Daffodils Summary by William Wordsworth

Once the poet was wandering alone as freely as a cloud over valleys and hills. During his solitary walk, he happened to see a large number of golden daffodils near the lake under the trees. He felt a cool breeze blowing there. Under the impact of cool and gentle breeze, the flowers tossed their heads. It seemed to the poet as if the daffodils were fluttering and dancing happily in the breeze.

The daffodils looked very beautiful. The poet found that they seemed to be spreading far and wide. They seemed to form an endless line. Hence the poet compared them with the continuity of stars that shine and twinkle in the night sky. It seemed that the poet was under an illusion that he saw ten thousand daffodils (a large number of daffodils) swaying their heads in a ‘sprightly dance’.

The waves of the lake danced but the dance of the daffodils was more gay than the sparkling waves. The poet felt that he could not do anything but be happy in such a gleeful company. He recalls how he continued to gaze at the beautiful scene. He could not think what wealth of joy it had brought to him.

Undoubtedly, the beautiful sight of the daffodils brought him a great treasure in his later life. Whenever he lay restfully on his couch in pensive and vacant mood, the beautiful sight of the daffodils flashed upon his mental eye and brought him mental peace, consolation and happiness. Then his heart was filled with the same pleasure that he experienced when he actually saw the daffodils.

Daffodils Poem Summary Introduction

The poem entitled Daffodils is one of the most popular of Wordsworth’s shorter poems. It is a beautiful piece of Nature poetry of Wordsworth. On April 15, 1802, William and Dorothy were returning to their home in Grasmere after having paid a visit to their friends, the Clarksons, at Eusemere. On their way back to Grasmere, they walked past and saw a host of daffodils growing on the shore of the Lake Ullswater, at the border of Cumberland and Westmoreland in the Lake District. The scene of the daffodils dancing in the breeze was so enchanting that both gave an account of it.

Dorothy wrote in her journal of April 15, 1802 about having seen a long belt of them of the breadth of a country turnpike road. The impact of the scene was lasting enough to enable Wordsworth to recall it when he wrote the poem about two years later, in 1805 to be included in Poems in two volumes published in 1807.

In the writing of this poem, Wordsworth drew freely on Dorothy’s description of the daffodils in her journal. Some of the very words like ‘tossed’ used by Wordsworth in his poem, are taken from her description. Wordsworth depends on his sister’s description as much as on his recollection of the joyful scene. In this way, Dorothy is clearly seen in the poem.

The poem is among such of Wordsworth’s poems as appear to be trivial and extremely simple in thought and meaning, but on a closer look, reveal a richness of thought and emotion and a subtle meaning contained in a simple but carefully manipulated form. A trivial incident in the life of the poet is shown to have left or lasting impression on his memory and become something haunting his mind for ever. The poem shows Wordsworth as a poet and lover of Nature with unusual powers of accurate and minute observation and faithful description of the ordinary objects seen by him.

The wealth of detail in poem is simply astonishing and so is the meaning sought to be conveyed in the simplest possible language and style which give it a deceptive appearance of triviality.

Daffodils Summary Stanzawise Word-Meanings, Paraphrase and Explanation

1. I wandered lonely …………………… the breeze.
Word-meanings : Wandered lonely = the poet’s roaming purposelessly in a lonely or solitary state. Floats = moves gently. The word ‘float’ is frequently used by the poet to express the movement of the clouds. Vales = valleys. Crowd = a very large number of daffodils growing beside the lake. A host = this word also denotes ‘numberless’. Golden daffodils = the beautiful flowers of lily family. Golden = this word signifies the charming beauty of the flowers. Beside = close, near. Beside the lake = the daffodils were spread beside the lake. Beneath = under. Fluttering = moving quickly and lightly, especially through the air. Breeze = wind, air.

Paraphrase : While wandering as a solitary person like a cloud floating above hills and valleys, the poet encountered a field of daffodils beside a lake. As he had never seen such a huge expansion of golden daffodils, he was highly fascinated and delighted to the sight of the beautiful flowers. His heart was enthralled by a large number of daffodils growing beside the lake under the trees. A light and gentle breeze was blowing there. The flowers were moving to and fro under the impact of blowing wind. It seemed to the poet as if they were dancing joyously and happily. This sight filled the heart of the poet with unbounded joy.

Reference to the Context : These lines presenting healthy, purifying, everlasting and enduring impact of Nature on human beings, have been extracted from the poem entitled Daffodils, written by William Wordsworth.

