William Wordsworth’s poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” commonly known as “Daffodils,” is one of the most celebrated works of the English Romantic Movement. First published in 1807 in Poems in Two Volumes and later revised in 1815, the poem exemplifies Wordsworth’s poetic philosophy as expressed in his Preface to Lyrical Ballads.”
. He says that poetry should choose incidents and situations from common life and it must be related in „a selection of language really used by men.‟ With the help of imagination, ordinary things should be presented in an extraordinary way. Ultimately these methods should reflect the primary laws of nature.
About the nature and process of poetry Wordsworth says:
"…Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility: the emotion is contemplated till by a species of reactions the tranquility disappears, and an emotion kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exit in the mind. In this mood successful composition begins and in a mood similar to this it is carried on."
Process of Poetry:
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Sensation (direct experience – seeing daffodils).
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Recollection (memory of experience).
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Contemplation (reflecting on memory in tranquility).
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Re-creation (emotions revived and shaped into poetry).
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- Language of Poetry: Should be the “real language of men”, not artificial “poetic diction.”
- Subject of Poetry: Incidents and situations from common life. Presented in a way that shows the universal emotions of mankind.
- Role of the Poet:“A man speaking to men.” Endowed with deeper sensibility, tenderness, and imagination than ordinary people.
- Purpose of Poetry: Not merely moral but psychological to illustrate how feelings and ideas are associated in moments of excitement.
The poem was inspired by a real incident in April 1802 when Wordsworth, accompanied by his sister Dorothy Wordsworth, encountered a long belt of golden daffodils beside a lake at Glencoyne Bay, Ullswater, in the Lake District. Dorothy recorded this moment in her journal, which later became a direct influence on Wordsworth’s poetic composition.
Why Daffodils Fits This Theory
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Subject: simple incident (seeing flowers in nature).
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Language: simple, conversational diction.
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Feeling: joy of nature, not abstract thought.
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Memory: The daffodils become a source of joy even later in solitude.
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Illustrates emotion recollected in tranquility:
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Actual sight of flowers (1802) → reflection later (1804) → poetic creation.
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Romantic Context :
The Romantic poets, including Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats, rejected the strict rationalism and mechanical worldview of the Enlightenment and emphasized instead nature, imagination, individuality, and emotion. Wordsworth, in particular, believed that nature was a source of spiritual nourishment, moral truth, and emotional healing. For him, a flower, a tree, a river, or a cloud was not merely a physical object, but a symbol of human thought, joy, and transcendence.
Daffodils reflects the Romantic ideal of finding the sublime in the ordinary turning a simple flower into a source of profound emotional and philosophical reflection. The daffodils are not only beautiful but also become a permanent source of joy and inspiration for the poet’s inner life.
Historical Background
The poem was written in the aftermath of the French Revolution (1789–1799), a historical event that initially inspired great hope among Romantic poets for liberty, equality, and fraternity. However, the violence and disillusionment that followed turned many writers inward, leading them to seek solace in nature, imagination, and personal reflection rather than political change. Wordsworth, once a supporter of revolutionary ideals, gradually shifted towards a more inward and meditative exploration of human experience, as seen in this poem.
Stanza-wise Explanation of “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
Stanza 1
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.
Explanation:
The poet compares himself to a lonely cloud drifting aimlessly. Suddenly he sees a large group (“host”) of bright golden daffodils beside a lake under some trees. They are moving and dancing with the gentle wind. Wordsworth is known as "Lake Poet". The inspiration for the poem came from a walk Wordsworth took with his younger sister Dorothy around Glencoyne Bay, Ullswater, in the Lake District.
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Figures of Speech:
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Simile – “lonely as a cloud”
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Personification – “dancing” daffodils
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Imagery – “golden daffodils”, “beside the lake”
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Mood: From loneliness to surprise and joy
Stanza 2
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.
