"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth Conecpts and Ideas Essay Example
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” written in 1804 by Wordsworth, takes the Cumbrian landscape as its setting. Wordsworth lived in the Lakes District in the North of England and grew up surrounded by nature. Nature has a profound impact on Wordsworth who came to see nature as a potent force. As a Romantic poet however, Wordsworth was principally concerned with human emotion. In this poem nature is the catalyst for a positive emotional experience.
One reading which is certainly relevant to “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is a Romantic reading. Wordsworth defines poetry as being naturally related to the emotions; that is “the spontaneous overflow of emotion”. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is indeed a poem relying on the conveyance of emotion and embracing humans positive interaction with nature. One technique which immediately alerts the reader to this notion is first person narrator. The poem states, “and then my heart with pleasure fills”. The first person “my” reflects the idea of an individual’s relationship with nature; it indicates to the reader Wordsworth’s own emotional admiration for nature. Perhaps more important is the metaphorical reference to the “heart” filling with pleasure. The heart as we know is a powerful symbol having connotations of love, passion and emotion. Wordsworth’s emotional interaction with nature is portrayed throughout the poem likewise the concept of the overflow of emotion echoes within the poem.
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” also lends itself to a Biographical reading. In the poem Wordsworth reveals the love for nature nurtured from his childhood. Critical to this reading is the fact that Wordsworth’s parents died in quick succession before he had turned fifteen. A Biographical reading might argue that Wordsworth looked to nature as a solace for his losses, portraying the idea of human’s interaction with nature. Most interesting is how Wordsworth defines nature in the poem; looking to capture nature’s enduring power and beauty,
One reading which is certainly relevant to “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is a Romantic reading. Wordsworth defines poetry as being naturally related to the emotions; that is “the spontaneous overflow of emotion”. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is indeed a poem relying on the conveyance of emotion and embracing humans positive interaction with nature. One technique which immediately alerts the reader to this notion is first person narrator. The poem states, “and then my heart with pleasure fills”. The first person “my” reflects the idea of an individual’s relationship with nature; it indicates to the reader Wordsworth’s own emotional admiration for nature. Perhaps more important is the metaphorical reference to the “heart” filling with pleasure. The heart as we know is a powerful symbol having connotations of love, passion and emotion. Wordsworth’s emotional interaction with nature is portrayed throughout the poem likewise the concept of the overflow of emotion echoes within the poem.
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” also lends itself to a Biographical reading. In the poem Wordsworth reveals the love for nature nurtured from his childhood. Critical to this reading is the fact that Wordsworth’s parents died in quick succession before he had turned fifteen. A Biographical reading might argue that Wordsworth looked to nature as a solace for his losses, portraying the idea of human’s interaction with nature. Most interesting is how Wordsworth defines nature in the poem; looking to capture nature’s enduring power and beauty,