1. Daffodils by William Wordsworth
Studied Poetry

2. Task
Describe a daffodil in as much detail as possible. Use your five senses!
Sight
Sound
Taste
Touch
Smell

3. Personification
The poet uses quite a lot of personification in this poem.
Work in pairs and find all examples of personification.
What is the purpose of Wordsworth’s use of personification in this poem? What does it achieve?

4. Similes The poet also makes use of similes in the poem.
Find all similes in the poem.
What is the purpose of the similes?
Do you like or dislike them?
Pick your favourite simile and explain why you like this one.

5. Vocabulary matching to wander a light wind
To flutter the edge of a place or thing
A breeze the state of being completely alone
The Milky way done with a lot of energy
The margin to look for a long time
A glance seeming to be thinking carefully
Sprightly to travel without a particular direction
Vacant to move with quick, light movements
To gaze a quick look
Pensive looking as if you do not understand
Solitude a group of stars and planets

6. ANSWERS to wander a light wind To flutter the edge of a place or thing
A breeze the state of being completely alone
The Milky way done with a lot of energy
The margin to look for a long time
A glance seeming to be thinking carefully
Sprightly to travel without a particular direction
Vacant to move with quick, light movements
To gaze a quick look
Pensive looking as if you do not understand
Solitude a group of stars and planets

7. Questions What was the poet’s mood before he saw the daffodils?
What words does the poet use to create a joyful mood?
How does the poet use tenses to show the long-lasting effect the daffodils have had on him?
What is the poets inward eye?
What is the main message of the poem?
What does the poet compare himself to in the first verse? How does this give us an idea of his viewpoint on nature?
What are the exact words he uses to describe what he sees?
What words does he use to describe the movement of the flowers? What does this suggest about his or their mood?
What does he compare these flowers to in the second verse? What does this comparison make you think about nature?
Why does he think the daffodils are better than the waves?
What do you think jocund means?
Explain the meaning of the line, ‘Which is the bliss of solitude’.
The last verse is a change in time and place. Describe what the poet is imagining happening in the last verse.
Why do you think this is one of the most loved poems in the English language?

8. Homework Complete these paragraphs using PQE
My favourite line from this poem is…… because….
The theme of this poem is… A line that shows this is… I believe this is the theme because…
I would describe the tone of the poem as…. because….