Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

It's lovely to see you here today.

My name's Dr.

Clayton, and I'm here to guide you through learning journey today.

So today's session's called Understanding Ideas of Belonging in Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." So we're gonna start off by thinking about the context of Romanticism, since Wordsworth was a leading Romantic poet, then we're gonna read and respond to the poem, and then we're gonna think about how the poem might relate to the romantic ideas of the sublime.

So if you're ready, grab your pen, laptop, everything for this lesson, and let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to understand how Wordsworth presents ideas of nature and belonging in "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." So we have five words today we're going to be using as our keywords.

They're identified in bold throughout the learning material.

And I'll try to point them out to you as well so you can see them being used in context.

So our first quote is Romanticism.

Now, Romanticism was an 18th and 19th century artistic and literary movement that celebrated nature, emotion, and individuality.

We're going to thinking about how Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" relates to the conventions of Romanticism.

Our second keyword is belonging, which means a feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group or in a particular place.

We are going to be thinking about how Wordsworth might be suggesting humanity can find comfort and happiness in nature.

Our third keyword is revere, which means to very much respect and admire someone or something.

One convention of Romanticism was this reverence for nature.

Our fourth keyword is sublime.

Now the romantic sublime was the idea we should feel awe towards nature, a mixture of both fear and respect.

We're going to be thinking about how we might see this idea of the sublime in the poem.

Our final keyword is awe, which means a feeling of great respect, sometimes mixed with fear or surprise.

So I'll just give you time to write down those keywords and their definitions.

So pause the video, write them down now.

Fantastic.

Let's get started with the lesson.

So we have three learning cycles in our lesson today.

For our first learning cycle, we're gonna be thinking about the context of Romanticism and what the conventions are, and how we might see the poem fitting into those conventions.

For our second learning cycle, we're gonna be reading and responding to the poem and the ideas of belonging.

For our third learning cycle, we're gonna be thinking about the ideas of the romantic sublime.

Now we might see the poem as showing these ideas of respect and fear towards nature.

So William Wordsworth was a leading Romantic poet.

The Romantic movement was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement which took place in Europe between the late 18th and mid 19th centuries.

It was characterised by an emphasis on emotion and individuality, a glorification of the past and of nature, a celebration of the imagination and solitude, an emphasis on creativity and moving away from tradition, and an interest in the supernatural and the occult.

So now a quick check for understanding.

So which the following were characteristics of the Romantic movement? Was A, a celebration of industry and progress, B, glorification of logic and reason, or C, emphasis on emotion and individuality? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now Romantics celebrate emotion over reason and nature over industry.

So the correct answer is C, emphasis on emotion and individuality.

So very well done if you got that right.

Amazing work, everyone with the first task of the lesson.

So we're gonna start thinking about how we might make connections between the romantic conventions and the poem.

So the opening line of Wordsworth's poem is, "I wondered lonely as a cloud." And what I'd like you to think about is how does this first line represent ideas of Romanticism? Now you might think about how Romanticism shows an emphasis on emotion and individuality, a glorification of the past and of nature, and a celebration of the imagination and solitude.

So pause a video, take a few minutes to discuss.

Welcome back, everyone.

Fantastic work there.

Now what I'd like you to do is think about Sofia's ideas and whether or not you agree.

So Sofia said, "The phrase 'I wandered' suggests the image of someone travelling alone, which appeals to the Romantic emphasis on individuality and solitude.

I also think the idea of wandering lonely creates a focus on ideas of emotion, which also appeals to Romantic ideals.

Furthermore, the idea of being 'lonely as a cloud' suggests that nature understands human emotions, which creates a connection between humanity and nature, which was a central Romantic principle." So pause the video, think about whether or not you agree with Sofia.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now in the next learning cycle we're gonna read and respond to the poem, and think about how it creates ideas of belonging in nature.

Amazing work everyone.

Now in the second learning cycle, we're going to read and respond to the poem.

So what I'd like to start off by doing is reading the poem.

Now I'm going to read it through for you, or if you prefer, you can read it through by yourself.

If you're reading it through by yourself, you can find a copy in the additional materials or in the Eduqas 2025 anthology.

So pause the video, either listen along with me, or read it by yourself.

So let's read through Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." "I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high over veils and hills.

When all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils.

Beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way, they stretch in never-ending line along the margin of a bay.

Then thousands saw I at a glance, tossing their heads in a brightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they out-did the sparkling waves in glee.

A poet could not be but gay, in such a jocund company.

