Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey - Book Report/Review Example

of the of the Concerned 14 April 2009 Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey TheEnglish poetry definitely started to show a predilection for romanticism in the last half of the 18th century. The writings of Thomson in 1826 certainly signify this marked shift in the realm of English poetry. With the passage of time, this trait managed to gain immense strength as is evident in the works of Gray, Cowper, Chatterton, Burns, Collins and Percy (Long 1999). Some of the notable poets of this age like Goldsmith though being classical in their moorings definitely exuded a discernable spirit of Romanticism (Long 1999). Lyrical Ballads, the joint endeavour of Wordsworth and Coleridge finally marked the culmination of this long period of preparation into an age that is today known as the Romantic Age. Initially this collection of poems was slow to attract public interest, primarily owing to the fact that Wordsworth's perception of nature was so fresh and novel in its approach that it took the readers some time to get used to it. Also the readers were really confused by the startling simplicity of these poems. Moreover the masses still owed a strong allegiance to the classical school, to be open to this new way of perceiving and interpreting the wonders of nature. 'Tintern Abbey' that appeared in the Lyrical Ballads in 1798 definitely qualifies to be a Wordsworth's masterpiece. In the poem under consideration, Wordsworth not only reveals a thorough grip over his art, but a gentle mellowing down of his poetic sensibilities. Simply speaking, the poem represents the interaction between the poet and nature. However, the dynamics of this communication between the man and the nature is not so easier to grasp without having some insight into the ethos of Romanticism and the Wordsworth's personal concept of nature. Romanticism is a broad and comprehensive term that marks the sum total of a whole range of changes that appeared in the European art and literature in the late 18th century (Ousby 1994). Romanticism represented a discernable shift in the sensibilities of the poets of that age. This literary movement was totally averse to neoclassicism and rationalism and had a mind of its own (Ousby 1994). Romanticism believed in breaking away with the rules and the conventions of the yore (Ousby 1994). It laid stress on the intensity of feeling, sincerity of emotions and a free flowing and natural poetic diction (Ousby 1994). A single most evident attitude that makes Romanticism stand apart from other ages is its strong sense of individualism (Ousby 1994). In fact the Romantic poets did not shy away from donning the garb of a prophet and a seer. One special aspect of the English Romanticism was its belief that each and every poet was endowed with a mission. It believed in giving a free hand to imagination and fantasy and vehemently rejected all forms of social, political and literary constraints. Wordsworth was definitely a progenitor and recipient of this revolutionary legacy and his approach towards nature and its beauty was in no way demanding in such attitude and mindset. Wordsworth's approach towards nature discernibly stands apart from the other Romantic poets of the age like Byron, Shelley, Keats and Coleridge (Daiches 2000). Unlike the other poets, Wordsworth deifies nature in his poems to the extent of intellectualizing it (Abrams 2000). While doing so he unintentionally qualifies to be called the prophet of nature. Though Wordsworth certainly touches upon the beautiful aspects of nature in his poems like' Tintern Abbey', while doing so he in no way denies the inner significance and relevance that nature holds for the entire mankind. The poems like 'Tintern Abbey' undoubtedly reveal that Wordsworth's love and admiration for nature was not an isolated and spontaneous phenomenon that stood segregated and confined to a particular period in his life, but was in fact an evolutionary process that grew and developed after passing through successive stages and under multiple influences. The earlier poems of Wordsworth reveal a sensual appeal for nature and the passion inherent in it (Sanders 2000). Though they ooze with sensuality and romance, they somehow miss the hallowed charm and timelessness that is as much a part of nature as the enticing beauty that floats on its surface. However, in 'Tintern Abbey' Wordsworth presents himself to be a mature and sombre admirer of nature who has finally developed the requisite insights while passing through the multiple stages of personal growth. This priest like predilection on the part of Wordsworth stands on the verge of serene spirituality and a refreshing sense of bliss. The treatment of nature in the 'Tintern Abbey' makes Wordsworth seems to be quiet akin to being a worshipper of nature. Most of his previous poems eulogized the pastoral aspects of nature, the serenity inherent in the country life and the dignity residing in the hardships of the common man toiling and sweating in the lap of nature. However, 'Tintern Abbey' is a poem with a difference. It not only delineates the visible beauty and charm of nature, but also reveals the kaleidoscopic impact that the reflection and juxtaposition of such scenes had on the inner recesses of the poet. The use of the phrases like "the deeper zeal of holier life" definitely and discernibly point towards this deep and meaningful communion between the poet and the nature. 