Here the poet seems to be an ardent lover of Nature. He shows his unbounded joy at the beautiful sight of the daffodils growing beside the lake. The beautiful sight of the dancing daffodils captivates the heart and the mind of the poet.

Explanation : Once the poet took a solitary walk in the midst of Nature. He was wandering beside a lake from one place to another like a cloud which flies over vales and hills with the wind. All of a sudden he saw a huge mass of golden daffodils which were growing on the bank of the lake under the trees. Cool and gentle breeze was blowing there. It was making the daffodils flutter and dance. This beautiful sight of the daffodils enthralled the heart of the poet.

Critical Comments :

  1. As a cloud : The poet directly compares himself to a cloud, hence, this is an example of simile.
  2. By comparing himself with the cloud, the poet vividly shows his closeness to the nature.
  3. The poet uses the expressions like ‘crowd’ and ‘host’ to mean that he saw a large area covered with a whole lot of daffoodils.
  4. In the last line, the poet personifies the flowers by saying that they were fluttering (like birds or butterflies) and dancing (like human beings).
  5. High hills : Figure of speech alliteration.

2. Continuous as the stars …………………… in sprightly dance.
Word-meanings : Continuous = an unending expansion of the flowers. Continuous milky way = as numerous as shining stars in the milky way. Milky way = the system of stars that contains our sun and its planets, seen as a bright band in the night sky. They……. line = the daffodils growing beside the lake seemed to form an endless line. Twinkle = to sparkle. Stretched = extended. Never ending line = the endless row of the flowers extended on the shore of lake. Margin = extreme edge or limit. At a glance = at one look. Tossing = moving the head this way or that. Sprightly = in an enthusiastic way; full of vigourness; in excessive joyous mood.

Paraphrase : During his solitary walk, the poet encountered a huge expansion of the daffodils growing beside the lake under the trees. He was greatly astonished to see such a large number of the daffodils. The daffodils extended as far as the poet’s eyes could reach. They looked like a continuous line of stars shining in the milky way. The flowers were so many that the poet imagined he could have seen at least ten thousand of them at a glance. They were tossing their heads in a merry dance.

Reference to the Context: These lines showing the poet’s intense love for Nature and his close attachment with the objects of Nature, have been extracted from the poem entitled Daffodils, written by William Wordsworth.

Here the poet praises the simple beauty of the daffodils in a dignified manner. He finds great resemblance between the stars and the daffodils.

Explanation : While strolling as a lonely person in the midst of Nature beside the lake, the poet encountered a beautiful sight of the daffodils growing under the trees on the bank of the lake. The poet found a huge expansion of the daffodils. He compared them with the continuity of the stars that shine and twinkle in the night sky. The daffodils appeared to be stretched endlessly along the margin of a bay. As the poet was unable to see the ultimate row of the daffodiles, he saw a large number of daffodils at one glance. These daffodils were waving their heads in joyful dance.

Critical Comments :

  1. Continuous stars : This is an instance of simile as the poet has compared the flowers to the stars.
  2. The flowers were visible as far as the poet could see along the shore-line of a bay. That is why he uses the phrase ‘never-ending line’. Here ‘continuous’ and ‘never-ending1 may also suggest that the flowers left as everlasting impact on him.
  3. Ten …. glance : Here the poet exaggerates the number of flowers. This type of exaggeration is called hyperbole.
  4. Tossing dance : The daffodils have been personified as fluttering and dancing along the riverside.
  5. The word ‘sprightly’ is derived from the word ‘sprite’, meaning a local spirit, almost like a fairy.

3. The waves beside …………………… had brought.
Word-meanings : The waves …………..dancing = the rising and falling waves of the lake seemed to be dancing like the daffodils. Outdid = outstripped in the competition of the dance. Sparkling = shining brightly with flashes of light. Glee = a feeling of great delight and happiness. But …………..glee = but the dance of the flowers was more joyous than the sparkling dance of the waves. Gay = happy and full of fun. A poet. ……… company = the poet is of the opinion that no sensitive person can help feeling delighted in the company of such joyful companions. Jocund = merry, lively. A poet = any poet or any sensitive person possessing a poetic instinct. Gazed = had a fixed look for a long time. I …… gazed = the poet was so much enchanted with the beautiful sight of the daffodils that he kept his eyes fixed at them for a long time. But little thought = the poet, due to being engrossed in the beautiful sight, could not think of its future benefit or future impact.

