Page 2: Romanticism and Continuation of The Prelude Extract
This page delves deeper into the context of Romanticism and continues the analysis of the Extract from The Prelude GCSE. It explains that Romantic poets were influenced by the French Revolution and had a duty to inspire and inform the common man through poetry. The Romantic movement aimed to restore balance between man and nature.
The extract continues with lines 31-44, describing the narrator's retreat and subsequent reflections on the experience.
Definition: Sublime - A key concept in Romantic poetry, referring to the feeling of awe and fear inspired by grand or powerful natural phenomena.
The page analyzes the poem's structure, noting a shift in tone from light and carefree to darker and more fearful. It identifies three distinct sections in the extract:
- The confident beginning with pastoral imagery
- The encounter with the mountain and subsequent fear
- The reflective conclusion and lasting impact of the experience
Highlight: The narrator's emotional journey reflects key themes in The Prelude, including the power of nature, self-discovery, and the sublime.
The analysis also touches on the concept of the "numinous" feeling, which is central to Romantic poetry and refers to the mix of fear and admiration experienced when confronted with powerful natural scenes.
Quote: "But huge and mighty forms, that do not live / Like living men, moved slowly through the mind / By day, and were a trouble to my dreams."
This Extract from The Prelude Summary showcases Wordsworth's mastery of language and his ability to convey profound psychological experiences through vivid natural imagery, solidifying his position as a leading figure in Wordsworth and Coleridge Romanticism.
