William Wordsworth's The Prelude is an incredible philosophical "book" of poetry. It is not that long, concluding within about 200-300 pages. The piece is undoubtedly one of Wordsworth first, and arguably last, heavily developed, descriptive poems. Although that isn't to say that Wordsworth isn't philosophical in all his pieces, The Prelude was in many ways prompted by Wordsworth's friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who felt that Wordsworth's greatest thoughts should be developed into one piece; because it is a (well) prelude, the piece in itself reflects something about Wordsworth's character. In never developing the actual piece itself (considering he stopped after the prelude), he never fufilled Coleridge's desire. This is, biographically, where the two diverged; while Wordsworth enjoyed dabbling in philosophy, Coleridge was practically consumed by it.

Turning to the piece itself, The Prelude is written in blank verse and with very long, continuous stanzas. In writing the piece with such a flexible form, Wordsworth is able to take his reader back through time and back through his life. Starting with his youth, Wordsworth centers upon what does it mean to interact with nature. He reflects upon a particular moment of his youth when iceskating. After spinning and spinning upon the lake, suddenly the world around him blurs. He cannot see, he cannot hear, and the world which so often orientates him falls away. It is at this moment that Wordsworth draws on the importance of both human perception/sensation, and the mind itself. Although two separate powers, each is needed in order to rationalize life.

As the poem progresses, so does Wordsworth's age. Leaving iceskating and frolicking behind, Wordsworth addresses his adolescence and time in the city (at the university). He demonstrates his mind's longing for nature, for order, for escape. However, he also describes his original excitement at arriving at Cambridge and how one's entrance into a new and potentially promising experience has an ability to excite in us ambition and optimism. It is in this section, I believe, that Wordsworth best paints a realistic picture of humanity. He does not approach Cambridge (in his life) as a linear occurrence (as our memories often lead us into doing). Instead, W. is able to remember and integrate all dimensions of his time there. While in some senses it was a limiting experience, in others it was exciting and expansive.

The poem progresses through numerous periods in Wordsworth's life, and the piece is in many senses biographical. It was almost impossible for Coleridge to convince Wordsworth to write it because of how egotistical biographical-writers were perceived to be at the time. This was in no way a literary norm. However, I feel that one can get a lot out of it both in terms of its biographical material and its poetic elements. Wordsworth allows us- nay, draws us into his past and present. Through complicated syntax and vocabulary and an ever-changing form, W. begs his reader to interact and read closely in order to derive anything from The Prelude. It is in no way an easy piece, and I'd venture to argue it's one of the most difficult one could read. Sure, the narrative is comprehensive, however, to extract the psychological, natural philosophy from it is very difficult. The Prelude, is therefore amongst my strongest recommendations.