Paraphrase: The poet felt that the waves which were rising and falling in the lake and were sparkling in the sunlight, seemed to be dancing in the breeze. But their dance was surpassed by the dance of the daffodils. The daffodils seemed to be dancing with much more liveliness and vigour. It was quite natural for a poet to feel happy in such a delightful company. The beautiful sight filled him with great joy and he kept gazing at the flowers for a long time. He was so much fascinated towards the beautiful sight that he was entirely forgetful of his surroundings. Even, at that time, he did not realise how valuable this scene would prove to him in the years to come.

Reference to the Context: These lines showing an everlasting impact of the beauty of the daffodils on the heart and mind of the poet, have been extracted from the poem entitled Daffodils, written by William Wordsworth.

Here the poet describes the heart captivating sight of the dancing daffodils. This sight not only provided him peace, joy and happiness but also brought him great treasure for his future life.

Explanation : The waves in the nearby lake seemed to be dancing and also sparkling due to the sun’s rays falling on them. But the joy and beauty of the daffodils was greater and more intense. The overwhelming dance of the daffodils surpassed the sparkling waves of the lake. The atmosphere of the place where the flowers were spread far and wide was full of joy and happiness.

In such a beautiful and pleasant atmosphere, a poet could not help being happy and he could have derived much pleasure from joyous company of the flowers. He had been looking at the beautiful sight for a long time, but forgot that, in fact, he was collecting a great treasure in his mind. The sight of the beautiful daffodils had enriched his mind with the memory of the delightful vision. The daffodils had imprinted upon his mind for ever. He experienced the spiritual joy which he seemed to share with the beautiful flowers.

Critical Comments :

  1. The waves …. danced : A personification has been used here to give a sense of a living being. Waves here are said to have an ability to dance.
  2. I gazed : Here is an instance of figure of speech alliteration.
  3. The word ‘gazed’ has been used twice to indicate how fascinated or moved the poet was.
  4. But they …. glee : Here is also used personification. The poet indicates how the daffodils, like human beings, were involved in a dancing competition.

4. For of …………………… with the daffodils.
Word-meanings : Oft = often. Vacant = to be free from worldly worries and cares. Couch = bed. Pensive = thinking deeply about something, esp. in a sad or serious way. Flash = to produce or make something produce a sudden bright light for a short time; to pass swiftly. Inward eye = the mind’s eye. Bliss = great joy, perfect happiness. Solitude = a lonely place, seclusion from society. The bliss of solitude = the joy of this recollection was a gift of solitude. And then daffodils = then the poet’s heart was filled with the same pleasure that he experienced when he actually saw the daffodils.

Paraphrase : While strolling as a solitary person, the poet came across a huge expansion of the beautiful daffodils. He was so much overwhelmed with the beautiful sight that he drove great joy, pleasure and happiness from them. But he did not think that this beautiful sight would bring a great blessing in his later life. Later, whenever the poet lay on his couch in a sad or thoughtful mood, the daffodils would flash in his imagination. The poet acknowledges that one of the greatest blessings that solitude can offer, is the old memories which can be easily and vividly revived. The memory of the daffodils would immediately fill his heart with pleasure and his heart would begin to dance along with the flowers.

Reference to the Context: These lines showing Nature as the greatest healing and soothing power for the tortured and dejected mind, have been extracted from the poem entitled Daffodils, written by William Wordsworth.

Here the poet describes soothing and comforting effect of Nature in his later life. The beautiful sight of the dancing daffodils brought a great treasure of joy and happiness for the poet in his later life. This sight proved a boon for him in his solitude.

Explanation : During his solitary walk when the poet was deriving great joy and pleasure from the beautiful sight of the daffodils, he did not think about the wealth of happiness that the scene had given him, nor could he imagine that the scene held great joy in its store for his future life. Later on he came to realise that he had obtained great treasure of joy and happiness during his solitary walk. Whenever he lay on his couch after being carefree from worldly life and things or meditated in lonely place, the beautiful sight of daffodils flashed upon his mind’s eyes. In fact, the joy of this recollection was the greatest bliss in his solitary life. His heart was overpowered with great pleasure at the recollection of the daffodils and began to dance like them.

Critical Comments :

  1. The poet illustrates his own theory that ‘poetry takes its origin in emotion recollected in tranquility’. Loneliness of the poet is a bliss, for it supplies food for his imagination.
  2. The poet conveys the idea that Nature has the power to make us come out of our melancholy or depressed mood and be happy.
  3. This stanza marks a break in time. There is a clear shift from the past to the present.
  4. By starting this stanza with ‘For’, the poet continues his reasoning for saying that the flowers had brought him ‘wealth’. He clarifies why the sight of the flower was so important in his life.

