Book First - Introduction: Childhood and School-time
Cambridge English Audio

Book First - Introduction: Childhood and School-time

C2ProficientNovember 11, 202634 min

Reader: Daniel Wakelin This series presents William Wordsworth’s ThePrelude of 1805, the thirteen-book version of his autobiographical poemtracing the growth of the poet’s mind through childhood, education, travel,political experience and the shaping powers of nature and imagination. Book First begins with a moment of release.Escaping the pressures of city life, Wordsworth finds himself free to chooseboth where he will live and what he will write. His search for a poetic subjectgradually turns backwards, towards the experiences that formed him. He recalls his childhood in Cumberland througha sequence of vivid encounters with...

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O, there is a blessing in this gentle breeze that blows from the green fields and from

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A1 11%A2 22%B1 33%B2 31%C1 3%
  • 66% of the words are B1 or easier.
  • 146 words a minute: a natural pace.
  • 353 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.

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Book First Introduction, Childhood and School Time O, there is a blessing in this gentle breeze that blows from the green fields and from the clouds and from the sky. It beats against my cheek and seems half conscious of the joy it gives. O, welcome, messenger, O, welcome, friend,

0:25

A captive greats thee, coming from a house of bondage, From yon city's walls set free, a prison where he hath been long immured. Now I am free, enfranchised and at large, May fix my habitation where I will. What dwelling shall receive me?

0:43

In what vale shall I take up my home? And what sweet stream shall with its murmurs lull me to my rest? The earth is all before me. With a heart joyous, nor scared at its own liberty, I look about, and should the guide

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