William Wordsworth, Selected Poems
- In what sense does “Tintern Abbey” offer readers a “religion of nature”? What are some of the specific ways in which nature works as a substitute for traditional religion?
- Why do you think Wordsworth gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed sub-title? What is the significance of this poem’s full titile?
- In the final portion of “Tintern Abbey,” the speaker turns to his “dear friend.” Who is this friend and what role does he/she play in the poem?
- “Composed upon Westminster Bridge” and “The World Is Too Much with Us” are both sonnets. Why do you think a poet might choose to work with such a highly structured form?
- Describe some of the ways in which Wordsworth’s poetry conforms to some of the features of Romanticism that we’ve discussed. What evidence can you find to illustrate this?
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Why do you think Wordsworth gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed sub-title? What is the significance of this poem’s full title?
Wordsworth’s poem “Tintern Abbey” has a detailed subtitle that tells us when and where he wrote it. The subtitle, “On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye During a Tour,” is important. It helps us understand that Wordsworth was remembering his past visits to the Wye bank and abbey. His work has a feeling of nostalgia and longing because of this. The second part of the title, “Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey,” tells us where Wordsworth was when he wrote the poem.
I agree with your point of remembrance and would also like to add that by giving such a specific location he can allow the readers to visit the place where he was when writing the poem and experience the emotions he described for themselves.
In what sense does “Tintern Abbey” offer readers a “religion of nature”? What are some of the specific ways in which nature works as a substitute for traditional religion?
We can see how “Tintern Abbey” offers us an insight into a “religion of nature” in the end of the poem. Wordsworth shows us this starting on line 151, “We stood together: and that I, so long A worshipper of Nature”. The perspective of nature associated to this location is seen to signify more than just it’s looks or beauty. But to signify something that is so great it stands for something more than anything in this world. We get the sense that its spirit is in everything, and that through exposure to this nature we can see the meaning to everything as well as to gain the answer of how we all came to be.
This can be seen as a substitute for religion in that what is held to be divine can be expressed or seen in all things existing. Like in Catholicism it is believed that the universe and all things in it are a production of God. Similar as in Shintoism, where the Japanese put their faith into nature in that nature possesses a power higher than human understanding.
Why do you think Wordsworth gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed sub-title? What is the significance of this poem’s full titile?
Wordsworth purpose on giving “Tintern Abbey” such a precise title compared to any other poem could be because he wants the reader to acknowledge the importance of the location of where he was inspired to write this poem. Wordsworth believed in the idea that poems should be written in the overflow of strong feelings and for him “Tintern abbey” was exactly one of these places. A safe space as he described it where his mind can always go back to wonder whenever he is feeling anxious in his chaotic life in the city. The detailed subtitle he chooses is as important as the title since it tells us he is revisiting this beautiful sight again. For the reader, this detailed subtitle can guide us to see the comparison Wordsworth is making from his last visit to his current visit and how he himself is sharing his evolution in these past five years. Without this detailed title and subtitle, the reader could not have understood the real meaning of where it was inspired and how different experiences Wordsworth felt when revisiting Tintern Abbey.
In what sense does “Tintern Abbey” offer readers a “religion of nature”? What are some of the specific ways in which nature works as a substitute for traditional religion?
In the poem “Lines Composed a FewMiles above Trintern Abbey”, William Wordsworth describes Tintern Abbey which was an abandoned monastery that was taken over by the nature surrounding it. William Wordsworth was known as a Pantheist, which is a person who believes that God is in everything around them. This means that when he looked at nature he saw who was the person who is behind the creation and the beauty of it. In the poem, Wordsworth says “With tranquil restoration..”(351), the quote is how he uses the thought of Tintern Abbey and its nature took relax him from the city life. This is an alternative to traditional religion since people who believe in God no matter what religion they are from, understand that life and their surroundings can stress them out but they don’t use nature to connect to God. Rather, they use practices from their religion to find a connection to God and that can be through prayers, learning the bible, etc, these are all ways that bring a person closer to God, which provides them a source of tranquility and peace. Furthermore, when describing God he says that he is living in all aspects of nature”Whose dwelling is the light of the setting suns, and the blue sky…”(353), signifying that when he looks at nature he finds God and that religion in nature is apparent everywhere.
