LINES COMPOSED IN A WOOD ON A
The waves are called ‘proud’ since
WINDY DAY
Making connections (Page 25)
1. a. The grass shines brightly in the sunshine
because it catches the sunlight as the
wind puts it to a merry dance.
b. The trees that are bare are tossing their
branches.
c. The dry and dead leaves lying beneath
the tree, are dancing merrily.
d. The white clouds are moving quickly
across the sky.
e. The ocean is hitting the shores with
its foamy waves and it looks like a
whirlwind of spray.
2. a. i. The poet feels happy because of the
lovely breeze and its effects on the
surroundings. As the once-dried grass
shines, the white clouds wade across
the sky, the branches of the trees move
and dry leaves dance in the wind,
the poet feels joy at this liveliness all
around.
ii. The soul and the spirit of the poet are
carried along by the breeze.
iii. By the words ‘my soul is awakened’,
the poet wants to say that she feels
so happy as a result of the breeze
blowing, that it feels as if her very soul
has been awakened from a slumber,
from a period of distress.
b. i. These words describe how the grass,
that has withered, is shining again in
the sunshine owing to the wind.
ii. This is the autumn season.
iii. The trees are bare because it is
customary for trees to shed their
leaves during this season.
c. i. The poet wants to see the movement
of the ocean because of the wind.
ii.
owing to the wind they are rising
to such a height that it gives an
impression of them being big,
imposing and proud.
iii. The words ‘wild winds’ and ‘proud
waves’ are examples of personification
as here the poet imposes human
qualities over the winds and the
waves respectively.
3. The wind makes the poet extremely happy,
awakening her soul and helping her spirit
to rise in joy. It feels as if the breeze has
wings and it is carrying her on them. The
poet describes the wind around her as wild
and roaring, and making the sea and the
earth extremely joyous. The long grass,
which had withered away, is shining in
the sunlight and the bare trees are swaying
with their branches high in the air.
The leaves, which are long dead, are
dancing in joy and the white clouds are
moving across quickly in the blue sky.
The poet also describes the ocean hitting
the shores with its foamy waves in such a
manner as if it is a whirlwind of spray. She
says that its high waves are dashing against
the shore as if there was thunder.
4. Answers will vary.
5. Answers will vary.
Sample answer: The three words that I
would use to describe the mood described
in the poem are ‘tumultuous rapture’,
‘ecstasy’ and ‘joy’.
6. Throughout the poem, Anne Bronte,
describes her mood using various images
from nature. The wild wind represents
how she feels because of the advent of the
storm, and the way the earth and the sea
are moved and swayed show how her very
being is affected by the storm. The shining
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 grass, the swinging bare branches of trees
and the dancing leaves on the ground can
be interpreted as representations of the
states of mind that she is in. The movement
of the sea’s waters shows the unexplored
recesses of the poet’s mind that are rejoicing
as well but of whom she is not aware
herself.
Appreciation (Page 25–27)
Central idea: Simple beauty of nature that
brings joy and vivacity to the poet
Emotion: Happiness
Mood: Calmness of mind and utter joy
Imagery:
Visual imagery:
The poet wandering alone like a cloud
Golden daffodils dancing and fluttering in the
breeze/tossing their heads in sprightly dance
The line of daffodils twinkling like the stars
of the Milky Way
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