DAFFODILS

In the poem, The Daffodils the poet William Wordsworth has described how he once came across numerous daffodils rocking in the breeze. The beauty of the daffodils enthralled the poet and became a treasured experience for him. This poem contains vivid imagery and reflects the pleasure the poet felt at the sight of the daffodils. The poem is divided into four stanzas. Stanza wise summary of 'The Daffodils' Summary of the first stanza: The poet has compared himself to a floating cloud passing over hills and valleys. He was on a stroll through the countryside when he suddenly came across countless yellow daffodils. These daffodils were beside a lake under trees. The flowing breeze made the daffodils flutter and it seemed as if they were dancing. Summary of the second stanza: To William Wordsworth, the daffodils appeared to be as continuous as the twinkling stars on the Milky Way galaxy. They were arrayed in a seemingly unending line along the bank of the adjacent bay. To the poet, it seemed as if ten thousand daffodils were bobbing in the gentle breeze and he imagined them to be engaged in a lively dance. Summary of the third stanza: There were waves on the surface of the lake, but these waves of water were no match for the waves of daffodils rippling in the breeze. Wordsworth has remarked that a poet can feel nothing but happiness in that kind of cheerful company. Although he beheld the beautiful sight for a long time, he did not understand the true value of that beautiful experience just then. Summary of the fourth and last stanza: (This stanza has been written in the present tense by the poet and so it has been summarized by using the present tense) Whenever the poet is in low spirits, the sight of the daffodils flashes in his mind. His heart fills with joy and happiness and it seems to him as if his heart is dancing with the daffodils. Additional line by line discussion of The Daffodils along with some of the poetic devices and figures of speech used

In the first line, the poet has used the simile lonely as a cloud. He has compared himself to a solitary cloud. Just like a cloud floats over hills and valleys( line 2), the poet too has been rambling across the countryside. Wordsworth has used the phrase a crowd (line 3) followed by the phrase a host (line 4) when he has referred to the daffodils. Both these phrases refer to the large number of daffodils and using them both one after the other lays stress on the enormous number of daffodils. In line5, alliteration has been used with the help of the words beside and beneath This line also determines the location of the daffodils. In line 6, internal rhyming (fluttering and dancing) has been used by William Wordsworth. He has also described the motion of the daffodils by using the two words. He has also used personification by using the word dancing thus attributing to the daffodils, a quality which is generally associated with humans. In lines 7, 8, 9 the poet has compared the unending line of daffodils to the continuous shinning stars in the Milky Way galaxy. In line 7, alliteration has been used (stars, shine) Line 10 further describes how the daffodils are lined up along the bank of the bay.Here margin refers to the bank of the bay. In line11, William Wordsworth has tried to quantify the amount of daffodils by using the phrase ten thousand. He has used a hyperbole (ten thousand) which is a figure of speech used for exaggeration and effect. In line 12, personification (tossing their heads and sprightly dance) has been used.The poet also adds more detail to the way they were dancing by using these two phrases. The poet has referred to the waves in the nearby bay (line 13). Personification has been used here by using the term dancing with reference to the waves. But he has concluded that the waves of the rippling daffodils outshone the waves in the water (line14).Here, they refer to the daffodils. The waves in the bay are called sparkling to describe the reflection of sunlight on them. In lines 15 and 16, Wordsworth has remarked, that a poet could not help being happy in such a cheerful company. By referring to the daffodils as jocund company he has used personification. By using the phrase I gazed twice (line 17), the poet has emphasized on the fact that he spent a lot of time viewing the daffodils. Here repetition is used. But at the same time, he has admitted that he did not understand the true value of that beautiful sight at that time (lines 17 and 18). In line 18, alliteration has been used (What wealth)

In lines 19 and 20, the poet has remarked upon those times when he is lying on his couch in a dejected mood. At times like these, the images of the daffodils flash in his mind (line 21). Here, he uses a phrase that inward eye which to him is the bliss of solitude (line22). Here, the inward eye, is used to refer to ones mind and the memories stored in it.Since, it is much easier for a person to reflect upon and remember old memories when he/she is alone, it is called the bliss of solitude. As soon as the poet remembers, the daffodils, his heart is filled with bliss and it joins the daffodils in their dance (lines 23 and 24). In line 24, alliteration has been used by Wordsworth (dances and daffodils).