–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 title?
–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 gives “Tintern Abbey” a very precise and detailed title because he believes that poetry is “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings as it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility” he wants us to understand that there is no thought process to poetry as it should come naturally to its writer, so by giving his poem such a precise and detailed title, he was showing that to us. Also he wants us to know that where he was writing the poem was a cool and relaxing environment which adds more to the poem. He also wanted us to know that it was not his first time, so as to give us an idea of what to expect when reading the poem e.g flashback, and that is why he mentions that he’s revisiting the place.
–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?
Firstly, the idealization of the past time is a sign of Romanticism. When he retrospect his listing at Banks of the Wye, he describes the scenery as “These beauteous forms, through a long absence, have not been to me as is a landscape to a blind man’s eye”. He tends to idealize the experience at Banks of the Wye and even regard the nature as another form of religion, which can sublime the soul.
Secondly, the pursuit and passion for country life is another symbol of Romanticism. Throughout the whole poetry, the poet shows his love and admire for the countryside, even though he is in city at present. He even wants to have “tranquil restoration” when he visits the Wye and throw himself in the nature.
–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 stanza of the poem, Wordsworth refers to his sister Dorothy. He sees himself from five years ago in her. Five years ago was the first time he visited this place, ” a few miles above Tintern Abbey.” The second time he revisited this place, he brought along his sister. He wants her to use the memory of this place like how he does. He wants her to use this memory as a way to uplift her when things get difficult in her day to day life. He also wants her to connect this place to him because he brought her there. He wants her to think ol f the time they had together whenever the thought of this place comes to her mind.
In the final portion of “Tintern Abbey,” Wordsworth’s use of “dear friend” can be attributed to his sister Dorothy as he was with her when he revisited Tintern Abbey. He wants to impart on her the same feeling he had the first time he visited the place five years ago and tells her to also use the positive feeling and memory she has at that moment even when they get back to London so that she may have something to hold on to. In my opinion, however, the “dear friend” in the last portion of the poem may also be his readers and that the poem was a message telling them to hold on to a past happy and relieving memory in times of hardships and suffering.
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?
Tintern Abbey offers a way for someone to rejuvenate the soul. It gives a sense of meditation-being in silence, in peace and working on yourself internally. Nature works as a substitute for traditional religion where you take in the landscape around you(external), keep it in your memories and when you are going through a hardship you recall those memories(internal), to calm yourself, alleviate anxiety, and feel at ease. Nature also works as a substitute because one starts to appreciate the world more, appreciate life and all its wondrous beauty. Nature provides everything we need, everything we make comes from of nature, and we come from nature. Following this logic, nature becomes your church, everything around you, effects what’s you feel inside.
–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 person that Wordsworth was referring to in the final portion was his sister Dorothy. She played the role of Wordsworth past self and also, she is the reason why he feels connected to nature.
After Wordsworth revisit to Tintern Abbey with his sister, Dorothy sees nature the same way he saw nature five years ago. She will enjoy and appreciate nature but to an extent where she will not understand it fully. Wordsworth compares his old self to his sister today and eventually she will become Wordsworth future self . Now that he have revisited Tintern Abbey after 5 years, he sees nature in a different way ( different experience and memories) than what he saw when he came 5 years ago. The same thing for his sister, she will come to the same realization her brother did and she will have a different experience and memories.