1. One summer evening (. 1led by her) I found
One summer evening (*1led by her) I found *2A little Boat tied to a Willow-tree Within a rocky cave, *3its usual home. *4Straight I unloosed her chain, and stepping in Pushed from the shore. It was an *5act of stealth And *6troubled pleasure, nor without the voice Of mountain-echoes did my boat move on, *7Leaving behind her still, on either side, Small circles glittering idly in the moon, Until they melted all into one track Of sparkling light. But now, like one who rows, (Proud of his skill) to reach a chosen point With an unswerving line, I fixed my view Upon the summit of a craggy ridge, The horizon's utmost boundary; far above Was nothing but the stars and the grey sky. She was an elfin Pinnace; lustily I dipped my oars into the silent lake,
*1Unclear who “her” is. An earlier part of the poem suggests it’s nature, personified. .
*2Happy rural imagery
*3Seems familiar to him
*4He is confident to begin with.
*5The narrator knows he’s doing something wrong - this is the first sign that something isn’t quite right.
*6Oxymoron – hints at the narrator’s guilt.
*7Repetition of ‘l’ sound helps the poem flow – echoes the flow of the boat on the water.
Level 3 –Identify what the poem is about and select evidence to confirm this
Level 4– Identify what the poem is about and select poetic devices, considering the impact
Aspiring level 5-Identify what a poem is about, selecting poetry devices, exploring their impact and considering alternative viewpoints.

2. Be a collaborative learner
One summer evening (led by her) I found A little Boat tied to a Willow-tree Within a rocky cave, its usual home. Straight I unloosed her chain, and stepping in Pushed from the shore. It was an act of stealth And troubled pleasure, nor without the voice Of mountain-echoes did my boat move on, Leaving behind her still, on either side, Small circles glittering idly in the moon, Until they melted all into one track Of sparkling light. But now, like one who rows, *8(Proud of his skill) to reach a chosen point With an unswerving line, I fixed my view Upon the summit of a craggy ridge, *9The horizon's utmost boundary; far above Was nothing but the stars and the grey sky. *10She was an elfin Pinnace; lustily I dipped my oars into the silent lake,
How does the narrator sound at this part?. .
This emptiness contrasts with line 22, where he sees the mountain on the horizon. This makes the appearance of the mountain more shocking.
Pinnace = a small boat
What technique is this? What impression does it give of nature?
Be a collaborative learner
Level 3 –Identify what the poem is about and select evidence to confirm this
Level 4– Identify what the poem is about and select poetic devices, considering the impact
Aspiring level 5-Identify what a poem is about, selecting poetry devices, exploring their impact and considering alternative viewpoints.

3. Be a collaborative learner
*11The natural SIMILE shows that he’s confident and in control – this enhances the contrast with the next line.
And, as I rose upon the stroke, my boat Went heaving through the water *11like a swan; *12When, from behind that craggy Steep till then
*13The horizon's bound, a huge peak, black and huge, As if with voluntary power instinct, *14Upreared its head.—*15I struck and struck again, And growing still in stature the grim Shape Towered up between me and the stars, and still, For so it seemed, with purpose of its own And measured motion like a living Thing, Strode after me. With trembling oars I turned, And through the silent water stole my way Back to the Covert of the Willow-tree; There in her mooring-place I left my Bark,— And through the meadows homeward went, in grave .
*12Turning point (VOLTA) What does the Volta indicate?
*13A mountain appears on the horizon – what is our impression of the mountain?
*14The mountain is PERSONIFIED. It’s an ugly image, in contrast to beautiful imagery earlier (“elfin”, “swan”)
Be a collaborative learner
*15The mountain seems to get bigger as the narrator rows away. What is the effect of this?
Level 3 –Identify what the poem is about and select evidence to confirm this
Level 4– Identify what the poem is about and select poetic devices, considering the impact
Aspiring level 5-Identify what a poem is about, selecting poetry devices, exploring their impact and considering alternative viewpoints.

4. Be a collaborative learner
*16 Repetition of SIBILANT sounds. What mood does this create?
And, as I rose upon the stroke, my boat Went heaving through the water like a swan; When, from behind that craggy Steep till then
The horizon's bound, a huge peak, black and huge, As if with voluntary power instinct, Upreared its head.—*16I struck and struck again, And growing still in stature the grim Shape Towered up between me and the stars, and still, For so it seemed, with *17purpose of its own And measured motion like a living Thing, Strode after me. With trembling oars I turned, And through the silent water *18stole my way Back to the Covert of the Willow-tree; There in her mooring-place I left my Bark,— And through the meadows homeward went, in grave .
*17The mountain is calm, powerful and in control – why might it be so?
*18He’s afraid and guilty and wants to hide away. How does he feel?
Be a collaborative learner
Level 3 –Identify what the poem is about and select evidence to confirm this
Level 4– Identify what the poem is about and select poetic devices, considering the impact
Aspiring level 5-Identify what a poem is about, selecting poetry devices, exploring their impact and considering alternative viewpoints.

5. Become a Holgate Challenger
And through the meadows homeward went, in grave And serious mood; but after I had seen That spectacle, for many days, my brain Worked with a dim and undetermined sense
Of unknown modes of being; o'er my thoughts There hung a darkness, call it solitude Or blank desertion. No familiar Shapes Remained, no pleasant images of trees, Of sea or Sky, no colours of green fields; *19But huge and mighty Forms, that do not live Like living men, moved slowly through the mind By day, and were a *20trouble to my dreams.
*19How is nature described? .
*20What image are we left with? How are we supposed to feel?
Become a Holgate Challenger
Level 3 –Identify what the poem is about and select evidence to confirm this
Level 4– Identify what the poem is about and select poetic devices, considering the impact
Aspiring level 5-Identify what a poem is about, selecting poetry devices, exploring their impact and considering alternative viewpoints.