Response to “ Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”

“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” depicts a man’s wandering and his discovery of a field of daffodils, the memory of which pleases and comforts him when he is lonely, bored, or restless. The tone is jubilant and is supported by its positive diction.

The tone is one of jubilance. Positive diction supports the joyful tone – the depiction of the daffodils is pleasant and lifts the speaker’s spirits when he reminisces about them. The daffodils are described as “golden”- their shimmering petals and simple radiance allow the speaker to appreciate the true beauty he had found that day. The poet illustrates that he cannot help but to be happy in the “jocund company” of the daffodils. The daffodils made him feel “gay” and content. The thousands of tiny flowers intensify his deep love for the natural world and illustrate how recalling the beauty in nature during one’s solitude is a source of happiness.

Personification also contributes to the jubilant tone. The speaker “wandered lonely as a cloud” - metaphorically comparing himself to a cloud describes his process of wondering as an aimless, free, metaphysical embodiment of a natural object. The action “floats” allows the reader to experience the tranquility and lightheartedness the author feels in the presence of nature. The daffodils are also personified as human beings, dancing and "tossing their heads in a sprightly dance.” This characterization implies a jovial and inherent unity between man and nature.

“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” by William Wordsworth, conveys a jubilant tone while detailing the daffodil’s splendor as a symbol of the beauty of