Name: Class:
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
By William Wordsworth
1802
William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a major English Romantic poet who helped launch the Romantic Age in
English literature. In this poem, the speaker describes seeing a field of daffodils. As you read, take notes on the
figurative language in the poem and what feelings it develops in the poem.
[1] I wandered lonely as a cloud
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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, "Daffodils" by Andrew Wilkinson is licensed under CC
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Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. BY-SA 2.0.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
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[15] A poet could not but be gay,
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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
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[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,
1. a valley
2. Sprightly (adjective) lively; full of energy
3. lighthearted and carefree
4. Jocund (adjective) marked by high spirits and liveliness
5. Vacant (adjective) lacking thought, reflection, or expression
6. Pensive (adjective) engaged in deep or serious thought
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And dances with the daffodils.
"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" (1802) by William Wordsworth is in the public domain.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
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Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences.
1. PART A: Which of the following identifies the theme of the poem?
A. The beauty of nature brings people pleasure.
B. Nature reflects the variety of emotions that humans feel.
C. Humans rarely appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds them.
D. Nature is the best inspiration for hopeful artists.
2. PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. "I wandered lonely as a cloud / That floats on high o'er vales and hills," (Lines 1-2)
B. "A poet could not but be gay, / In such a jocund company:" (Lines 15-16)
C. "I gazed — and gazed — but little thought / What wealth the show to me had brought:"
(Lines 17-18)
D. "In vacant or in pensive mood, / They flash upon that inward eye" (Lines 20-21)
3. How does the poet's use of sound influence the mood of the poem?
A. The poet uses a predictable rhyme scheme to create a cheerful mood.
B. The poet uses free verse to create a serious mood.
C. The poet uses repetition to develop the feeling that nature is constant.
D. The poet emphasizes the pleasures of nature through alliteration.
4. How do the words describing nature in lines 12-14 contribute to the tone of the passage?
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Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared to share
your original ideas in a class discussion.
1. In the past, how has nature influenced your mood? Describe the experience and how it impacted
you.
2. In the context of the poem, what can individuals gain from spending time in nature? How is the
relationship between man and nature portrayed in this poem?
3. In the context of the poem, how do we define beauty? What does the speaker find beautiful about
the daffodils? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history
in your answer.
4. In the context of the poem, how does loneliness affect mood? What experiences might be easier to
appreciate while alone, and why is that the case?
