Daffodils — Complete Classroom Pack
William Wordsworth • Meanings • Line-by-line • Summary • Figures of Speech
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” — Quick Overview
Poem
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.
Text in the public domain.
Key Takeaways
- Nature heals: The memory of daffodils restores joy during solitude.
- Imagination matters: “Inward eye” = the mind’s power to replay beauty.
- Movement imagery: Waves and flowers dance → life and energy.
Difficult Words — Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wandered | Moved without a fixed direction |
| Lonely | Alone; without company |
| Vales | Valleys |
| Host | A large number; multitude |
| Fluttering | Moving lightly and quickly |
| Continuous | Unbroken; without interruption |
| Milky Way | Faint band of light made of stars in the night sky |
| Margin | Edge or border |
| Sprightly | Lively; full of energy |
| Glee | Joy; delight |
| Gay | Cheerful; happy (older usage) |
| Jocund | Cheerful; lighthearted |
| Wealth | Valuable benefit; inner riches |
| Oft | Often |
| Pensive | Thoughtful; reflective |
| Inward eye | Imagination; mind’s eye |
| Bliss | Perfect happiness |
| Solitude | The state of being alone |
Line-by-line Explanation
Stanza 1
The poet, lonely like a drifting cloud, suddenly sees a large crowd of golden daffodils by a lake and under trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Loneliness starts turning into delight.
Stanza 2
The daffodils appear endless like stars in the Milky Way, lining the bay’s edge. Hyperbole (“ten thousand”) shows abundance as their lively motion looks like a joyful dance.
Stanza 3
The waves also seem to dance, but the daffodils outshine them. Any poet would feel happy in such cheerful company. He doesn’t yet realize the lasting value of this experience.
Stanza 4
Later, lying alone, the memory “flashes” upon his inward eye and fills him with joy again; his heart “dances” with the daffodils. Memory transforms solitude into bliss.
Figures of Speech (Poetic Devices)
“Lonely as a cloud” — compares the poet’s solitude to a drifting cloud.
“Daffodils dancing,” “waves danced” — nature given human actions.
“Ten thousand saw I at a glance” — exaggeration to suggest abundance.
“Beside the lake, beneath the trees” — repetition of the “b” sound.
“Golden daffodils,” “Milky Way,” “sprightly dance” — vivid sensory pictures.
Daffodils symbolize joy, healing, and nature’s lasting influence.
“I gazed — and gazed” — intensifies attention and wonder.
“Inward eye” — memory/imagination as a visual organ.
For exams, pair each device with a quoted line and a one-line explanation.
Summary
While wandering alone, the poet encounters a mass of golden daffodils beside a lake. Their lively movement fills him with joy. Later, the memory returns during solitude and restores happiness, proving nature’s power to heal through imagination and recollection.
Classroom Q&A (Quick Practice)
1) What does “inward eye” mean?
It means the imagination or memory — the mind’s eye.
2) Why is “ten thousand” used?
Hyperbole to show countless flowers and overwhelming effect.
3) Identify two personifications.
“Fluttering and dancing” daffodils; “waves danced.”
4) How does the poet’s mood change?
From loneliness to joy, then reflective gratitude.
Branding & Credits
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