Page 2: The Aftermath and Lasting Impact
The second page of the extract focuses on the profound and lasting effect of Wordsworth's encounter with the mountain. After fleeing back to shore, the poet describes the psychological impact of the experience, which haunts him for days afterward.
Quote: "There hung a darkness, call it solitude / Or blank desertion." This powerful description encapsulates the sense of isolation and disorientation Wordsworth feels after his experience.
Highlight: The poem's shift from describing external events to internal psychological states marks a significant transition in Wordsworth's poetic style.
The lasting impact of the experience is evident in how it alters Wordsworth's perception of nature. No longer does he see the world through the lens of "pleasant images of trees, / Of sea or sky, no colours of green fields." Instead, his mind is filled with "huge and mighty forms" that trouble his dreams.
Definition: Iambic pentameter - A poetic meter consisting of five iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line, used by Wordsworth to give the poem a serious and natural speech-like rhythm.
The poem's themes of the power of nature, personal growth, and the loss of innocence are fully realized in this section. Wordsworth's encounter with the mountain serves as a metaphor for the overwhelming and sometimes frightening aspects of growing up and facing the unknown.
Vocabulary: Covert - A shelter or hiding place, in this case referring to the willow tree where the boat was originally moored.
The extract concludes with a powerful image of these "huge and mighty forms" moving slowly through Wordsworth's mind, emphasizing the lasting impact of this single experience on his psyche and poetic vision. This final section showcases Wordsworth's ability to translate a personal, momentary experience into a universal meditation on the human relationship with nature and the process of maturation.
