1. I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud By William Wordsworth
A Presentation by
Danielle Dietz and
Courtney Downing

2. 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.

3. William Wordsworth
His sister, Dorothy Wordsworth, was also a famous poet, diarist and author. She often wrote in her diary about her life with her brother, and other romantic poets such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Sir Walter Scott, Charles Lamb and Robert Southey.
Spent most of his life in the Lake District with many other romantic poets. The Lake District is located in rural, north western England, where the largest lakes in England reside.
In November 1791, Wordsworth visited France and became enthralled with the Republican movement. After one year in France, he returned after marrying his first wife, Anette Vallon.
Wrote Lyrical Ballads, a collection of poems by Wordsworth and Coleridge, that began the romantic era..
England's Poet Laureate, the official poet for the British government, from 1843 until his death in 1850.

4. Wordsworth was born on April 7th, 1770 and died April 23rd, 1850.
Wordsworth in his old age. 1842
Wordsworth was born on April 7th, 1770 and died April 23rd, 1850.

5. Meaning of I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
Inspired by an event on April 15, 1802, in which Wordsworth and his sister, Dorothy, came across a "long belt" of daffodils. The person in the poem comes across a field of daffodils, and describes their beauty like “stars that shine and twinkle on the Milky Way” and “stretched in a never-ending line”, the way the field continued on. Gazing on the flowers, the speaker does not take in at first the beauty, but remembers at a later time, sad and depressed, the sight of the field of flowers and claims, “then my heart with pleasure fills”.

6. Similes in I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
The title, “I wandered lonely as a cloud” is a simile in itself. Comparing the person in the poem to a cloud, drifting in the sky.
“Continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the Milky Way,” comparing the endless row of daffodils to the stars in the sky, that seem to stretch forever.

7. Mood in I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
From the beginning of the poem, the reader is taken through several scenes of flowers, and is given many different visuals. From clouds floating through mountains, to a field of daffodils next to a serene lake, stars in the night sky, the mood is set to be very peaceful and quiet. The person in the poem comes along, and is blessed with the sight of the endless rows of flowers, but cannot take in the beauty. It is only when we reach the end of the poem, the person reflects on the sight of the daffodils by the lake while they are feeling alone and depressed, and becomes happy and jubilant with the thought.

8. Questions
On the piece of paper, fold it in half, hotdog style. Write Video on the top of left, and Poem on the right column.
In 3 words, describe how the video made you feel.
In 3 words, describe how the poem made you feel.
Are there distinct similarities between the words you wrote down abut the video and poem? Any distinct differences?
Do you think that Wordsworth’s life had any influence on this poem?
What does this poem tell you about Wordsworth’s interests?

10. Works Cited
"William Wordsworth." Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 70. Thomson Gale, Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale,
"William Wordsworth." Wikipedia. 13 May 2009 <wikipedia.com>.
Wordsworth, William. "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." EXPLORING Poetry. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, Student Resource Center - Bronze. Gale. North Allegheny Senior High School. 11 May <