The Daffodils
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
'Winter is dead' - A.A. Milne
Wordsworth says that poetry is the, Spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings recollected at tranquility.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
A host, of golden daffodils;
When all at once I saw a crowd,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky-way,
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
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:
I gazed-and gazed-but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought
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.
- by William Wordsworth
SUMMARY Daffodils
The poem "Daffodils" has been written by "William Words Worth", a well known romantic poet. His poetry focused on the theme of nature. Some of his poems are about human psychology as well. In literature, the seasons of nature are often used for the relationship between life and death, this poem reflects the same.
In this poem the poet describes his experience of the sight of a host of daffodils during a lonely walk, the daffodils delight him with her beauty and "their sprightly dance". He says "they seem as numerous as the stars that shine in the sky'; He also remarks on the beauty of the lake nearby, but adds that even its sparkling waves are not so exuberant as the yellow daffodils "dancing in the breeze". Moreover, when he is sad, he thinks of daffodils and then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils", that is to say, when his feelings are depressed, thinking of daffodils cheers him up.
APPRECIATING THE POEM
A. 1. Read the poem and enjoy it. Answer a few questions to appreciate the beauty of the poem.
a. How does the poet tell you that he was all alone?
Answer: The poet compares himself to a lonely cloud that floats over the hills and valleys.
b. In contrast to his own situation, what does the poet see?
Answer: The poet sees a huge crowd of daffodils.
c. Where are the daffodils?
Answer: The daffodils are besides a lake and under some trees in the countryside.
d. How does the poet personify or give the daffodils a human character?
Answer: The poet says they are dancing and fluttering in breeze to personify the daffodils. He also says that they toss chair heads as they dance happily.
e. What words and phrases lead the reader to believe that the poet's mood changes as he sees the daffodils?
Answer: The poet says he could not help being 'gay' and just 'gazed' but little thought what wealth the sight of daffodils had brought. Later when he lay on his couch, in sad, thoughtful mood, and remembered the scene, his was filled with pleasure.
A. 2. Think and answer these questions carefully. HOTS
a. What words and phrases does the poet use to tell you about the large number of daffodils he saw?
Answer: The poet uses the word 'crowd' to tell us about the large number of daffodils he saw.
b. How do you know that the poet kept looking at the daffodils for a long time?
Answer: The repetition of the word "gaze" tells us that the poet kept looking at the daffodils for a long time.
c. Explain the line: 'What wealth the show to me had brought."
Answer: The poet refers to the 'wealth' of happiness and pleasure that the beautiful daffodils brought to him. This wealth was induced by the joyful memory of the daffodils dancing in the breeze by the lakeside.
d. What does the poet say that leads us to believe that he is a thoughtful person?
Answer: Whenever the poet is alone or in a thoughtful mood, the memory of the beauty of the daffodils is
recollected by him with happiness. His heart then fills with supreme joy and dances with the daffodils.
e. How would you explain 'that inward eye' that we all have and why is it the 'bliss of solitude'?
Answer: The inward eye refers to one’s imagination. With our eyes open to the world, we perceive things. With our eyes closed to the world, we imagine and visualise things. Imagination is called the bliss of solitude because we cannot imagine unless we are in solitude, a state of being alone by choice. So when the poet is in a vacant or pensive mood, he is enjoying his solitude and at that time, the sight of the daffodils flashes in his imagination
A. 3. What images do you see in your 'inward eye' when you read the poem?
Answer: Our inward eye sees a bright lake in the shades of trees where there are lovely daffodils. They are as numerous as the stars in the milky way and are seen in thousands. They are fluttering and moving with the breeze as if they are dancing with pleasure and their happiness out-shines the wave in the lake besides them.
A. 4. Write the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Answer: The rhyme scheme of the poem is ababcc
WRITING
B. A diamante poem makes the shape of a diamond by its very structure. It follows a particular pattern that you have to use for every diamante poem. There are always seven lines in a diamante poem.
a. Noun (subject-one)
b. 2 Adjectives describing the noun
c. 3 verbs (related to the subject) ending with the suffix 'ing'
d. 4 nouns: the first 2 relate to the subject in the first line and the next 2 to the second contrasting subject in the last line
e. 3 verbs (related to the subject in the last line) ending in 'ing'
f. 2 adjectives describing the subject in the last line
g. Noun (contrasting with the first subject)
Noun
Adjective-Adjective Verb-Verb-Verb
Noun-Noun-Noun-Noun Verb-Verb-Verb
Adjective-Adjective
Noun
Solitude
Sad, Lonely
Thinking, Weeping, Pondering
Loneliness, Unhappiness, Cheerfulness, Friendliness,
Talking, Laughing, Playing
Happy, Friendly
Companionship
Get into pairs and write some diamante poems of your own. Follow the same pattern. Make a class collection of diamante poems.
