs a focal point for the poem: A host, of golden daffodils;/ Beside the lake, beneath the

trees,/ Fluttering and dancing in the breeze (4-6). This use of imagery is what creates a detailed

visual within the readers mind. One can imagine the daffodils being framed by surrounding

nature. Wordsworth also uses personification in this passage by describing the daffodils as

fluttering and dancing. He gives human qualities to an inanimate object which makes the

readers not only picture something in their mind, but feel connected to the object as well.

Personification is a tool that can be seen many times within the poem; breathing life into the
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words and invoking a familiarity of the senses that the reader can join along with: And then my

heart with pleasure fills,/ And dances with the daffodils (23-24). Obviously, a heart cant

dance, but it does cause the reader to form an idea of enjoyment within their mind. Using such

formalist tools like imagery and personification, gives Wordsworths poem an exaggerated

undertone. The main idea-enjoying lifes simple pleasures through nature-is consequentially

given more importance by the use of imagery and personification and fosters the reader to have a

greater appreciation of the poets message.

Another tool Wordsworth uses is meter. Meter has a lot to do with the way someone is

affected by a poem and is what allows words to flow seamlessly (or not). In this case, meter is

used to enhance the flow of the poem by using a specific pattern of ...four six-line stanzas of

iambic tetrameter, rhyming ababcc (Steele, "I Wandered Lonely"). By using this form, the

poem is able to transition from one thought into another smoothly. The reader is also

subconsciously obtaining a hypnotic state in response to the meters repetitiveness. This not only

creates an urge to keep reading the poem, but it also shows another facet of simplicity conveyed.

The poems theme of simplicity-found in enjoying nature-is enhanced by the easy rhythm of

meter as well.

Wordsworths applies a historical lens to affect how this poem is read and interpreted.

During Wordsworths life, he was close with another famous poet, Coleridge. His friendship

with Coleridge is what pushed Wordsworth to write lyrical poetry and eventually break barriers.

He began to write about the simple things in life, such as ...ordinary events in the lives of

ordinary people: simple country folk and children mainly, but also social outcasts and misfits.

Not only did this break all the neoclassical rules about the proper subject matter of poetry,

but..Wordsworth also challenged the conventional wisdom regarding poetic diction (Aubrey,
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"William Wordsworth").Writing about simple events at the time was not common, so when

Wordsworth did so, it set a new bar for poets and their poetry. This straightforward approach

allows the reader to connect on a much easier level, since its something they can relate to. To

create relatable work, Wordsworth would often use real life examples. The poet was actually

surrounded by inspiration from a young age, being Born on the borders of the Lake District in

northwest England...Wordsworth loved the Lakeland countryside, where he was free to roam for

long periods(Aubrey, William Wordsworth). Recognizing Wordsworths source of

inspiration, lets the reader know that the events which influenced his poems, were everyday

experiences. Which means, it could happen to anyone; thus destroying a common barrier that

separates reader from poem. Using everyday experiences allows the reader to feel as if they are

able to tell the story as the narrator and as if they are the ones dancing with the daffodils.

Reading poetry is not an easy thing to do, but given the right context, it can be a pleasant

experience. William Wordsworth proves that reading poetry doesnt have to be an unbearable

experience. Wordsworths I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud is an example of a beautifully,

simplistic poem that uses formalist tools, such as: imagery, personification, and meter. In

addition, the poem uses historicist tools, such as inspiration from real events. Poets like William

Wordsworth are incredibly important to people all across the world. His work pushes people to

take notice of the smaller things in life, whether that be experiences, people, or (in this case)

nature. Recognizing the simpler things in life, and appreciating them, is what allows people to

lead fulfilled lives. If poets like William Wordsworth didnt exist, everyone would constantly be

filled with an insatiable need to have more things, versus, appreciating the life that surrounds

them.
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Works Cited

Aubrey, Bryan. "William Wordsworth." Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, January.

EBSCOhost,

library.lavc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&

AN=88807542&site=eds-live.

Steele, Thomas J. "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth." Salem Press

Encyclopedia of Literature, January. EBSCOhost,

library.lavc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&

AN=119624283&site=eds-live.

Wordsworth, William. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth. Poetry

Foundation, Poetry Foundation,

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45521/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud.