Inside and Out: A reading of Tintern Abbey
I. Seeing Into the Life of Things What does Wordsworth see when he “sees into the life of things?” Recall that in the lines leading up to his portrayal of the “blessed mood” that gives him this sight, Wordsworth has been pointing to the power of human memory and reflection. And the importance of memory and reflection are made plain by the shifting time perspectives in the poem. The poem begins with the speaker on the banks of the Wye for the first time in five years. At first the poet emphasizes the way in which his present experience is similar to that of five years ago. More than once he tells us that “again” he has certain experiences in this secluded spot, a place that is evidently a refuge for him. He then tells how he has thought of “these beauteous forms” at many difficult times since he was… Continue reading