'Tintern Abbey' is one single poem which is tacitly autobiographical in the sense that it touches upon the solace and tranquillity that nature brought to the weary poet amidst the heat and the dust of everyday life. In that sense, 'Tintern Abbey' is an expression of the poet's indebtedness to nature. In this poem, Wordsworth takes his readers on a visual tour of his personal evolution from being a naive and innocent boy given to outdoor life to his mature and inseparable bonding with the quintessential divinity of nature. This portrayal of nature transcends the gap existing between the country and urban landscapes and is all pervasive and benignly holistic in its generosity. Wordsworth masterfully exploits the double exposure technique in the poem under consideration (Abrams 2000). As Wordsworth considered human growth and evolution to be a scared phenomenon marked by multiple stages, in this poem he tactfully manages a juxtaposition of two varied periods from his life, which stand apart in the context of space and time, yet still manages to give the reader an idea of the impact and influence that nature had on the personal growth of the poet. Such reminiscences, under the patronage of natural beauty allow the poet to get over his personal grief by meditating on the abundant compensation and relief that nature brought to his woebegone psyche. Hence 'Tintern Abbey is vividly dramatic and attention grabbing in its presentation. One other particular aspect that sets 'Tintern Abbey' apart from Wordsworth's many other poems is the sophistication and finesse of language used by the poet (Daiches 2000). This in no is indicative of a seeping in of some intellectual snobbishness in the poet's mindset, but marks the perfection of expression that in a way imitates the perfection of nature and its charm. This shift in the poet's language and syntax was not an isolated deviation, but was a way of expression that was to stay with him in the times to come and is remarkably evident in his later poems like 'The Excursion'. Such deft and polished usage of language enabled Wordsworth to bring to fore his special panache for mysticism and pantheism and allowed him to write poems that carried his heavy philosophy with relative ease and simplicity. In 'Tintern Abbey' Wordsworth describes the sad and mournful aspects of his life in a language and style that suits the ballad form (Sanders 2000). This allows him to highlight his passive yet rich response to the surrounding landscape and the ensuing sensations (Sanders 2000). This technique raises the nature to the exalted stature of an all knowing teacher whose wisdom and gravity surpass the human intellect and shrewdness (Sanders 2000). In the words of Sanders, "Tintern Abbey, the longest poem, and the one which most obviously eschews the simplicity of the ballad, both crowns the collection (Lyrical Ballads) and gives it a direction beyond the purely narrative; it moves from the process of telling and listening implied by a poem such as 'The Thorn' (with its insistent interplay of personal expression, speculation and hearsay) into introspection and meditation (2000)." Poetry for Wordsworth signified a special state of mind and the true art of a poet lied in his ability to grasp that unique state of mind (Daiches 2000). For Wordsworth, the craft of a poet lied in giving words to the intricate relationship that existed between the man and the nature and his ability to express the sensations that a communion between man and nature often gave way to. That is why "Tintern Abbey is really a different sort of poem (Daiches 2000)". On the one side it stands to be a mystical interaction between the poet and the nature, but at a deeper level it envelopes much relevant philosophical and spiritual ramifications. Total Words: 1,511 Works Cited Abrams, M.H. 2000. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Harcourt Asia, Singapore. Daiches, David 2000. A Critical History of English Literature. Volume 4. Martin Secker & Warburg, London. Long, William J 1999. English Literature. William J. Long & Mrs. Long, New York. Ousby, Ian 1998. Companion to Literature in English. The Wordsworth, London. Sanders, Andrew 2000. English Literature. Oxford University Press. Oxford. Read More