Question

Read the poem and answer the question.

[1]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;
[5]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
[10]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:
[15]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
[20]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.

Wordsworth uses the word "dance" throughout his poem. In a paragraph of 3-5 sentences, analyze how the poet uses "dance" in stanzas 1 and 4. Who is dancing in these two stanzas? In each instance, what does the use of the word "dance" reveal about Wordsworth's view of nature?

Answer 1

Wordsworth uses the word "dance" in stanzas 1 and 4 to describe the movement of the daffodils. In stanza 1, the daffodils are "fluttering and dancing in the breeze," while in stanza 4, they are "tossing their heads in sprightly dance." By describing the movement of the daffodils as a dance, Wordsworth suggests that nature is not just a passive backdrop but an active participant in the world. The daffodils are not just objects to be observed; they are living things with their agency and vitality. The word "dance" also connotes joy and celebration, reinforcing the idea that nature is a source of happiness and inspiration.