The line “I wandered lonely as a cloud” is an example of

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud/

The first line of a famous poem.

It's in iambic tetrameter:
http://library.thinkquest.org/27864/data/cyoc/poetry.html

It is also an example of a simile... The poet is saying that he is as lonely as a sole cloud in a huge sky.

The line "I wandered lonely as a cloud" is an example of a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as". In this case, the poet is comparing their wandering to that of a cloud, emphasizing the sense of freedom and aimlessness.

To identify and understand literary devices like similes, you can follow these steps:

1. Read the line or passage carefully to identify any comparisons being made.
2. Look for the words "like" or "as" that indicate a comparison is being made.
3. Consider the meaning and purpose of the comparison. What is the author trying to convey by comparing two seemingly unrelated things?
4. Analyze the effect of the simile within the poem or text. How does it contribute to the overall meaning or imagery?

By following these steps, you can recognize and interpret various literary devices and their significance in a given work.