Compose a written commentary on William Wordsworth’s ‘Tintern Abbey’ where you focus on the ways of Romanticism explored and the power of memory.
William Wordsworth’s 19th century poem ‘Tintern Abbey’ explores the pleasures to be found in nature. As mature narrator, William Wordsworth, uses the power of memory and literary devices to view the Wyre Valley’s natural beauty. Techniques such as sibilance and metaphors aid in contrasting Wordsworth’s newfound perspective on nature with his attitudes to nature in his youth. Wordsworth also uses memory to compare this natural scene with the ‘din’ of the city where we can assume he also spent time, Wordsworth finally examines the deep pleasures of nature and it’s spiritual element – that is god, and his connection with nature and humanity. This is an element of the poem not aided by memory but instead reflects the social and historical context of the Romantic Era. To conclude Wordsworth shares his thoughts with his sister in an attempt to spiritually educate her.
The poem opens with a reference to time. The way the word ‘five’ is repeated emphasises that a period of time has passed but has not passed quickly, and suggests weariness in the narrator. The repetition also gives the opening a rolling rhythm, which is echoed in the ‘rolling’ waters and their ‘soft inland murmur’. This section concentrates on images of restfulness and peace. Wordsworth continues to use vivid imagery to describe the Wyre Valley. The view he describes is that of ‘pastoral farms’ and the imagery is very domestic. The ‘plots of cottage-ground’ and their ‘orchard-tuffs’ suggest smallness and neatness; the green colour of the landscape suggests fertile land suited to agriculture. Finally the sibilance in’ wreaths of smoke… sent up in silence’ allows a visual aid of smoke as the movement echoes the visual action of smoke. This emphasizes the presence of humans in nature, a common theme in ‘Tintern Abbey’.
