DAFFODILS: Summary of the poem

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DAFFODILS

Introduction:

The most impressive and thought-provoking poem 'Daffodils' is also recognized by the title 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud', a lyrical poem written by William Wordsworth in 1804. It was published in 1815 in 'Collected Poems' with four stanzas. The creator of the poem “Daffodils” is also known as the “Father of Romanticism”. Thus, the poem under-reference is a masterpiece of Romantic literature. It unfolds the poet's excitement, love and praise for a field blossoming with enchanting daffodils.

Title and Theme of the Poem

The title, 'Daffodils' is a simple word that reminds us about the arrival of the spring season, when the field is full of daffodils. A bunch of daffodils symbolize the joys and happiness of life.

The theme of the poem 'Daffodils' is a collection of human emotions inspired by nature that we may have neglected due to our busy lives. It also reveals the everlasting impact of soothing natural beauty on human mind.

Summary of the poem

In this poem, William Wordsworth states that one day he was roaming near a lake in the valley. He was feeling lonely like a cloud. All at once he saw a group of golden daffodils growing beside the bank of a lake under the trees. They were dancing and tossing merrily in the breeze.

The golden daffodils looked like vivid stars in a milky way. They were growing in an endless line without a break. The waves of lake were cresting in whitecaps.  They also looked to be dancing. The whole scene was so thrilling and fascinating that poet felt very happy in that joyful company. This beautiful sight filled his heart with the wealth of pleasure.

It left an everlasting impression on his memory. Whenever, the poet recollected the wonderful scene of daffodils in solitude his heart filled with pleasure and began to dance like daffodils. In the poem, the word dance is used many times. It looked that poet wants to tell us that dance is the rhythm of universe. As the earth’s movement and transformation of night into day is the rhythmic dance and poet says in the end that we should see things with our inward eyes.

As William Blake states:

“To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.”

Imagery

The poem paints images of lakes, fields, trees and stars in a very impressive and captivating style. The poem uses descriptive language throughout the stanzas.

Rhyming Scheme

The 'Daffodils' has a rhyming scheme throughout the poem. The poem has been composed in alternate rhyme scheme ending with a rhyming couplet, i.e. ABABCC.

Figures of Speech Used in the Poem

At the very outset of the poem, there is a fantastic use of simile and personification. The line "Ten thousand saw I at a glance" is an exaggeration and a hyperbole, describing the scene of ten thousand daffodils, all together. Alliteration is the repetition of similar sounds, is applied for the word 'h', in the words - high and hills.

Conclusion:

To sum up, one may say that the poem “Daffodils” is master-piece of poetic art. As the idea is superb the representation is also outstanding and thought-provoking. It really attracts the attention of the reader at once forever. As John Keats states:

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever”

Presented by: THE APEX ACADEMY
Composed by:  Muhammad Saleem Akhtar Bodla