Critical Analysis of “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and “The Facebook Sonnet”
Critical Analysis of “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and “The Facebook Sonnet”
Light and happy or dark and lonely, both “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and “The Facebook Sonnet” are similar in that both of their themes describe solitude. Still, William Wordsworth and Sherman Alexie use opposite ideas to take this concept in different lights. While Wordsworth describes an enjoyable evening walking through a meadow and speaks of his contentment thinking of this day when he is alone, Alexie describes forlorn wishful nature of an average Joe reminiscing on his past through social media. In this essay, I will compare and contrast the meaning of both works using the poets’ images and symbols, and will compare how each poet used the notion of Wordsworth’s humans and nature versus Alexie’s humans and machine.
When reading “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” I am left with a feeling of delight. Wordsworth used words like “fluttering” “glee” and “bliss” to describe his lonesome walk through a meadow. After leaving the meadow, he thinks of this day when he is sitting at home, engaged in thought, and is still enlightened by the memory of the dancing daffodils. This is shown with his last stanza, “…when on my couch I lie/ they flash upon (me)/then my heart with pleasure fills”. With his enlightening imagery, Wordsworth describes a pleasurable seclusion. His diction and the symbolism of the daffodils and waves dancing in the wind give the concept a carefree and whimsical perspective. Alexie, conversely, creates an isolated feel to this same theme, giving his sonnet an entirely different meaning. His poetry made me feel almost shameful of my interaction with social media, with the phrases, “Let’s undervalue and unmend the present.” and “Let fame and /Shame intertwine.” (Alexie) Essentially, Alexie is saying while using Facebook, we fail to appreciate the present and try to remain significant in the lives of those who are irrelevant to us presently. The shame comes from the mask
Light and happy or dark and lonely, both “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and “The Facebook Sonnet” are similar in that both of their themes describe solitude. Still, William Wordsworth and Sherman Alexie use opposite ideas to take this concept in different lights. While Wordsworth describes an enjoyable evening walking through a meadow and speaks of his contentment thinking of this day when he is alone, Alexie describes forlorn wishful nature of an average Joe reminiscing on his past through social media. In this essay, I will compare and contrast the meaning of both works using the poets’ images and symbols, and will compare how each poet used the notion of Wordsworth’s humans and nature versus Alexie’s humans and machine.
When reading “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” I am left with a feeling of delight. Wordsworth used words like “fluttering” “glee” and “bliss” to describe his lonesome walk through a meadow. After leaving the meadow, he thinks of this day when he is sitting at home, engaged in thought, and is still enlightened by the memory of the dancing daffodils. This is shown with his last stanza, “…when on my couch I lie/ they flash upon (me)/then my heart with pleasure fills”. With his enlightening imagery, Wordsworth describes a pleasurable seclusion. His diction and the symbolism of the daffodils and waves dancing in the wind give the concept a carefree and whimsical perspective. Alexie, conversely, creates an isolated feel to this same theme, giving his sonnet an entirely different meaning. His poetry made me feel almost shameful of my interaction with social media, with the phrases, “Let’s undervalue and unmend the present.” and “Let fame and /Shame intertwine.” (Alexie) Essentially, Alexie is saying while using Facebook, we fail to appreciate the present and try to remain significant in the lives of those who are irrelevant to us presently. The shame comes from the mask
Cited: Alexie, Sherman. "The Facebook Sonnet." The New Yorker. N.p., 16 May 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. . Wordsworth, William. “I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud.” Poetry X. Ed. Jough Dempsey. 7 Jul 2003. 11 Nov 2013 .