Why do you think Wordsworth gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed sub-title? What is the significance of this poem’s full titile?
I think Wordsworth gives such a detailed subtitle because he wants to emphasize the place where he wrote this poem. He felt like this area was a safe place and get his thoughts onto pen and paper freely, with no restrictions. With how detailed the subtitle was, it lets the reader know that the differences he has noticed between the last time he was there, and how he thinks about it currently. He describes it much more clearly, as he is being more open and thoughtful on this place than his previous experience going there
In the final portion of “Tintern Abbey,” the speaker turns to his “dear friend.” Who is this friend and what role does he/she play in the poem?
The speaker refer to his “dear friend” as his sister Dorothy, she reminded him of his past self when she was exactly like him five years ago. He remembered when he saw the world as beautiful but don’t really understand how nature works. Now, he knows nature is connected to everything else in life and in the future he hopes that his sister will come to the realization of it too.
Why do you think Wordsworth gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed subtitle? What is the significance of this poem’s full title?
I think Wordsworth gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed subtitle to have the poem serve as a sort of journal entry. He is specific about where and when he writes the poem in the full title, which might make it easier for his future self to reflect on this specific trip to this location. He talks about his earlier time there, 5 years prior to this trip, and also discusses the fact that he will come back. When he revisits again, he can compare his experience to this current experience, which is documented. The full title also gives readers context before reading the actual poem, so that they understand this is not his first time here.
Describe some of the ways in which Wordsworth’s poetry conforms to some of the features of Romanticism that we’ve discussed. What evidence can you find to illustrate this?
Wordsworth’s poems conform to the features of Romanticism in that he has a strong focus on nature and rejection of technology. For example,this can be noticed in the poem “The World is Too Much With Us”. The whole theme of the poem is that with technological innovation we have strayed too far from true simple beauty, that beauty being the natural sublime. This is an ideal is a defining characteristic of Romantic poems.
In the final portion of “Tintern Abbey,” the speaker turns to his “dear friend.” Who is this friend and what role does he/she play in the poem?
In the Final portion of “Tintern Abbey” by Willam Wordsworth he turns to his “Dear Friend”. This friend is in fact his sister, Wordsworth turns to this direction because he is trying to reminisce his own past experience of this Abbey and sees his first reaction in his sister’s eyes. Wordsworth says “The language of my former heart, and read my further pleasures in the shooting lights of thy wild eyes.” (Page. 353 line 17-19) He is illustrating that his friend, his sister is reliving everything that he first felt when he originally visited the Abbey. This role in the poem adds to the context of how amazing and scenic this place is. This gives the reader two new views of the Abbey, one Wordsworth feelings of his second time revisiting the Abbey, and two his sister’s first reactions to visiting the Abbey. This can give us a more in depth understanding of how we view people and places we have interacted with and how things can either change or stay the same.
In the final portion of “Tintern Abbey,” the speaker turns to his “dear friend.” Who is this friend and what role does he/she play in the poem?
The dear friend in the poem is his sister Dorthy. He and Dorthy have always had a close relationship since they were children. Wordsworth uses his sister as a stand in audience as he reflects on visiting the Abby as a younger man compared to his older self. He relays how important Tintern Abbey and the surrounding area to him and that he wanted to share his special place with her.
Why do you think Wordsworth gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed sub-title? What is the significance of this poem’s full title?
Wordsworth made the poem’s full title very precise and detailed to show the importance of it. He emphasizes this specific location and how it has a deep meaning to him. In the poem, he describes it as a safe place to him. At first, he did not appreciate such a place but as time went on and city life started to take a toll on him he revisited this place in his head. This brings back a rushing feeling of nostalgia that saves him time and time again. It has become an anchor holding him stable in city life. At the end of this poem, he further shows how important this place is as he hopes it can also become an anchor to his sister’s life.