Tintern Abbey Stanza-wise Explanation (11 to 16 Context)

Tintern Abbey Stanza-wise Explanation

Explanation of previous text: Tintern Abbey- Line by Line Explanation (1 to 10 Context Stanza-wise) 

11. For I had learned……..to chasten and subdue.

Reference to the Context- This passage from Wordsworth poem “Tintern Abbey” gives a picture of the development of the poet’s attitude to Nature. To the poet as a boy and a young man Nature was “all in all”; the various sights and sounds of nature were then to him “an appetite.” That time is over now, and passing through the soul-shattering experiences of life he has gradually developed a broader human attitude to Nature. She is no more a source of mere joy to him.

Explanation- The poet describes the stage in the development of his attitude to nature which followed the period of thoughtless youth. Nature then was to him a source of intoxicating joy. But that time is pst now, and through the natural process of change his attitude to nature has undergone a remarkable transformation. Now he does not love nature for its own sake, that is to say, for the joys of its sights and sounds. As the poet advanced in years and came to know about the sorrows and sufferings of human life, his heart was deeply moved by a sense of sorrow and pain as realities of life. This poignant sense of sadness softened the raptures joys of his early youth, and he learned to look on nature in a new light. Now he often found in the voices and events in nature a hint of the quietly suffering humanity. This message of nature was not conveyed to him in a harsh of jarring language: rather it influenced his heart with a kind of soft music. Thus both his early joys and his later experience of bitter sadness were fused into an impression of a sober and mellowed joy tempered by sorrow. Nature, thus, at this stage was a source of moral strength to the poet.

12. And I have felt………….rolls through all things.

Ref. to the Context- In these lines from Wordsworth’s poem “Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey” there is an indication of a further development in the poet’s attitude to Nature. His attitude became more and more philosophical and speculative.

Explanation- As Wordsworth came to closer contact with nature, he began to perceive an animating principle operating in all the universe, and this perception filled his mind with lofty thoughts and sentiments and his heart, with deep spiritual joy. He come to feel the presence of a dynamic power in all the objects of nature. From the glorious light of the sitting sun, the boundless ocean, the living atmosphere enveloping our earth, the blue dome of the heavens, to the mind of man… everything came under the powerful influence of that supremo reality. This power is compared by the poet to a compelling motion or an irresistible tide flowing through the entire universe, which gives power and energy to all  living creatures and all objects of thought.

In this passage Wordsworth identifies the Supreme Reality with the created universe. This concept of God, or a Supreme Being, manifest in the visible world, in known as Pantheism a view apparently upheld by the poet in these lines.

13. Therefore am I………….all my moral being.

Ref. to the Context- These lines have been taken from Wordsworth’s poem “Tintern Abbey” In these lines the poet explains his love of Nature. He also explains the relationship between the external nature and the poetic imagination. He further explains the relation between Nature and the heart of man.

Explanation- The poet says that he feels that there is a universal power which animates all nature and gives it motion and spiritual force to influence the mind of man. Because of his belief in living Nature, the poet loves intensely the woods, the hills, and the green fields. He is a lover of all that he sees around him. But the poet explains the relationship between objects of external nature and the senses of man. Nature is not merely what we perceive with our senses. It is also what we feel and give life to with the help of our imagination. Thus there is a close link between external nature and the mind of man. It is a creative link. Nature as perceived through the senses gives birth to complex thoughts and feelings, especially of joy. The pervading sense of joy generates virtues and builds up the moral life of man. As a result of this moral influence of Nature, such a man radiates love, joy and kindness around him wherever he goes. The poet himself feels deeply thankful to Nature for his own moral guidance.

14. Nor perchance………..the heart that loved her.

Ref. to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem “Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey” written by Wordsworth. In these lines the poet pays a high tribute to the genius of his sister Dorothy, and he expresses a heart-felt gratitude to her for her moral influence on himself.