Explanation:
The daffodils seem countless, stretching like stars across the sky, shining and twinkling. The poet imagines seeing “ten thousand” flowers at once, all joyfully dancing.
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Figures of Speech:
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Simile – “as the stars that shine”
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Hyperbole – “ten thousand saw I at a glance”
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Personification – “tossing their heads”
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Mood: Wonder, amazement, admiration
Stanza 3
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:
Explanation:
Even the lake’s waves seem to dance, but the daffodils are happier and more joyful. The poet says any poet would be happy in such cheerful company. He kept gazing at them, not realizing at the time how valuable this moment would become later.1. Bahaaron Phool Barsaao 2. Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi
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Figures of Speech:
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Personification – waves and flowers “danced”
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Alliteration – “gazed—and gazed”
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Theme: Immediate joy vs. lasting value
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Mood: Happiness, peacefulness
Stanza 4
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.
Explanation:
Later, when the poet is alone or thoughtful, the memory of the daffodils returns to his “inward eye” (imagination). In that quiet moment, he feels deep joy again and his heart dances with the flowers.
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Figures of Speech:
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Metaphor – “inward eye” for memory
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Personification – “heart… dances”
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Theme: Power of memory, imagination, solitude
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Mood: Calm, reflective, blissful
Central Theme
At its core, the poem deals with the theme of memory, imagination, and the healing power of nature. The vision of daffodils, first experienced physically, becomes internalized by the poet’s mind. Later, in moments of solitude, he recollects the image and feels a deep sense of peace and joy. This reflects Wordsworth’s belief in “emotion recollected in tranquility” that memory can transform fleeting experiences into lasting sources of happiness.
Tone and Style
The poem is written in a simple, lyrical style using iambic tetrameter and alternating rhyme (ABABCC), which gives it a song-like quality. Its diction is clear and accessible, reflecting Wordsworth’s conviction that poetry should be written in the language of common people. The tone shifts from loneliness at the beginning to ecstasy and fulfillment by the end, mirroring the poet’s emotional transformation.
Ecocriticism and Wordsworth’s Daffodils
What is Ecocriticism?
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Ecocriticism is a modern literary theory (popular from the 1990s).
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It studies the relationship between literature and the natural environment.
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It asks questions like:
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How does a text represent nature?
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Does it encourage respect for the environment?
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Does it show humans as part of nature or as separate from it?
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Application to Daffodils
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Wordsworth respects nature and shows its power to heal human emotions.
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For him, daffodils are not just flowers; they represent ecological harmony the balance between humans and nature.
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The poem teaches us that true happiness comes from nature, not from wealth or material possessions.
Psychoanalytic Approach and Wordsworth’s Daffodils
What is Psychoanalysis?
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A theory of psychology and literature developed by Sigmund Freud and later Carl Jung.
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It studies the unconscious mind our hidden desires, memories, and emotions.
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In literature, psychoanalysis looks at how memory, dreams, and imagination shape the text.
Freud and Daffodils
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Freud believed memories stored in the unconscious can return and give us happiness or sadness.
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In the poem, when Wordsworth lies on his couch “in vacant or in pensive mood,” the memory of daffodils flashes in his “inward eye.”
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This memory instantly fills him with joy.
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For Freud, this shows how unconscious memory revives emotions even when we are not in the same place.
Jung and Daffodils
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Carl Jung believed certain symbols in nature are universal and speak to the human mind. He called these archetypes.
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Flowers = archetype of renewal, joy, and hope.
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Stars = archetype of infinity and timelessness.
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Waves = archetype of rhythm and continuity of life.
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In the poem, daffodils are more than flowers—they are an archetype of joy and spiritual renewal.
After completing the painting, write a short paragraph:
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How did the painting help you understand the poem better?
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Which line of the poem inspired your artwork?
Works Cited :
Durrant, Geoffrey. William Wordsworth. London: Cambridge UP, 1969. Print.
Wordsworth, William. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45521/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud
