Daffodils - William Woodsworth

1. With close reference to the text, explain how the daffodils are personified in the poem. (8m)

• "When all at once I saw a crowd"
• Poet used a collective noun meant for humans
• Daffodils are regarded as people

• "Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" // "Tossing their heads in sprightly dance"
• Poet likens the movement of the daffodils in the wind to human action

• "They stretched in never-ending line / Along the margin of a bay"
• Poet likens the numerous daffodils that grow along the bay to human action

• "The waves beside them danced, but they / Out-did the sparkling waves in glee"
• Poet insinuates that the flowers compete against the waves for attention

• "A poet could not but be gay / I such jocund company"
• Poet refers to the daffodils as friends

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2. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Discuss with close reference to the text. (12m)

• "A host of golden daffodils"
• "Host" is a collective noun usually reserved for angels
• Daffodils are usually yellow; "golden" as an adjective is more majestic sounding
• Hence, poet implicates that these daffodils are rather unique

• "Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" // "Tossing their heads in sprightly dance"
• Daffodils moving in the wind are likened to dancing

• "Continuous as the stars that shine / And twinkle on the Milky Way"
• The daffodils are uncountable 
• The daffodils are likened to stars that "twinkle"
• Stars are usually associated with magic and luck (hence the saying, wish upon a star)

• "They stretched in never-ending line / Along the margin of a bay / Ten thousand I saw at a glance"
• Again, the daffodils are described as numerous in number

• "The waves beside them danced"
• The rippling waves complement the scenery, increasing its beauty

• "A poet could not but be gay / In such jocund company"
• Earlier in the poem, the poet was lonely; now, the poet has found companions and is happy

• "I gazed - and gazed"
• Poet is dumbstruck by the beauty of the scene

• "but little thought / What wealth the show to me had brought"
• This line foreshadows the joy brought to the poet

• "For oft, when on my couch I lie / In vacant or pensive mood / They flash upon that inward eye" 
• Poet finds joy in that memory of the daffodils

• "And then my heart with pleasure fills / And dances with the daffodils"
• Poet consistently reminisces on the memory of the daffodils 

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3. Nature is the best medicine for the soul. Discuss with close reference to the text. (12m)

• "I wandered lonely as a cloud"
• Poet was possibly feeling depressed due to lonliness

• "A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company"
• Poet is cured of his loneliness 

• "I gazed - and gazed- but little thought / What wealth the show to me had brought"
• Poet cannot believe his luck to discover the daffodils and is overawed
• The daffodils affect the poet more so than an ordinary person

• "And then my heart with pleasure fills / And dances with the daffodils"
• Poet finds true joy in the daffodils

*BUGGA's NOTE*

I didn't list out all of the points for the third question because the content can sometimes be recycled from the answers of similar questions. Try to figure out which one can be used, yea? 😉