Diamante Poems
Work
Necessary, Strenuous
Loading, Carrying, Studying
Necessity, Requirement, recreation, pleasure
Running, Jumping, Entertaining
Enjoyable, Relaxing
Play
Day
Bright, Sunny
Walking, Washing, Working
Study, Play, Peace, Sleep
Darkening, Calming, Scaring
Moonlit, Starlit
Night
SPELLING AND PRONUNCIATION
1. The suffix 'ward' means: that moves, tends, faces, or is directed toward. Read these words. Pronounce them properly. There is one word in each line that is a noun. Encircle these words. All the other words are adverbs.
| a. forward | backward | award | downward | frontward |
| b. homeward | inward | onward | coward | seaward |
| c. reward | southward | eastward | westward | spaceward |
| d. toward | leftward | rightward | northward | steward |
| e. southward | ward | coastward | skywad | windward |
C. 2. Read these words ending with 'ee'. Pronounce them correctly. Add ten more like words.
addressee, bungee, carefree, degree, devotee, disagree, dungaree, employee, escapee, examinee, filigree, forsee, franchisee, glee, invitee, licencee, marquee
VOCABULARY
Metaphors and similes describe things and people in an interesting way. Similes and metaphors compare something or some person to something else.
They create images in the mind of a reader or listener.
In a simile we use 'like' or 'as' in our comparisons. He is as quiet as a mouse in class. He is like a timid deer on the playground.
A metaphor is a direct way of comparison. A metaphor says something or some person IS something else. A clearer picture is created in the mind.
Mrs. James is a mother hen with all the children who live in her building. She turns into a tigress if anyone tries to harm them.
D. 1. Match the following simile halves and write the similes in the third column.
| a. As American | as ABC | As American as apple pie |
| b. As clear | as a ghost | As clear as crystal |
| c. As easy | as lightning | As easy as ABC |
| d. As solid | as a mule | As solid as a rock |
| e. As tough | as a hippo | As tough as old boots |
| f. As quick | as apple pie | As quick as lightning |
| g. As pale | as old boots | As pale as a ghost |
| h. As hungry | as a rock | As hungry as a hippo |
| i. As obstinate | as a razor | As obstinate as mule |
| j. As sharp | as crystal | As sharp as a razor |
D. 2. Read each sentence carefully and fill in the blanks with the correct similes.
| like an angry tigress, like flies, like a bird in a cage, like an eagle clutching its prey, like the tinkling of bells, like an icy breeze, like the gentle touch, like a man being chased |
a. As the spirit entered the dark hall it seemed like an icy breeze chilled the room.
b. The imprisoned girl beat on the door frantically like a bird in a cage.
c. The cool wind touched the face of the tired traveller like the gentle touch of a mother
d. During the great fire Londoners died like flies.
e. He ran out of the forest like a man being chased by a swarm of angry bees.
f. When she sang, we felt her voice was like the tinkling of bells.
g. A young mother becomes like an angry tigress when her children are in danger.
h. The thief held on to the precious jewel like an eagle clutching its prey in its talons.
D. 3. Fill in the blanks with the following to complete the metaphors in the sentences.
| are angels, shining stars, the rock of the family, a little monkey, fairy godmother, his...... eye, stage and all the men, rolling stone |
a. The little boy was the apple of his grandfather's eye.
b. William Shakespeare said that all the world's a stage and all the men and women are merely players.
c. His Dad is the rock of the family. He will never let harm come to any one of them.
d. They say he is rolling stone as he keeps changing jobs.
e. Mom is fairy godmother. She waves her magic wand and everything is fine.
f. He is a little monkey. He can't sit still for minute.
g. My friends are angels, they are always ready to help me.
h. When she declared Miss Universe, her eyes were shining stars and a beautiful smile lit up her face.
GRAMMAR
Coordinating Conjunctions link words and groups of words.
Nouns: Mary and are friends. Eat pear or apple. Roses and pansies are flowers.
