Extract from The Prelude: Context and Background
William Wordsworth, born in 1770 in the Lake District, was a pivotal figure in the Romantic poetry movement. His life experiences, particularly his connection to nature, profoundly influenced his work.
Highlight: Wordsworth's troubled childhood and early loss of parents significantly shaped his poetic sensibilities and his retreat into nature.
The poem "The Prelude" is part of an ambitious autobiographical project that Wordsworth worked on for over five decades. This extract focuses on a formative childhood experience that exemplifies the poet's relationship with nature.
Definition: The Prelude is an autobiographical epic poem that Wordsworth intended as the first part of a larger work called "The Recluse."
Romanticism and Its Influence
Romanticism, a literary and artistic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, heavily influenced Wordsworth's work.
Vocabulary: Romanticism emphasized emotion, individualism, and the power of nature, often in opposition to industrialization and rationalism.
Key characteristics of Romantic poetry evident in this extract include:
- Focus on intense personal experiences
- Reverence for nature's power
- Exploration of emotional and spiritual growth
Example: Other notable Romantic poets include Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats, all of whom shared Wordsworth's fascination with nature and human emotion.
The Poem's Context
"The Prelude" serves as a spiritual autobiography, chronicling Wordsworth's growth as a poet and his evolving relationship with nature.
Quote: "The Prelude" is described as showing "the spiritual growth of the poem and how he comes to term with nature and the world."
This particular extract recounts a night-time boat ride that left a lasting impression on the young Wordsworth, illustrating nature's profound impact on human consciousness.