Daffodils Summary About the Poet

William Wordsworth who is rightly regarded the poet of Nature, was born on the 7th of April, 1770 at Cockermouth, a town standing at the confluence of the river Derwent and rivulet Cocker. It was in Cumberland situated in north-west of England. His father, John Wordsworth was an attorney at Cockermouth and agent to Sir James Lowther, afterwards the first Earl of Lonsdale. His mother Anne Cookson was the only daughter of William Cookson, a well-do-do mercer at Penrith, and of Dorothy Crackanthorpe, whose ancestors had been lords of the manor of Newbiggin, near Penrith. So Wordsworth came of a ‘gentle’ kin. He was the second of five children of his parents.

The benevolent and brooding presence of the mother ceased with her death in March, 1778 when William was only eight years old. His father also died in 1783. His isolation in this wide world was almost complete. It was natural for him to turn to Nature for comfort and solace. He used to have solitary walks during some of which he had mysterious communions with nature. Fear was one of the impulses that coloured his vision of Nature of this stage. However, the love of, or at least an interest in Nature, awakened during his childhood proved a formulative influence in his adult years, and shaped his poetry.

In 1778, Wordsworth and his brother Richard were sent to the Grammar School at Hawkshead. Here Wordsworth remained for nine years till October 1787. Then he was sent to Cambridge. Life at Hawkshed was happy. He had to study Mathematics and the Classics, and was free to spend time after the school hours as he wished. He also read a lot of books including Don Quixote, Gil Bias, Gulliver’s Travels, A Tale of the Tub and the Arabian Nights. He became acquainted with the works of the great poets of the 18th century like Gray, Collins, Goldsmith, Chasterton, etc.

It was Hawkshead that Wordsworth came in close contact with his teacher, William Taylor, whom he has celebrated in his Matthew poems, and who inspired him to write poems. Wordsworth’s early verses were written here in the form of school exercises assigned to him by his master. These include lines composed on subjects like The Summer Vacation and Return to School. Besides this, he composed the poems A Ballad Sung by a Mistrel, Dirge and the value ofEsth waite. His poetic career may be said to have begun at Hawkshead.

In October, 1787, Wordsworth went up as an under graduate to St. John’s College, Cambridge. After taking B. A. degree Wordsworth went to live for some time with his uncle William Cookson, at Fomcett, near Norwich. He went to London where he idled three months. Here he composed three sonnets and such tender poems as The Reverie of Poor Susan.

When in 1792, Wordsworth returned to Paris, he was in a mood of joining the revolutionaries actively. But his intentions were nipped in the bud when his guardians in England cut off his allowances. He was compelled to return to England and the next few years were a period of disillusionment and disappointment for him. But this discontent became a great factor in his becoming an author. Early in 1793 appeared his poems, An Evening Walk and Descriptive Sketches. In 1797, Wordsworth alongwith Dorothy moved to Alfoxden to be near to Coleridge who was living with his wife at Nether Stowey.

Wordsworth had an intimate affection with Coleridge. Infact, Wordsworth, Dorothy and Coleridge were known as three persons and one soul. Wordsworth and Coleridge thought of embarking upon a book of poems to defray the expenses of a walking tour to Lynton. This venture resulted into the publication of the monumental Lyrical Ballads in 1798. Wordsworth undertook a tour to Germany with Coleridge and Dorothy. Here Wordsworth wrote some of his best poems like Ruth, Nutting, the Poet’s Epitaph and the Lucy Poems.

In December 1799, Wordsworth came to settle with Dorothy at Dove Cottage, Townsend, Grasmere. This period is the most fruitful period of his life. He enjoyed the company of devoted friends and sought pleasures in the lovely forms of Nature. In October 1802, he married Mary Hutchinson who proved to be a devoted wife and companion to Wordsworth. During the period of his stay at Grasmere, Wordsworth composed his great philosophical poem The Recluse in three parts, of which only the second part was published under the title of The Excursion.

Early in 1813, Wordsworth moved to another place, called Rydal Mount, his favourite and last abode. Here he fortunately enjoyed the company of such illustrious friends as Southey, Coleridge and De Quincy. But he suffered a number of misfortunes. His sister Dorothy fell seriously ill in 1892, and became a permanent invalid. Coleridge died in 1847, and soon after his sister- in-law Sara Hutchinson. In 1847 his daughter Dora died. All these calamities cast a veil of gloom on the poet’s decaying physical powers, with the result that he succumbed to pleurisy in 1850. He was buried in the Grasmere Churchyard.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *