Literary Analysis Essay of Wordsworth’s "I wandered lonely as a cloud”

Literary Analysis Essay of Wordsworth’s "I wandered lonely as a cloud”

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloudis regarded as one of William Wordsworth’s most famous poems. In this piece, the narrator talks about wandering and thinking like a cloud. He speaks of having a sense of serenity and detachment to reality as he reimagines the scene in his head. One of the most evident things about this poem is how the author used a number of literary devices to communicate a particular theme as well as the tone and the mood of the entire piece.

One of the main themes of this poem is detachment of all worldly things. In fact, the narrator compares himself to a cloud and opens the poem by describing to the readers how he seems to float "high over valleys and hills” (Wordsworth 37). This description suggests that he is in a dream-like state. The very fact that he chose a cloud to describe how he feels indicates that his thoughts are wandering far way and that he is unconcerned with everything and anything that is happening below. Many literary scholars suggest that as a Romanticist, Wordsworth employed this introductory line to describe how at times people can be disconnected and even dispassionate. Through the lines, he reminds the readers of how they tend to walk through life hazily, and it is in this state is where we fail as human beings because we also fail to appreciate the beauty that is all around us. The author’s "lonely cloud” is a metaphor used to indicate the impersonal and disconnected perception of the world. Wordsworth underlines that much like how a cloud floats miles above, so is man missing out on the beauty and quietness that nature has to offer. This idea is further underlined in how he describes the "golden daffodils” planted beside the lake as they "flutter and dance in the breeze” which is used as an imagery to describe that beauty that he is missing.

In the second stanza, Wordsworth now directs his attention to the beauty that surrounds him. He talks about the "twinkle on the milky way” and compares it with the daffodils he beholds in the first stanza. This suggests that it is the flowers and how they toss "their heads in sprightly dance” which gave him a greater appreciation of things. He continues this in the third stanza by writing that "The waves beside them danced; but they out-did the sparkling waves in glee” (Wordsworth 37). In this line, the readers can see how the author is touched by the beauty that surrounds him. His passionate and romantic description provides a clear, beautiful, and almost serene image in the minds of the readers. This means that Wordsworth is trying to inspire the readers and is trying to draw from them a sense of serenity which is evident in his choice of words such as "twinkle”, "shine” and "dance” among many others.

The third stanza is opposite to the introductory stanza of the poem. This is because unlike the first few lines in which the narrator "floats lonely as a cloud”, he has now come to the realization that nature is all we need in order of use to get out of that detached and depressed state. This is clear in the lines: "A pet could not but be gay./ in such a jocund company:/ I gazed – and gazed – but little thought/ what wealth the show to me had brought” (Wordsworth 37). The concept of "wealth” in this case, refers to happiness and inspiration which are feelings that he was lacking in the first stanza of the poem.

Based on the point provided, it can be concluded that the poem, I float lonely as a cloud, suggests the author’s dream-like and lonely state. However, through the quietness and beauty of nature, he was able to regain the sense of peace and happiness that he was looking for simply because he has gained a new love and appreciation from nature.

Works Cited

Wordsworth, W. William Wordsworth Poetry. NY: A&C Black, 2010

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