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Below you will find a summary of the poem as well as an in-depth analysis of it.
| Written in | 1798 |
| Written by | William Wordsworth |
| Form | Ode |
| Metre | Blank verse |
| Rhyme scheme | Unrhymed |
| Poetic devices | Enjambment, metaphor |
| Frequently noted imagery | Natural imagery |
| Tone | Awe-filled, respectful, wise |
| Key themes | Nature, the past |
| Meaning | The beauty and power of nature. Nature's connection with humanity. |
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey': poem
Let's first look at an excerpt from the poem:
Five years have past; five summers, with the length
Of five long winters! and again I hear
These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs
With a soft inland murmur.—Once again
Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,
That on a wild secluded scene impress
Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect
The landscape with the quiet of the sky.
The day is come when I again repose
Here, under this dark sycamore, and view
These plots of cottage-ground, these orchard-tufts,
Which at this season, with their unripe fruits,
Are clad in one green hue, and lose themselves
'Mid groves and copses. Once again I see
These hedge-rows, hardly hedge-rows, little lines
Of sportive wood run wild: these pastoral farms,
Green to the very door; and wreaths of smoke
Sent up, in silence, from among the trees!
With some uncertain notice, as might seem
Of vagrant dwellers in the houseless woods,
Or of some Hermit's cave, where by his fire
The Hermit sits alone.
These beauteous forms,
Through a long absence, have not been to me
As is a landscape to a blind man's eye:
But oft, in lonely rooms, and 'mid the din
Of towns and cities, I have owed to them,
In hours of weariness, sensations sweet,
Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart;
And passing even into my purer mind
With tranquil restoration:
...
And I have felt
A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply interfused,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean and the living air,
And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:
A motion and a spirit, that impels
All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
And rolls through all things. Therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods
And mountains; and of all that we behold
From this green earth; of all the mighty world
Of eye, and ear,—both what they half create,
And what perceive; well pleased to recognise
In nature and the language of the sense
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul
Of all my moral being.
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey': summary
Let's break down Wordsworth's poem by stanza.
Stanza one
Wordsworth begins by stating that it has been five years since he has experienced the natural landscape around Tintern Abbey. He describes the beautiful springs and cliffs he can see. Sitting under a tree, Wordsworth gazes at not-yet bloomed orchards and country farms. It is clear he adores and is awed by this natural scenery.
Stanza two
Despite not being in this place for many years, it has never left Wordsworth's mind. While in bustling and noisy cities, he has thought of these natural landscapes, and they have given him solace and calm. Wordsworth believes that his experiences with the natural world have impacted the way he behaves, making him a better and kinder person. The nature around Tintern Abbey has also had a philosophical influence on Wordsworth. It has allowed him to view life both more clearly and much more positively.
Stanza three
This shorter stanza expands on the previous one. Wordsworth details the various ways the world has upset and impacted him in the five years since he has been to Tintern Abbey. However, he has consistently used his memories of nature to maintain himself and keep his spirits up.
Stanza four
The narrative now returns to the present moment in which Wordsworth is observing the natural scenery. His memories of the place have grown faint, and he is pleased that they have now been renewed. He knows these recollections will help him during difficulties for years to come, just as they have before. Upon reflection, Wordsworth also acknowledges how excitable he once was as a young man amongst this natural landscape. He felt passionately and strongly about nature. Now, he is older and has a more wise outlook. Age has given him a deeper and more complex understanding of nature and its power and impact. Wordsworth emphasises how much nature continues to guide his life. He uses it as a moral guide.
Stanza five
The final stanza of 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' changes to have an addressee: Wordsworth's sister, who is accompanying him. Wordsworth believes even if he did not have this complex appreciation of nature, he would still be happy here as he is with his sister, who he also considers a dear friend. He sees glimpses of his own youthful self in his sister. He wishes a good life for his sister and that the negativities of life will not harm either of them. Wordsworth proceeds to encourage her to use her memories of this natural world to aid her whenever she may feel sad, just as he does. In addition, after he has passed, he hopes that his sister will fondly remember both him and the deep love he held for nature and all it encompassed.
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey': meaning
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' revolves around the beauty and power of the natural world. This is a recurring theme in William Wordsworth's work. The way he views nature has developed as he ages. As a young man, Wordsworth was excited by nature but did not think beyond this. His younger self did not search for a deeper meaning in what he saw. However, five years on, his perspective has changed. Wordsworth recognises the power of nature to influence people both personally and morally. He sees it as something that can make one a better person and also something that can aid one in difficulties. Nature is presented as operating in unity and connection with humanity in this poem.
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey': theme
Nature is clearly a key theme in Wordsworth's poem. Wordsworth muses over the natural scenes before him and provides extensive descriptions of what he can see. He is focused on the positive influence nature has had upon him. This can be seen in the below quote from the fourth stanza of 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey'.