I gazed and gazed but little thought what wealth the show to me had brought.

For oft, when on my couch I lie, in vacant or in pensive mood they flash upon the inward eye, which is the bliss of solitude.

And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils." Welcome back, everyone.

I really hope enjoyed the poem.

Now what I'd like you to do is answer the following questions.

So question one, "How does feel at the start of the poem?" Question two, "What happens to change the speaker's mood?" And question three, "How do they feel at the end of the poem?" So pause the video, answer the questions now.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said the speaker feels lonely at the start of the poem.

And what changes for them is that they see a crowd of daffodils, and by the end of the poem they're feeling pleasure.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false that encountering nature changes the speaker's mood? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Now the correct answer is true.

Now tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said that encountering nature in the daffodils change the speaker's mood from lonely to pleasurable.

So very well done If you got this right.

Now though the speaker feels joy at the sight of the daffodils, they say, "I gazed and gazed but little thought what wealth the show to me had brought." And what I'd like to think about is what wealth do you think the daffodils have brought the speaker? Why didn't the speaker didn't immediately understand the significance of it? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

One of our Oak pupils, Jacob, said, "I think the 'wealth' that the daffodils bring is the beauty and joy they brought to the speaker's life.

I think perhaps he didn't understand it at first because he was so mesmerised by the sight of them.

Maybe this speaks to the distinctions between human society and nature, the speaker's so mesmerised by nature because he does not find such joy or beauty in human society." So what I'd like to think about is whether or not you agree with Jacob.

Why, or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I think the repetition of gaze here is particularly effective, because I think it shows just how captivated by the daffodils the speaker was.

So now for quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false that Wordsworth suggests the beauty of nature can be found in human society? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is false.

Now just tell me why it's false.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said, "The image of the speaker only later understanding the wealth that nature had given him implies he was completely mesmerised by the flowers' unique beauty." So very well done if you've got those right.

Now belonging means a feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group or in a particular place.

So what I'd like you to think about is which quotations would you choose to demonstrate the speaker feels a sense of belonging through the daffodils? Why? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now here are some of the things you might have said.

So you might have chosen, "Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" and "tossing their heads in a sprightly dance," 'cause of the real sense of movement and joy within those quotations.

You also might have chosen, "And then my heart with pleasure fills," 'cause it's, just as hearts, completely full of happiness.

Now there's just some examples of what you might have chosen.

There are many more quotations you could have chosen to represent these ideas of belonging in nature.

Now at the end of the poem, the speaker suggest the daffodils "flash upon the inward eye" when they're at home.

So what I'd like to think about is what do you think Wordsworth means by this? What do we call seeing images in your mind? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now we might think that by saying "inward eye" Wordsworth's talking about daydreaming and using your imagination.

So the speaker says that their daydreams of daffodils are the "bliss of solitude." So what I'd like to think about is what do you think Wordsworth means by this? Why might the speaker be excited by being alone in human society? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now potentially you might have thought the separation from humanity and being alone allows the speaker the chance to daydream of nature.

We might see this as showing the power and beauty of the imagination.

So what I'd like us to think about now is what do you think the significance of these ideas of daydreaming and the imagination might be in relation to ideas of belonging? What do you think Wordsworth might be suggesting about the concept of belonging? Pause the video, take a few minutes to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

One of the Oak pupils, Laura, said, "I think Wordsworth is suggesting that people don't have to be physically in nature to feel the sense of belonging.

All they have to do is think and imagine being in nature and they'll feel the same sense of bliss and pleasure and they'll dance with the daffodils." So what I'd like you to think about is do you agree with Laura? Why, or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now I think this is a really important idea about belonging.

It's the idea so connected to a place you just have to think about it to feel happy and comforted.

So, now for quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false that Wordsworth suggests that people have to be physically in nature in order to benefit from it? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is false.

Now tell me why it's false.

So pause the video, take a moments to think about it.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said, "Wordsworth suggests that joy and happiness can come from simply imagining you're in nature." So very well done if you've got this right.

Amazing work, everyone.

And that was the second task of the lesson.

So what I'd like you to do is answer the following questions.

So question one, "What do you think Wordsworth is saying about ideas of belonging?" And question two, "How do you think these ideas of belonging relate to Romanticism?" So think back to the convention of Romanticism we talked about earlier, how Romantics celebrate ideas of nature, emotion, imagination, and individuality.

Pause the video, write your answers now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now what I'd like you to do is think about Izzy's answers and whether or not you agree.

