Daffodils: Summary, Questions
and Answers, and Figures of Speech of the Poem | William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth’s poem, “Daffodils”
In this post, we
will understand the simple summary of this beautiful poem, Short Questions and
Answers, Long Questions and Answers, and Figures of Speech used in the poem in
easy language.
This article is specially written for those students who
prepare for the exam and want to understand the entire lesson in less time.
Here every part has been explained in very simple words so that even students
from class 6 to college level can read it easily.
DAFFODILLS – Summary (Simple and Exam-Oriented)
William Wordsworth's “Daffodils” is a very beautiful
nature poem, in which the poet has presented the power of nature and its beauty
in a very simple and deep sense. At the beginning of the poem, the poet tells
that he was roaming alone. He feels like a cloud floating alone in the sky.
There is peace in his mind, but at the same time there is a kind of emptiness.
During this loneliness he sees a wonderful sight.
The poet sees a huge group of yellow daffodils flowers on
the bank of the lake. The flowers are moving in the wind under the trees as if
they are dancing. These flowers are so numerous that they appear like an
endless row. The poet feels that they are as numerous as the stars of the
galaxy. This long row of flowers stretches along the banks of the lake and
looks very beautiful as it sways with the light breeze.
The waves of the lake were also moving nearby, but the
poet says that the dance of the flowers was even more beautiful than the waves.
This scene immediately fills the poet's mind with happiness. The poet does not
understand the full significance of this scene at that time, but this scene
settles deeply in his mind.
The poet explains that later, whenever he is alone, or
lies quietly on the bed, the same scene of daffodils appears before his eyes.
This memory fills his mind with happiness again. His heart is filled with
“pleasure” and his mind “dances with the daffodils”—that is, with the flowers.
The poem tells us that nature not only gives us joy the
moment we see it, but its memory also gives us joy for a long time. This poem
is a very beautiful example of the power, beauty and peace of nature.
Wordsworth has given the message that nature can change the mind of man, can
remove suffering and can give happiness even in loneliness.
DAFFODILLS – Summary (Stanza-wise)
Stanza 1 – Summary
The poet was roaming alone.
They compare themselves to a lonely cloud.
Suddenly they see a lot of yellow daffodil flowers under
the trees on the lake shore.
These flowers were shaking lightly in the wind.
This beautiful scene fills the poet with wonder and joy.
Stanza 2 – Summary
The poet says that the daffodil flowers seemed as countless
as the shining stars in the sky.
They were spread in a long line on the banks of the lake.
The poet felt as if thousands of flowers were dancing
with the wind.
Stanza 3 – Summary
The waves of the lake were also shaking,
But the dance of the daffodil flowers was even more
beautiful and full of joy.
This scene fills the poet's mind with joy.
The poet feels that nature is giving him a valuable gift.
The dance of flowers awakens a new happiness in his mind.
Stanza 4 – Summary
Whenever poets sit alone or are in thought,
So the same scene of daffodils emerges in his memory.
This memory gives him peace and happiness.
The beauty of flowers continues to give them pleasure
even later.
Thus, the poem tells that nature can make even the lonely
mind happy and its memories give us peace for a long time.
DAFFODILS – Important Questions and Answers
1. Who is the poet of
the poem ‘Daffodils’?
Answer: The poet of this poem is William Wordsworth.
2. Where did the poet
see the daffodils flowers?
Answer: The poet saw daffodils on the lake shore and
under the trees.
3. How were the
daffodils moving?
Answer: The daffodils were moving slowly in the light
breeze and seemed to be dancing.
4. What does the poet
compare daffodils to?
Answer: The poet compares daffodils to the stars of the
Milky Way, because there were so many of them.
5. Why does the sight of
daffodils make the poet happy?
Answer: Because, the flowers were bright, beautiful and
dancing. Their beauty filled the poet's mind with happiness.
6. What does “A crowd, a
host of golden daffodils” mean?
Answer: It means that there were a large number of yellow
daffodil flowers. They glittered in such a way that they are compared to gold.
7. What was more
beautiful than the waves of the lake? Why?
Answer: The Daffodils flowers were more beautiful,
because their dance was more lively. It makes one very happy.
8. What happens when the
poet sits alone?
Answer: When poets sit alone, the scene of daffodils
comes to his mind and his heart becomes happy.
9. What is the main
theme of the poem?
Answer: The main meaning of the poem is – Nature gives
peace and happiness to the mind. Nature removes loneliness and gives joy.
10. Why do poets call
daffodils “bliss of solitude”?
Answer: Because even in loneliness the
memory of daffodils gives happiness to the poet. This happiness of loneliness
is “bliss of solitude”.
11. What is the meaning
of the line “I wandered lonely as a cloud”?
Answer: This means that the poet was roaming alone, and
he felt like a lonely cloud floating in the sky.
12. Why does the memory
of daffodils remain in the poet's mind?
Answer: Because that scene was very beautiful, peaceful
and impressive. It had touched the heart of the poet.
13. What does nature
give to the poet in this poem?
Answer: Nature gives happiness, peace and mental
freshness to the poet.
14. What does the poet
call a group of daffodils?
Answer: The poet calls them “crowd” and “host”, i.e. a
large group.
15. What is the tone of
the poem?
Answer: The tone of the poem is joyful, peaceful, and
full of gratitude towards nature.
