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.

In the first stanza of ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,’ Wordsworth explains his one-day
occasional aimless wandering. The term “wandered” means walking free of their own accord.
The poet is referring to himself as the “cloud” in a metaphorical sense of the word. Although
the clouds mostly travel in groups, this cloud prefers singular hovering. However, he clearly
mentions his passing through valleys and hills on a routine walk, simplifying the narrative.
The poet comes across a bunch of daffodils fluttering in the air. He’s dumbfounded by the
beauty of those “golden daffodils.” Although yellow would be more suitable for daffodils, the
poet intends to signify its beauty by using golden color. The daffodils are termed as “host” or
crowd since they are together in a collective bunch. They are a source of immense beauty for
the poet hailing from the Romantic Era.
Those daffodils are firmly perched beside a lake, beneath some trees. It’s a windy day overall,
and the flowers dance and flutter as the wind blows. Let’s take a step back for a brief moment
to locate the premises of the poet’s inspiration. The poet resided in the famous Lake District, a
region rich in scenic locations entailing hills, valleys, and lakes. As a result, the location is
realistic in its entirety. Wordsworth refers to daffodils dancing, a trait relatable to humans.

( In the first stanza of "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," Wordsworth talks about how he took a
walk without any particular destination. He compares himself to a cloud that moves freely in
the sky. Even though clouds usually travel together, he prefers to wander alone. He mentions
that he walked through valleys and hills, but it was just a normal walk.
During his walk, he suddenly sees a bunch of daffodils floating in the air. He is amazed by their
beauty and describes them as "golden daffodils." Although daffodils are usually yellow, he
wants to emphasize their beauty by using the word "golden." The daffodils are gathered
together like a crowd or a group. They are located near a lake and under some trees. It's a
windy day, and the daffodils sway and move with the wind. This movement reminds the poet of
how humans dance.
To summarize, the poet took a walk without a specific destination and saw a group of beautiful
daffodils near a lake. The daffodils were moving in the wind, and their golden color made them
even more beautiful. )

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.

In this stanza, the poet uses an allegory to describe the daffodils and their effect on him. He
compares them to the stars in the Milky Way, which represents the vastness and mystery of the
universe. The daffodils are spread out along the bay, just as the stars are scattered along the
Milky Way.
The poet emphasizes the abundance of the daffodils by saying "ten thousand" at a glance. It's
not a precise number, but rather an expression to convey a large number of daffodils. The
daffodils are depicted as lively and energetic, tossing their heads in a dance-like manner.
Additionally, the term "sprightly" refers to the daffodils' spirited and lively movement. The
mention of sprites or fairies adds a touch of enchantment to the scene, as if the daffodils
possess a magical quality.
Overall, the poet is captivated by the beauty and abundance of the daffodils, and he uses
celestial imagery to enhance the sense of wonder and enchantment.

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:

In this stanza, the speaker admires the lively dance of the daffodils and finds them more
beautiful than the sparkling waves of the nearby lake. The waves are shining because of the
sunlight, and the speaker contrasts their appearance with the daffodils' dance. The daffodils'
movement reminds the speaker of the wave's motion.
The speaker is so delighted by the scene that he can't help but stay and watch the daffodils.
They bring him a cheerful and joyful feeling that he doesn't experience with other people. The
daffodils' presence communicates more to him than human words could express. They have a
pure and captivating quality that fascinates the speaker.
The repetition of the word "gazed" indicates how focused the speaker's attention is on the
daffodils. He can't stop looking at their golden beauty. The second part of the line shifts the
reader's attention by asking what value or significance the daffodils have brought to the
speaker. It brings the reader back to reality from the speaker's imagination and highlights the
importance of this experience.

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.

In the last stanza, Wordsworth explains why he wrote "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." He says
that whenever he lies on his couch feeling empty or lost in thought, the image of the daffodils
comes to his mind. It happens naturally and brings him joy and inspiration. These memories are
so strong that they stay with him throughout his life. When his mind is empty, the image of the
daffodils fills him with energy and helps him think. Similarly, when he feels down, remembering
the daffodils has a similar effect.
The phrase "inward eye" refers to the mind's eye. When he closes his physical eyes, it's like
opening his mind's eye to see the daffodils in his memory. Wordsworth compares the daffodils
to the happiness he feels during his moments of solitude. He explains that the memories
associated with the daffodils bring him pleasure and make his heart leap with joy, just like a
child's heart. In this way, the poet emphasizes the significance of nature, especially the
daffodils, in his life.

Identify the figure of speech in the following lines:

(a)‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’
Answer: Simile
(b) ‘Fluttering and dancing in the breeze’
Answer: Personification

(c) ‘Continuous as the stars that shine’

Answer: Alliteration
Simile:
"I wandered lonely as a cloud" (Line 1): The speaker compares their state of mind to that of a
lonely cloud, using the word "as" to establish the simile.

Personification:
"Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" (Line 6): The daffodils are given human-like qualities of
fluttering and dancing, enhancing their liveliness and movement.
"The waves beside them danced" (Line 9): The waves are personified as they are described as
dancing, attributing human characteristics to them.

Hyperbole:
"Ten thousand saw I at a glance" (Line 11): The speaker exaggerates the number of daffodils
seen, emphasizing the abundance and overwhelming sight.

Metaphor:
"Continuous as the stars that shine" (Line 13): The daffodils are compared to the continuous
and shining stars, establishing a metaphorical link between the beauty and infinite nature of
the daffodils and the stars.
"Inward eye" (Line 21): The phrase refers to the mind's eye or imagination, representing the
internal perception of the daffodils and their effect on the speaker.

Alliteration:
"Fluttering and dancing" (Line 6): The repetition of the "f" sound in these words creates an
alliterative effect, adding rhythm and emphasis.