William Wordsworth is best remembered for his daffodils, the Lake District and his love of nature.
But his life was much more complicated than that familiar image suggests.
As a young man, he supported the ideals of the French Revolution. Later, his political beliefs became considerably more conservative.
His poetry also explored grief, poverty, memory, childhood, fear and the lives of ordinary people.
And there's a fascinating story behind his famous daffodils poem.
William and his sister Dorothy saw the flowers beside Ullswater in 1802. Dorothy recorded the experience in her journal, William composed the poem in 1804, and his wife Mary contributed two lines to the version that became familiar to readers.
A few questions for discussion:
- Is "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" your favourite Wordsworth poem, or do you prefer another?
- Do you think poetry about nature remains as meaningful today as it was in Wordsworth's time?
- Should Dorothy and Mary Wordsworth receive greater recognition for their contributions?
- Does knowing about a poet's political beliefs change how you interpret their work?
- Have you visited the Lake District or another landscape that reminded you of a poem?
- Can city landscapes inspire poetry as powerfully as mountains, rivers and countryside?
Read the full article:
William Wordsworth: His Life, Poetry and Love of Nature
I'd be interested to hear whether you regard Wordsworth primarily as a nature poet or as a writer whose ideas reach far beyond the countryside.
Share your favourite poems, interpretations and thoughts below.