Read the following lines from William Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" (1807):
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:
Which of the following best describes the primary function of personifying the daffodils and the waves in this passage?
- AIt serves to identify the literal meteorological conditions of the setting during the speaker's walk.
- BIt acts as a decorative label of personification to demonstrate standard poetic structure without affecting the tone.
- It portrays nature as an active, joyful companion to emphasize the speaker's own feelings of happiness.Answer
- DIt proves that the poet, William Wordsworth, believed that all physical plants possess human consciousness.
- EIt highlights a sudden shift in the speaker's tone from profound grief to anger.
Answer
The correct option is the one stating that personification portrays nature as an active, joyful companion to emphasize the speaker's own feelings of happiness.
The correct answer is correct because attributing the human actions of dancing and feeling glee to the daffodils and the waves portrays nature as a lively, active companion. This personification directly relates to the speaker's emotional state, showing how the joyful setting brings happiness to the speaker.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying and analyzing the function of personification in poetry to understand its effect on tone and character perspective.
Estimated Time:1m 0s