Analysis Of I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud By William Wordsworth

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Differing Interpretations of Wordsworth’s “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” William Wordsworth’s poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” has had favor with many audiences due to its cheery nature and simple writing style. The poem opens on the poet “wandering” or “float[ing]” over valleys and hills when he suddenly happens upon a cluster of daffodils. The field of daffodils seems never-ending and stretches around the bay of a lake. The flowers sway in the breeze and, although the lake is pretty, they are more beautiful. This sight fills the poet with joy and he takes in the beauty around him without even realizing the effect that the beauty of the daffodils is having on him. Now whenever he finds himself lonely or sad, the poet thinks of the magnificence
The poem was ridiculed as plain and lacking in depth. Although Wordsworth’s “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is written in a basic rhyming couplet, the depth of the poem can be interpreted differently through hidden meanings, the location of the audience, and analysis of the individual stanzas of the poem. Wordsworth is know for his simple and straightforward writing style. It is fairly easy to read and understand “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”. However when looking at the individual words that Wordsworth chose, a hidden depth is revealed. For example, in the first stanza the word “host” appears. This word does not stand out as a large literary metaphor but the word’s multiple meanings adds an entire new level of understanding to the poem. The most prominent meaning of the word, host as “a large number of items” is obvious. Wordsworth explains that he saw ten thousand flowers in a single glance and as he
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” emphasizes that it is important to appreciate the beauty in small moments throughout life, as those moments will be the ones that make life worth living in the long run. Those memories are the one that will cure loneliness, strife, and depression and it is important to cherish them. Location, personal experiences, other interpretations of words in the poem, and delving into the actual body of the poem can all change the way an audience views “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” but the overlying theme stays constant. This poem is a shining example of how life isn 't about the destination, but is instead about the journey. The poet wanders without a destination in mind and, during his journey, he happens upon a beautiful scene which he recalls in later years for comfort. The message of this poem is an important one and no matter what variation of the poem is read, the meaning is still portrayed prominently. Life is made of moments, so cherish the beauty of those precious moments. Too many people rush through their daily lives without lifting their eyes from the pavement they are walking on. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is a blatant reminder to slow down and appreciate the life that is give as there is no telling how much is remaining. Each day, each beautiful moment is a gift and Wordsworth calls to audiences everywhere to notice and appreciate the beautiful

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