Explanation- The poet says that even if he had not been taught to look on Nature in the particular mode, he would not allow his cheerfulness and kindly feelings to decay and degenerate. He has great faith in the beneficial influence of his sister who is with him on his tour. She is to him both a sister and a friend. When he looks at her, he reads in her wild glittering eyes the pleasures of his youthful existence. When he listens to her sweet and gentle voice, he catches a glimpse of the wild-ecstasies of his boyhood and youth. His sister Dorothy has been all her life a keen observer of the beauties of Nature and she has had a powerful influence on the poet Wordsworth. The poet expresses his sense of gratitude to her by saying that she reminds him by her mere presence what he has been in the former years and how he has developed a certain philosophy of Nature. He then proposes to make the prayer for his sister’s sake that there should never come to separation between them in the future years wherever they might be. He has complete faith and trust in the good influence of Nature. She would never deceive her lover, the poet asserts.

15. Its her privilege………..is full of blessing.

Ref. to the Context– This passage has been taken from Wordsworth’s poem “Tintern Abbey”. In this passage the poet describes the powerful influence of Nature on the mind of man. Nature is described here as a source of joy and peace.

Explanation– According to Wordsworth, Nature is a perennial source of joy. She can lead the mind of man from joy to joy, for she can produce infinite forms of beauty. She is capable of filing our mind with lofty thoughts and impressing it with its quiet beauty, Asia result we develop a positive attitude to life. We begin to feel that all that we see around us is good. We begin to take even our misfortunes as blessings in disguise. And what is most important of all, we are enabled to maintain a dignified balance of mind in the teeth of all unfavourable circumstances of life. We are not at all perturbed by the malicious talks and rumors that people spread about us. We do not respond to the hasty and wrong judgments people pass on our conduct, nor do we care a fig for their sneers. We keep a cheerful and dignified equanimity in the midst of the dull routine of our daily life.

16. Therefore, let the moon………these my exhortations.

Ref. to the Context- These lines occur in the poem “Tintern Abbey” composed by William Wordsworth. In these lines the poet addresses his sister Dorothy with the hope that she will always remember him in future and that she will not lose the balance of her mind in adverse circumstances of life. She will always have the same cheerful faith in nature as she does now in his company.

Explanation– The poet exhorts his sister to keep a cheerful appearance in the face of loneliness. The bright rays of the moon shall brighten her solitary path of life. The chill winds of mountains may blow freely against her without disturbing her in the least. The wild pleasure that she feels in the wild joys of the fantastic scene of the river Wye will in due course become a source of quiet happiness by passing through memory in her future years. She will be enabled to lead a quiet, contented life because her love of nature will also grow into maturity. She will become a lover of the loveliness of natural objects, and her mind will be in tune with the sweet harmony of Nature. Then even if her portion in life is pain, or grief, or fear, or if she may have to face loneliness in life, she will face it all bravely and peacefully Then she will remember him, the poet hopes, with feelings or tenor joy which will heal the

English Literature- Important links

• Development of English poetry since the age of Shakespeare
• Important Forms of poetry in English (Narrative, Lyrical, Sonnet etc.)
• Sonnet 29- When, in disgrace with fortune (William Shakespeare)
• SONNET 138- When my love swears (Analysis and Explanation)
• Critical review of Sonnet Writing of William Shakespeare
• “The Canonization” by John Donne- Summary & Line by line Explanation
• Critical appreciation of ‘The Canonisation’ (Poem by John Donne)
• John Donne- As a Poet, Poet of Love, a Metaphysical Poet
• “Paradise Lost” (Lines 242-272) John Milton | Summary & Analysis
• Characteristics of John Milton’s Poetry (with reference to Paradise Lost)
• “PARADISE LOST” as an Epic- By John Milton
• Critical appreciation of Paradise Lost- Theme, Styles, Cosmology etc.
• Speeches of Satan in Book I of Paradise Lost (By John Milton)

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