So question one, "What do you think Wordsworth are saying about ideas of belonging?" And Izzy said, "I think the contrast from the loneliness the speaker feels at the beginning of the poem, with the pleasure they feel at the end, shows that Wordsworth is suggesting that humanity can find a sense of belonging and happiness in nature that they can't find in human society." So pause the video, think about whether or not you agree with Izzy.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now I think this is something we might see as a real characteristic that runs throughout Wordsworth poetry in general, the idea that humanity belongs in nature and can find happiness and comfort there.

So question two, "How do you think these ideas of belonging relate to Romanticism?" And Izzy said, "Firstly, I think these ideas of belonging relate to Romanticism because the Romantic movement revered nature, and Wordsworth depicts nature as joyous and beautiful.

Secondly, the focus on the speaker's emotion, and how the pleasure they feel at the end fill their whole heart, appeals to Romantic focus on emotional sensitivity.

Thirdly, the focus on daydreaming, and how thinking about being in nature is enough to make one feel joyous, celebrates the power of the imagination." So pause the video, think about whether or not you agree with Izzy.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now moving on the third learning cycle, we're going to think about how we might see Wordsworth as referencing ideas of the romantic sublime in the poem.

Amazing work, everyone.

Now in the third learning cycle, we're going to define the Romantic sublime, and then think about how we might see elements of the Romantic sublime in "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." So as well as depicting the beauty and harmony of nature, Romantic artists and poets also attached ideas of the sublime to nature.

Now the sublime is the idea we should feel awe towards nature, a mixture of both fear and respect.

Thus, Romantic artists and poets depicted nature to be not only beautiful, but powerful, unpredictable, and destructive.

So you might think of the ocean for example.

The ocean is a beautiful expanse of water that we might associate with ideas of freedom and peace.

However, there's also something unpredictable and destructive about the ocean, 'cause of the damage it can do.

It's also a real element of the unknown and unfamiliarity about the depths of the ocean that might add elements of fear to this beauty.

So when speaking of nature, the speaker compares the daffodils to the stars.

"Continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way, they stretch in never-ending line." And what I'd like you to think about is how might we connect this comparison to ideas of the sublime? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now, one of the Oak pupils, Alex, said, "I think the comparison of nature to the stars associates the sensation of awe with nature, particularly the words "continuous" and "never ending," because they create a sense of the incomprehensible and eternal.

I think the unknown element of space and the stars also great sensation of awe, because it's so far removed from our experiences on Earth." So what I'd like to think about is do you agree with Alex? Why, or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, add some great ideas.

Think about the image of stars in the context of 19th century, 'cause there's a lot less knowledge and understanding around space and the stars, and therefore that might add to these elements of the sublime.

So, now for a quick check for understanding.

So which the following is an accurate definition of the Romantic sublime in relation to nature? Is it A, the sublime is the idea that nature should be seen as insignificant, B, the sublime is the idea that nature should be both respected and feared, or C, the sublime is the idea the nature should be both seen as beautiful and joyous? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now the Romantics did feel as if nature should be seen as joyous and beautiful.

But the sublime was the distinct idea the nature should be both respected and feared.

So the correct answer is B.

So very well done if you got that right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

And now the final task of the lesson.

So what I'd like you to do is think about whether you think the speaker's sense of belonging in "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" is contradicted by the idea of the sublime.

Why, or why not? I'd like you to write a short answer to explain your ideas.

Now you might think about the fact that belonging means feeling happy or comfortable.

Do you think you could feel happy or comfortable if you're in awe of a place? Pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great work there.

Now I'd like to think about Aisha and Andeep's ideas, and whose ideas align most closely with your ideas.

So Aisha said, "I don't necessarily think it does contradict ideas of belonging.

I think you can feel happy in a place while acknowledging there's something powerful about it." And Andeep said, "I think it's contradictory, because I don't see how you could be comfortable somewhere that you also acknowledge is unpredictable and potentially destructive." So pause the video, think about whose ideas align most closely with your ideas.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now there's no right answer here.

It's your individual interpretation of the poem and that will look different for everybody.

You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

Wordsworth was a leading Romantic poet who revered ideas of nature and emotion.

Throughout the poem, Wordsworth implies that nature brings joy and happiness to the speaker's previously lonely life.

Potentially, we might see Wordsworth as suggesting humanity can find a sense of belonging in nature.

However, we might also interpret Wordsworth as connecting nature to the Romantic sublime in the poem.

This connection of nature to the Romantic sublime, might undermine our understanding of belonging.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson, everyone.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.