Assignment:
- What are the poet’s subjects, or what does this poem seem to be “about”? Offer a brief description.
- When is the action of each stanza occurring? Make a quick list that includes examples of these textual time stamps i.e. the language that specifies time.
- How does the poet make use of the past? For example, how does the memory of scenes from the Wye help him when he’s “mid the din/Of towns and cities” (l.26-27)? What “gifts” does it give?
- The speaker describes himself at different moments in time. If we think of these times as corresponding to different states of consciousness, or the poet’s subjectivity, who is the speaker at these different times?
- Who is he at the beginning, middle, and end of the poem?
- How does the poem depict different aspects of his personhood, or what versions of the poet do we see and where?
- Much of the poem describes the poet’s feeling of loss, but it also looks forward. What are the “pleasing thoughts/That in this moment there is life and food/For future years” (64-66)? What does the poet expect, or hope, for his sister, Dorothy?
1. I think the poet covers several major themes throughout. Primarily, he conveys how meaningful the location is to him. The specific aspects of nature that are particularly of interest to him are the harmony, solitude, peace, and idyllic aesthetics. However, he also uses the location as a constant within his reflection of development. In this sense, he regards nature as what has natured his values, but also as a value which he contrasts himself against to prove that he has in fact built himself up from nature. In many ways, as well, he discusses his adoration of this specific area as a type of childish love, that then evolves into something far more nuanced- which holds a multitude of meanings, but majorly refers to his relationship with nature- which he, in many ways, views as reciprocal. Finally, Tintern Abbey is a place of revelation for him. He arrives at this place of his childhood and emerging adulthood with a catalogue of new experiences and uses the location to contextualize them- though he still holds the same wonder, he utilizes this location differently (which we discover through his recount and revelation). Perhaps this expresses how man transgresses nature by being able to remove himself from it, or perhaps it demonstrates the tether of nature, which holds him to his most genuine self. I find evidence for both, but support the latter more for the context of the poem, “In nature and the language of the sense,//The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,// The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul//of all my moral being.” (PG. 134 L. 108-111)
2. In the first stanza, the poet is reflecting presently, on returning to the scene after a long time (L. 1, 5, 9). In the second stanza, the poet is discussing his past- when he was away from Tintern Abby (L. 23-27). In the third stanza, he is still away, but is thinking of the location (L. 52-57). In the fourth stanza, the poet is going through the times he found himself in the location throughout his life. From his childhood (L.66-74), to as a young adult (L. 75-83), to the present- where he is reflecting on his past (L. 84-111). The fifth stanza discusses his future(L. 155-159), as well as his sister’s past, present, and future (120-144).
3. Wordsworth utilizes the past to contextualize the progression of his character. He notes on how he developed from childish boy, simply adventuring (L.66-74)— to angsty adolescent unsure of what more there was to nature than what he saw(L.75-83)— to an unfulfilled adult, remembering the past to inspire him (L.23-29)— to now, where his nostalgic though grateful for the insight and wonders of nature (L. 84-111)— and eventually to the future, where he prophets that as he grows old and nears death, the nature of Tintern Abbey was more meaningful to him. (L.155-End). Furthermore, in lines 26-27, when he references the “gifts” that his memories give him, I believe he is referring to both creative inspiration and a reminder of virtue (34-35). When he is “mid the din/Of towns and cities” he also notes on how his observation of nature has allowed him to have insight into other things, and understand other people, “While with an eye made quiet by the power//Of harmony, and the deep power of joy,//We see into the life of things.” (L. 47-49)
4. Throughout the poem, Wordsworth drifts in between the dream-like state of reminiscing, and the present day.
a. In the beginning, he is himself before he has arrived at Wye, or immediately as he has arrived. In the middle, he is who he was when he had been in Wye throughout several different points (a boy (L.66-74), a young adult (L. 75-83)). In the end, he is himself leaving Wye. In each of these states he has a different perspective, because in each of them he has been contextualized differently by the landscape. Additionally, he utilizes his past perceptions to imply the progression of his present ones.
b. The poem depicts various aspect of who Wordsworth is because it depicts the various realms through which nature has shaped him. His virtue (L. 34-35), his sense of adventure (L.66-74), his passion (L. 75-83), his insight (L. 47-49) (which detrimental to his life as a poet), and his acceptance of mortality (L. 145-End) , as well support of his sister (L. 120-144). Through this, we also see the ways in which he has utilized the interactions that occur in nature to govern his perceptions of how society should work and how he reacts within it (L. 40-44).
5. I believe the pleasing thoughts Wordsworth is referring to is how the positive outcome of his present, indicates the trajectory of his future. Specifically, that he is no longer the child or young adult he came to Wye as- he is more insightful, more understanding, and finds more to admire in nature: It is bountiful for him. (L. 65-70). Additionally, the poet hopes that his sister Dorothy is able to live peacefully as a single woman, and continue to also admire the wonders of nature.(130-140) More so, he hopes that when all she has are the memories of Wordsworth, that she remembers him in this present, in nature, in his happiest form. (L. 140-End)
