Question

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company

–“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,”
William Wordsworth

What is the effect of rhyming glee and company in this part of the poem?

The rhyme emphasizes the speaker’s joy at being among the flowers.
The rhyme reflects the Romantic poet’s interest in nature and mythology.
The rhyme highlights the contrast between loneliness and joy

Answer 1

The rhyme emphasizes the speaker’s joy at being among the flowers.

By pairing "glee" with "company" the sound links the two ideas, drawing attention to how the speaker’s happiness comes from being in that lively company of daffodils; the musical rhyme also reinforces the buoyant, joyful mood.