In nature and the language of the sense
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul
Of all my moral being. (ll. 110-113)
Nature is shown as a force for moral good in this poem. Wordsworth uses the feelings it invokes in him to guide himself and make good decisions. He is also inspired by the fact that everything is connected in nature, humans included.
Another relevant theme in 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' is the past. Wordsworth opens the poem by looking back, as he references the fact that it has been five years since he has been in this place. He reflects on how his relationship with nature has changed. As a young man, Wordsworth experienced nature without thinking deeply about it. He looks back on this time fondly now. There is also a recognition of these same qualities in his younger sister. However, despite the wisdom he now has regarding nature's importance, Wordsworth still values the passion and enjoyment of his youth.
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey': literary devices
Now let's consider the literary devices used in Wordsworth's poem.
Enjambment
Wordsworth uses the device of enjambment in this poem.
Enjambment is a poetic technique in which a line runs into the next line or stanza without the use of any punctuation to separate them. This device can also be referred to as 'run-on lines'.
There are many instances of enjambment in 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey'. Below is one such example.
Therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods
And mountains; and of all that we behold
From this green earth; of all the mighty world
Of eye, and ear (ll. 104-108)
Enjambment can serve multiple functions in poetry, for example, creating a sense of drama or intensity. Wordsworth uses it differently. The lack of distinction between many lines in the poem is linked to the connection Wordsworth sees between all the natural world. The lines of the poem are interconnected, just as nature is in Wordsworth's vision of it. This suggests a kind of unity.
Metaphor
Metaphor is also used in 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey'.
Metaphor is when something is used to represent something else, although neither thing has any link between them. Metaphors can often be used to represent abstract concepts.
One metaphor in Wordsworth's poem comes at the beginning of the second stanza, as quoted below.
These beauteous forms,
Through a long absence, have not been to me
As is a landscape to a blind man's eye: (ll. 23-25)
Wordsworth uses the metaphor 'a landscape to a blind man's eye' to represent the fact that even when he was separate from nature, it was still at the forefront of his mind. The phrase represents the action of being unable to see something. Wordsworth writes that, for him, nature was not like landscape to a blind man's eye. He is using the metaphor in reverse. This emphasises how central nature is to his life. Even when he was far away from it, he could still see it.
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey': analysis
Now let's analyse some further aspects of Wordsworth's poem.
Form, metre, and rhyme scheme
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' can be considered an ode.
An ode is an emotional form of poetry focused on praising a person or place.
Wordsworth is offering praise and celebrating the natural world in his poem. The poem consists of five stanzas of varying lengths. However, the metre of 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' is much more consistent. It is in blank verse.
Blank verse is unrhymed iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter consists of lines with five metrical feet. It is often used because it is similar to natural human rhythms of speech.
Wordsworth uses blank verse in this poem for its natural cadence. This aids the conversational tone of the poem and emphasises that he sees it as natural for nature to be intimately connected to humans.
Frequently noted imagery
We will now move on to imagery in the poem.
Natural imagery
'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' is a poem brimming with imagery. Much of it follows the same common theme: nature. Wordsworth takes great care to describe the natural world before him in extensive detail. He depicts 'plots of cottage ground that 'are clad in one green hue' and 'little lines of sportive wood'. These are peaceful and pleasant natural images. They are also told by Wordsworth with great reverence. The intricacy his imagery contains in this poem showcases the deep respect he has for the natural world and how much he believes in its beauty and power.
Tone
The tone of 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' is one of awe and respect. Wordsworth clearly holds the natural world in extremely high regard. He uses positive language to describe the areas surrounding Tintern Abbey. Wordsworth feels a deep connection to nature and also has an acute awareness of its power.
The tone of this poem is also wise. There is an acknowledgement of the more reckless and less aware days of Wordsworth's youth. He emphasises that he now has a much more profound understanding of nature's complexity. He fondly looks back on the days when he merely adored nature without this deeper awareness.
Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey - Key takeaways
- 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' is a 1798 poem by renowned poet William Wordsworth.
- It is an ode written in blank verse.
- Two key themes in the poem are nature and the past.
- Wordsworth makes use of the literary devices of enjambment and metaphor.
- The poem has a great deal of natural imagery.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey
What is the theme of 'Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey'?
The themes of the poem are nature and the past.
How is 'Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey' a Romantic poem?
It is a Romantic poem because it focuses on love, inspiration, and nature which are key concepts of Romanticism.
Which literary devices are used in 'Tintern Abbey'?
Enjambment and metaphor are used.
How many lines does the poem 'Tintern Abbey' have?
'Tintern Abbey' has 162 lines.
What is 'Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey' about?
It is about the beauty and power of nature and how it is positively connected to humanity.
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