“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” Essay Example

with a musical eloquence and enhance the imagery of the dance.

The daffodils' dance and references to light are employed as a repetitive structure and unifying link for each of the stanzas. Wordsworth continues to relay his experience in nature as he expounds upon the affiliation between the daffodils and another natural element. Applying simile, the poet connects the flowers to the stars, "Continuous as the stars that shine / And twinkle on the milky way" (7-8). A mental picture of infinite flowers is created, while "shine" and "twinkle" produce an image of light.

Wordsworth uses the light imagery to link the two aspects of nature; the luminous stars of the night and "golden" daffodils of the day. The link shows the reader the connection the poet sees in different facets of nature. The second stanza continues the description of the dance "Ten thousand saw I at a glance, / Tossing their heads in sprightly dance" (12). The image created is of large numbers of flowers moving in unison and expresses the harmony the poet finds in nature. The usage of "sprightly" makes another reference to light, but in the sense of movement and weight, as "cloud" and "floats" were utilized in the first stanza.

Diction in the second stanza provides the reader with a multi-dimensional prospective of Wordsworth's imagery by giving the images action, feeling and weight. Personifying another facet of nature, Wordsworth partners the daffodils in their dance, "The waves beside them danced, but they / Outdid the sparkling waves in glee" (13-14). The lines also work to strengthen the personalities of the flowers by bestowing capacity for them to express emotion. "Sparkling" formulates the image

and feel of bright, moving points of light.

The effects of nature are revealed in Wordsworth's response, "A poet could not but be gay, / In such a jocund company" (15-16). These two lines are unifying elements in the diction of this stanza; the flowers feel "glee" and the poet feels "gay. "  Infused with a joyful tone, the lines depict the author and nature as connected, sharing similar feelings. The personification of the flowers as "jocund company" reiterates the daffodils possessing and expressing feeling. While reveling in his union with nature, the poet uses foreshadowing, "I gazed - and gazed - but little thought/What wealth the show to me had brought" (17-18).

Wordsworth is looking at nature in the moment without realizing the affect the experience will have on his future thoughts. He has immersed himself in the visual pleasure of the natural landscape and is enjoying emotional moments instead of immediately analyzing the experience. Wordsworth reflects upon the "wealth" (18) he has acquired in his experience with nature. "For oft, when on my couch I lie" (19) the poet can go back to a time when his heart was saturated with an overwhelming feeling of pleasure.

Whenever he is "vacant or in pensive mood" (20) he can momentarily remember the enchanting feeling of being a part of nature and his . ".. heart with pleasure fills / And dances with the daffodils" (23-24). The diction uses contrasts to enforce the poet's point. "Vacant" or empty is placed opposite of the word "fills. "  "They flash upon that inward eye" (20) pertains to his memories. The word "flash" creates an image of light and is used as a

metaphor to convey the strength of Wordsworth's thoughts and memories as very bright and powerful.

The poem concludes with the imagery of the poet in action with nature as he . ".. dances with the daffodils" (24). Wordsworth uses this final image of him dancing with the daffodils to further personify the flower and emphasize his connection to nature. Through careful diction and figurative language, Wordsworth was able to bring to life images of nature. This poem contains glimpses of recollections from the poet's memory and the exquisite effect the outside world has upon him. Wordsworth comprehends the beauty and importance after the experience and is able to reconstruct the event for the reader.