Verbs: dances and sings well. The children learnt how to read and write. They laughed clapped their hands.
Adjectives: She talented, but unfriendly and rude sometimes. You can buy the blue or the dress.
Adverbs: They spoke loudly and clearly. The soldier clicked his heels smartly and quickly left room.
E. Select nouns/verbs/adverbs/adjectives link them with and/or/but. Fill in the blanks in following sentences. Understand each situation before you make the correct choice words. The first example has been done for you.
| pen, these sandwiches, sang, lions, steadily, slowly, ready, danced, firm, tigers, carefully, slowly, happy, those fruits, some paper, kindhearted |
a. The boys and girls climbed slowly and carefully up to the top of the mountain.
b. The children were always ready and happy to help their friends.
c. The tortoise walked slow and steadily and won the race
d. They may eat those fruits or these sandwiches. They can't have both.
e. The lions and tigers are kept in separate cages at the zoo.
f. I borrowed a pen and some papers to write a note to my parents.
g. . Our teacher is both firm and kind hearted. She wants us to do our work, but helps us if required.
h. They danced and sang to please their emperor, but he remained unhappy.
A Simple Sentence has one clause that has a subject, a verb and sometimes an object. It is a complete thought.
Tom was a mischievous boy. He often troubled his Aunt Polly. Aunt Polly was strict.
A Compound Sentence links two or more Simple Sentences of equal importance with the help of Coordinating Conjunctions. (A good way to remember them is to use the acronym 'FANBOYS')
Read the examples given below.
For - Explains reason or purpose: They swim every evening. They know that it is a good exercise.
They swim every evening, for they know it is a good exercise.
And - Adds one thing to another: They enjoy swimming every evening. They enjoy meeting their friends every evening. They enjoy swimming and meeting their friends every evening. (Notice how the verb 'enjoy' and the adverb phrase 'every evening' are used only once.)
Nor - is used to link two negative ideas: We don't go swimming. We don't meet our friends every evening. We don't go swimming, nor do we meet our friends every evening. (Note the construction of the sentence.)
We didn't eat the pasta. We didn't eat the fried rice. We ordered a pizza.
We didn't eat the pasta, nor did we eat the fried rice, but we did order/ordered a pizza.
But - Joins ideas showing contrast: I love playing football. I don't want to be a goal keeper.
I love playing football, but I don't want to be a goal keeper.
Or - Gives an alternative or a choice: We can play football. We can go swimming.
(We can't do both.)
We can play football or go swimming.
Yet - Like 'but' it joins contrasting ideas: The football coach is strict. He is gentle. He is understanding. (Three)
The football coach is strict yet gentle and understanding.
So - Is used to show effect or result: I couldn't go for football practice. I went to watch a film. I couldn't go for football practice today, so I went to watch a film. (the result of not going for football practice)
E. 2. Join the following Simple Sentences to form Compound Sentences. Use each of the seven coordinating conjunctions at least once.
a. He ran up the stairs. He didn't hold on to the railing. He fell down.
b. Mom was busy. She found time to help me with my homework.
c. These dresses are both beautiful. You can have only one.
d. You can have the red dress. You can have the white one.
e. He put on his raincoat. It was raining heavily.
f. We didn't get tickets for the movies. We didn't get tickets for the match.
g. We didn't get tickets for the movies. We didn't get tickets for the match. We stayed at home and watched the match on TV.
h. They like reading adventure stories. They like reading mystery stories. They don't enjoy science fiction.
i. I made a cup of soup. I also made a tomato sandwich. I was hungry.
j. They were hungry. They didn't touch the food on the table. They didn't touch the food in the fridge. They had been told to wait till Mom came home.
Answer
a. He ran up the stairs, but didn't hold on to the railing so he fell down.
b. Mom was busy yet she found time to help me with my homework.
c. These dresses are both beautiful, but you can have only one.
d. You can have the red dress or the white one.
e. he put on his raincoat, for it was raining heavily.
f. We didn't get tickets for the movies, nor did we get tickets for the match.
g. We didn't get the tickets for the movies, nor did we get tickets for the match so we stayed at home and watched the match on TV.
h. They like reading adventure stories and mystery stories but they don't enjoy science fiction.
i. I made a cup of soup and a tomato sandwich for I was hungry.
j. They were hungry, but they didn't touch the food on the table nor did they touch the food in the fridge for they had been to told to wait till Mom came home.
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