The Prelude

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  • Created by: pinkbeer
  • Created on: 28-07-19 14:52
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  • The Prelude
    • Metaphor "A little boat tied to a willow tree"
      • The boat represents the man's adolescence and his dependence on nature/ his lack of knowledge of its danger
      • Nature has restricted the boat/ the man
      • Links the child to the parents (symbolised by the willow tree)
      • nature is more powerful than humans and their creations (little) boat
      • Humans rely on nature for resources
      • He has no freedom, so he wants to break free
      • The boy is little, like the boat
      • The willow is 'weeping' like the parents wanting to keep the child close
      • At the end, the bay is still anchored to nature/ parents
      • Both the bay/ boat are easily manipulated
    • Personification "The horizon's bound, a huge peak, black and huge, As if with voluntary power instinct unprepared its head"
      • Paradoxical references- nature's power is instinctive, where as the power of the boy is learned from experience
      • The mountain represents a predatory animal about to attack, intimidates/ frightens the boys
      • It is like nature's revenge on the bay because he stale the boat
    • Metaphor "The horizon's utmost boundary; for above was nothing but the stars and grey sky, she was an elfin pinnace
      • Sky represents his changing feelings- isolation as he moves across the water
      • The sky represents the sadness/ authority of his parents
      • Blank mystery of the sky- intimidating for him
      • the boat represents his escape from childish issues and also his reliance on childish literature for comfort/ imagination
      • The horizon has a boundary he can't cross
    • Listing "No familiar shapes, remained, no pleasant images of trees, of sea or sky, no colours of green fields
      • Emphasises the build up of fear/ what the boy has lost in stealing the boat
      • He learns morality- his world is 'destroyed'- no colour etc because of this
      • Futility- he realises that he can't/ it is too soon to break free
      • Life is precious- easily taken away by our foolish behaviour

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