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Prompt 01

The Prelude (Extract) — William Wordsworth

AP LiteratureAQAEdexcelIB Language & Literature

In the provided extract from The Prelude, William Wordsworth depicts nature as a profound moral and spiritual influence that shapes human consciousness. Compose a well-organized essay arguing how Wordsworth employs poetic techniques — including imagery, personification, and the sublime — to illustrate the notion that nature serves as a "foster mother" or guiding force in the development of individual identity and awareness.

Your essay should

  • Present a clear, arguable thesis in your introduction
  • Analyse at least three specific moments or quotations from the extract
  • Explore how language, structure, and form contribute to meaning
  • Consider the Romantic context and how Wordsworth's thoughts reflect or critique the values of his time
  • Conclude by reflecting on the broader significance of Wordsworth's perspective on nature and selfhood

Assessment Focus

Sustained argument | Close textual analysis | Contextual understanding | Coherent structure

Prompt 02

The Prelude (Extract) — William Wordsworth

AP LiteratureAQAIB Language & LiteratureEdexcel

In this extract from The Prelude, Wordsworth depicts nature as a profound moral and psychological force that influences the growth of the human mind and self. Write a well-organized essay arguing how Wordsworth employs poetic techniques — including imagery, personification, tone, and the sublime — to illustrate the notion that nature acts as a "foster mother" or guiding presence in shaping individual identity and moral awareness.

Your essay should

  • Present a clear, arguable thesis in your introduction that asserts a specific viewpoint on how nature operates in the extract.
  • Develop at least three body paragraphs, each centered around a unique piece of textual evidence and a focused analytical point.
  • Closely examine the language and form of the poem, considering how Wordsworth's use of blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) enhances the poem's reflective, autobiographical tone.
  • Explore counterarguments or complexity: for instance, does nature always provide comfort, or does it also intimidate and discipline?
  • Conclude by reflecting on the broader significance of Wordsworth's vision — what does this extract imply about the Romantic view of the relationship between humanity and the natural world?

Assessment Focus

Close reading · Argument construction · Use of textual evidence · Understanding of Romantic literary context

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