Wordsworth's The Prelude (1805) Book Second

Wordsworth's The Prelude is a reflection of of the psychological journey he has taken throughout his life. He argues that nature, and our observations of it help shape our schemas, which are the molds we form in our mind, and we categorize new information according to how it fits these molds. Book Second of The Prelude focuses mainly on Wordsworth's childhood. 

The section from lines 232 to 258 discusses how an infant first makes an emotional connection with his mother, and how this connection leads the baby's mind to start making observations about the world around him, "forming parts into wholes." Wordsworth says that "such feelings pass into his torpid life/ Like an awakening breeze, and hence his mind... eager to combine/ In one appearance all the elements/ And parts of the same object, else detached/ And loath to coalesce." In Wordsworth's opinion, the mind does not begin to form ideas and concepts until one experience an emotional connection with another human being. Emotions are what link ideas together in our mind. Without emotions we have all sorts of ideas floating around in our heads, but none of them are complete. Our emotions take all of these bits and pieces and organize them, and link them together.

Wordsworth also talks about the passing of the seasons and the importance of this transition on how a young person gains knowledge. He begins to discuss this affect starting on line 284. He explains that children have a love of nature, and this makes them more sensitive to the changes that occur, and with these changes brings an opportunity to gain more knowledge. These changes, and the observations made about them, permanently influence the child's mind. 

- Sarabeth Hogshire