William Wordsworth made considerable chances to his well-known 1807 poem “I wandered lonely as a Cloud” (often referred to as “Daffodils”) several times throughout his lifetime, with the final version being published in 1815. As with “Composed upon Westminster Bridge,” the slightest change, including that of omitting and/or replacing a word, may change the overall meaning to a poem. Furthermore, this could bring also new meaning to a poem. Wordsworth adds a novel stanza to the poem in 1815.
As seen from the two versions of the poem side-by-side below, multiple changes can be observed between the 1807 and 1815 daffodil poem. In the first stanza, the 1807 version describes the field as “A host of dancing Daffodils” (4). The imagery that Wordsworth gives the reader is one of fanciful, and we could possibly envision how the wind would cause the daffodils to move and “dance.” Yet, in the final version, the same line is changed to “A host of golden Daffodils.” Although this line still retains a sense of imagery in the 1815 version, it is different: there’s no longer movement in the environment and field of daffodils, it is vibrant color. There’s no longer any wind to facilitate any “dancing” flowers, but they are beautifully “golden” in unison.
The next two lines also showcase seemingly minor changes, but closer consideration deepens their meanings. In the 1807 poem, the daffodils are described as “dancing . . . / Along the Lake, beneath the trees” (5), whereas in the final version, they are “Beside the Lake…” (5). The description of the flowers “Along the Lake” makes the image of these plentiful flowers cohesive and blend together; the daffodils are more bonded to and compliment the curves and banks of the lake—the final version appears more simple and matter-of-fact.
Although I've only mentioned these few changes between the 1807 and 1815 versions of "I wandered lonely as a Cloud," there are plenty more. Please read over the two poems and consider what the changes mean on a line-level, stanza-level, and overall for the entire poem.
As seen from the two versions of the poem side-by-side below, multiple changes can be observed between the 1807 and 1815 daffodil poem. In the first stanza, the 1807 version describes the field as “A host of dancing Daffodils” (4). The imagery that Wordsworth gives the reader is one of fanciful, and we could possibly envision how the wind would cause the daffodils to move and “dance.” Yet, in the final version, the same line is changed to “A host of golden Daffodils.” Although this line still retains a sense of imagery in the 1815 version, it is different: there’s no longer movement in the environment and field of daffodils, it is vibrant color. There’s no longer any wind to facilitate any “dancing” flowers, but they are beautifully “golden” in unison.
The next two lines also showcase seemingly minor changes, but closer consideration deepens their meanings. In the 1807 poem, the daffodils are described as “dancing . . . / Along the Lake, beneath the trees” (5), whereas in the final version, they are “Beside the Lake…” (5). The description of the flowers “Along the Lake” makes the image of these plentiful flowers cohesive and blend together; the daffodils are more bonded to and compliment the curves and banks of the lake—the final version appears more simple and matter-of-fact.
Although I've only mentioned these few changes between the 1807 and 1815 versions of "I wandered lonely as a Cloud," there are plenty more. Please read over the two poems and consider what the changes mean on a line-level, stanza-level, and overall for the entire poem.
Above: Two versions of Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a Cloud." This is on display in Wordsworth's historic Rydal Mount home in Grasmere; British Library's digital copy of original poem
Note: please click on either photo for a closer look
Note: please click on either photo for a closer look