DAFFODILS — Long Questions & Answers
1. Explain the power of nature in the poem “Daffodils”.
Answer:
In the poem “Daffodils” the poet William Wordsworth shows
the beauty of nature in a very calm and simple form. The poet explains that
nature has the power to change the mind of man. This power removes the mind
from loneliness and fills it with happiness. At the beginning of the poem the
poet is wandering alone. They feel like a lonely cloud. There is no special
enthusiasm in his mind. His mind is calm, but there is emptiness in it too.
At this moment they suddenly see a large group of yellow
daffodil flowers on the bank of the lake. These flowers are dancing in the air.
This scene is so beautiful that the poet's mind changes immediately. The
brightness of the flowers, their number and their dance fill the poet's mind
with joy. This simple scene of nature takes away their loneliness.
The poet says that at that time the flowers gave him
happiness, but even later when he is alone or sits quietly, the scene of
daffodils emerges in his memory. This memory creates new energy and happiness
in their mind. The poet calls it “bliss of solitude”. This means that even in
loneliness, remembering nature can give us solace.
In this way, the poem conveys the message that nature is
not just a visible thing but also a source of peace of mind and mental balance.
Nature refreshes the mind, removes sorrow and fills new hope in life.
2. Why does the poet compare daffodils to stars? Write in detail.
Answer:
The poet gives many reasons for comparing daffodils to
stars. The first reason is their numbers. The poet says that the daffodils were
so numerous that they seemed as countless as the stars of the galaxy. Just as
the stars are spread far and wide in the sky, similarly the daffodils were also
spread in a long row on the banks of the lake. The vastness of the scene
becomes clear from this comparison.
The second reason is their brightness. The daffodils were
shining with bright yellow light during the day, just as the stars shine at
night. Their golden petals were shining in the sunlight as if small lamps were
glowing. This brightness fills the poet's mind with joy.
The third reason is liveliness. The stars stand still,
but the daffodils dance with the wind and shine. The happiness of life is
visible in this light dance of theirs. The poet finds this scene not only
beautiful but also lively and attractive.
Through this comparison the poet shows that even the
small flowers of nature are as important and beautiful as the stars in the vast
sky. This comparison enhances the romantic beauty in the poem and makes the
majesty of nature more evident.
3. Explain the meaning of “Bliss of solitude” and write it by connecting it to the poem.
Answer:
“Bliss of solitude” means happiness of loneliness. This
is a state in which a person does not feel sad despite being alone, but
experiences peace and happiness. This idea is very important in William
Wordsworth's poem “Daffodils”.
In the initial part of the poem, the poet is roaming
alone. He feels like a lonely cloud. But when he sees daffodils, he changes his
mind. The dance, shine and beauty of flowers make their mind happy. At that
time the poet gets direct pleasure, but according to the poem, real pleasure
comes later.
The poet explains that when he is sitting alone, or his
mind is empty, the same beautiful scene of daffodils comes back to his memory.
This memory fills his heart with new happiness. His mind is filled with joy
again. This is “bliss of solitude”.
This means that the happiness one gets from nature is so
deep that it keeps the mind calm and happy in the form of memories even later.
This remembrance of nature gives happiness to man even in loneliness. The
poet's message is clear—nature is our greatest companion and its beauty can
always give us peace in life.
Daffodils – Poetic Devices (figure of speech)
1. Simile
In a simile, something is compared using the word “like”
or “as.”
Example:
“I wandered lonely as a cloud.”
→ The poet compares himself to a lonely cloud.
Simple explanation:
The poet wants to say that he was alone and wandering
without any direction, like a cloud floating alone in the sky.
2. Personification
When inanimate objects are given qualities like humans.
Example:
“The daffodils were dancing in the breeze.”
→ Flowers are shown like dancing humans.
Simple explanation:
Flowers do not actually dance, but poets describe their
movement in the air as dancing.
3. Metaphor
When something is said to be directly like something else
(comparison without “like/as”).
Example:
“A host of golden daffodils.”
→ Here the daffodils are called “host” (a group).
Simple explanation:
The flowers are presented upright as a large cluster.
4. Hyperbole
To exaggerate things.
Example:
“Ten thousand saw I at a glance.”
→ The poet says that he saw ten thousand flowers at a
single glance.
Simple explanation:
There cannot be so many flowers together, but the poet
shows the beauty of the scene by increasing the number.
5. Alliteration
Repetition of the same sound/letter in a line.
Example:
“Beside the lake, beneath the trees.”
→ Repetition of “b” sound.
Simple explanation:
This makes the line melodious and lyrical.
6. Imagery
Use of such words that create a visual in the mind of the
reader.
Example:
“A crowd of golden daffodils… fluttering and dancing in
the breeze.”
Simple explanation:
After reading these lines a clear picture is formed in
the mind –
The yellow flowers seem to move and dance in the wind.
7. Symbolism
To make something symbolize a deeper meaning.
Example:
Daffodils = Happiness, Hope, Nature's beauty
→ Daffodils are not just flowers, but symbols of
happiness and mental peace.
8. Repetition
Repeated use of a word to increase its impact.
Example:
“I gazed—and gazed—but thought little.”
→ “gazed” occurs twice.
Simple explanation:
To show that the poet remained mesmerized and kept
looking at the flowers.
9. Enjambment
When the meaning of one line carries over to the next
line without interruption.
Example:
“Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way.”
Simple explanation:
This creates rhythm and flow in the poem.
10. Apostrophe
When the poet talks directly to nature or any object.
Example:
Although there is no direct address in the poem,
But the way poets see and feel the dance of flowers,
He shows light use of the apostrophe.