13 thoughts on “William Wordsworth”

1. –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?

   I think the subtitle, ““Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798.”, was given that name because Tintern Abbey was a church in the 12-13th centuries, and he was a very religious man. Although, the church is monotheism and he is pantheism, the church was a beautiful, sacred place to practice a religion. The second part of the “Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798” means he revised the poetry to a level of all educated ages can read and the date was before the french revolution ended. So in short, his inspiration from the french revolution, his revision, and also the beautiful church, was all added into the title that shorten to “Tintern Abbey”.

2. 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?

   Instead of a belief of God creating the trees, the air or earth, the poem offers us this idea of “religion in nature” that is that instead of god creating all the beauty around us that instead the rocks, the trees the water, they in-themselves embody God. In other words, god can be found in them and they are in fact God. In the Wordsworth’s poem nature substitutes religion by providing comfort. In the poem many times has the author recollected his experience there among nature and it has provided for him comfort and joy especially from urban life. This is similar to how humans seek comfort in religion or God when they are faced with the various problems and stresses of daily life.

3. –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 gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed subtitle in order for us to understand what he is getting at in the poem. Without the subtitle insinuating that he is revisiting a place from his past, we may not fully understand the kind of full circle effect this poem has. Rather, we may think the one part of his poem is a dream and not reality. It is important for us to have the subtitle in order to give the poem the appropriate context.

4. 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?

   This friend is William’s sister Dorthy and she played the role of his past self and eventually his future self. She perceived nature the same way William perceived it five years ago, appreciating the view but not really understanding nature. That was back when he was a kid but now he truly saw the area in a whole new light and believed that in due time, his sister will come to the same realizations he did and recognize how nature is interconnected with everything.

5. 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?

   Wordsworth is talking about his sister. He puts an emphasis on time and setting throughout the entire play. He places an emphasis on these things specifically to show how he views things and experiences hes gone through since hes last seen his sister. His sister Dorothy keeps him sane, and connected with the world and nature as opposed to when he is without her.

6. 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?

   One of Wordsworth’s poetry, “Tintern Abbey,” Wordswroth revisited Tintern Abbey. He described the scene he had saw five years ago, the changes in nature after five years, and his feelings about it. He described the nature itself at the moment that is beautiful.
   In Romanticism, poetry is defined as spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. As it is, his poetry sprang up out of his emotions about the scenes that he was looking at the very moment.

7. –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?

   Since Wordsworth is a worshiper of nature, as an adult when he revisits Tintern Abbey, he feels the existence of God everywhere. When during his time people believed in many gods or one God, the poet actually found God in the beauty of nature. Nature provides mental peace, makes think of mortality, so does God.

8. –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 wants to be different from other poets and he actually gives an exact date and time of when the poem is written. I think he did this so readers have a knowledge os what the setting was like for his inspiration for writing Tintern Abbey. It gives us readers further details if we wanted to do research.

9. –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?

   Giving Tintern Abbey such a precise title gives the view some insight on the location. Saying “Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour” makes it personal for the reader . It also goes to give a visual aid and express how over time things change but memories remain.

10. 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,” the speakers turns to his “dear friend,” which is his sister, Dorothy. He is reminiscing the time he spent with his sister and how he missed seeing Dorothy. Dorothy is the reason why he feels so connected with nature and is keeping him sane from everyone else.

11. –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?

    when he refers to the “dear friend” he’s referring to his dear sister Dorothy, he finds her within nature. Reason why he feels connected to nature and he finds faith within nature.

12. 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?

    Instead of believing in god you could believe in the elements that make up our earth. This could be relatable to Animism where people believe that nature it self is the “god”. Everything n nature should be cherished and has value. Nature is a very beautiful thing that you cant beat, instead of believing in a man in the clouds somewhere, its also acceptable to believe that earth provides life for everything for a reason. Nature is a superpower. Nature could work as a substitute for a religion simply because people could relate to it and see the true beauty it leaves behind and people could value it more than anything else.

13. 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?

    He is referring to his sister Dorothy, he is connected to nature and Dorothy reminds him of nature.

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