‘ Daffodils ’

1. ‘Daffodils’ by William Wordsworth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQnyV2YWsto - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQnyV2YWsto

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yooUWSKPLyk&feature=related

3. I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet 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: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. Daffodils

4. William Wordsworth (1770-1850) • The poem 'Daffodils’ written by William Wordsworth in 1804. • Daffodils is one of the most popular poems of the Romantic Age, describing the poet's excitement, love and praise for a field blossoming with daffodils.

5. ‘Daffodils’ • William Wordsworth wrote Daffodils on a stormy day in spring, while walking Ullswater Lake, in England. • He imagined that the daffodils were dancing and calling him to join and enjoy the breezy nature of the fields. • The poem contains six lines in four stanzas, as an appreciation of daffodils.

6. Title: ‘Daffodils’ • The title, ‘Daffodils' is a simple word that reminds us about the arrival of the spring season, when the field is full of daffodils. • A bunch of daffodils symbolise the joys and happiness of life.

7. Theme • The theme of the poem ‘Daffodils' is a collection of human emotions inspired by nature that we may have neglected due to our busy lives. • The daffodils suggest rebirth, a new beginning for human beings, blessed with the grace of nature. • The arrival of daffodils in the month of March is welcome and an enjoyable time to appreciate them!

8. Poetic Techniques Used in Daffodils • I wander’d lonely as a cloud - The first line makes nice use of personification and simile. • The poet believes himself to be a cloud (simile) floating in the sky. • When Wordsworth says in the second line 'I' (poet as a cloud) look down at the valleys and mountains and appreciate the daffodils; it is personification, where an inanimate object (the cloud) possesses the quality of a human enabling it to see the daffodils.

9. Poetic Techniques Used in Daffodils • The line "Ten thousand saw I at a glance" is an exaggeration and is hyperbole, describing the scene of ten thousand daffodils, all together. • Alliteration (the repetition of similar sounds) can be seen with the letter 'h', in the words - high and hills.

10. Imagery in ‘Daffodils’ • The poem paints images of lakes, fields, trees and stars. • Wordsworth continuously praises the daffodils, comparing them to the Milky Way galaxy (in the second stanza), their dance (in the third stanza) and dreams to join the daffodils in their dance (in the last stanza). • The poem uses descriptive language throughout the stanzas. The poet cannot resist himself from participating in the dance of the daffodils. The wording is simple and musical. Can you think of any examples?

11. Choose a poem where the poet expresses a strong feeling about something he or she has experienced. • Title of poem • Name of poet • What was the poet feeling? • Why do you think the poet was feeling that way? • Did you think the poet had chosen a good title for the poem? Give a reason for your answer. • Did you like the poem you have chosen? (e.g. did it have an interesting theme or good imagery?)