William WordsworthWilliam Wordsworth

1770 -- 18501770 -- 1850

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

A.A. After Blake, one of the first generationAfter Blake, one of the first generationB.B. Biographical—parentsBiographical—parents

--education--education--travels--travels

C.C. Theory of PoetryTheory of Poetry1. Lyrical Ballads1. Lyrical Ballads2. intense emotion 2. intense emotion

recollected in tranquilityrecollected in tranquility

I. Introduction continuedI. Introduction continued

3. WW’s style: observe nature3. WW’s style: observe nature meditate upon observ.meditate upon observ. emotional/intellectualemotional/intellectual

openingopening

Objective----Sense----IdeaObjective----Sense----Idea

Sensation---Memory---ThoughtSensation---Memory---Thought

I. Introduction (continued)I. Introduction (continued)

God--God--

Mind---Mind---

Matter---Matter---

I. Introduction continuedI. Introduction continued

D.D. Theory of NatureTheory of Nature

1. Nature----human----divine1. Nature----human----divine

2. Nature has a divine presence2. Nature has a divine presence

3. human infuses Nature with meaning, 3. human infuses Nature with meaning, moral (Nature creates human creates moral (Nature creates human creates Nature [Divine])Nature [Divine])

II. Tintern AbbeyII. Tintern Abbey

A.A. To return to a part of nature to regain To return to a part of nature to regain peace of mind after the disillusionment of peace of mind after the disillusionment of shattered ideals shattered ideals

B.B. SensationSensation supernaturalsupernatural

physical-------------------------metaphysicalphysical-------------------------metaphysical

natural [Transformation]natural [Transformation]

II. Tintern Abbey continuedII. Tintern Abbey continued

C.C. Five part MovementFive part Movement1.1. Part 1 (1—22)Part 1 (1—22)

2.2. Part 2 (23—48)Part 2 (23—48)

3.3. Part 3 (49—58)Part 3 (49—58)

4.4. Part 4 (59—111)Part 4 (59—111)

5.5. Part 5 (the prayer wish for the future)Part 5 (the prayer wish for the future)

D. Some Final InterpretationsD. Some Final Interpretations

1. Harold Bloom1. Harold Bloom

a.a.

b.b.

c.c.

2.2. Michael Cook—relation Michael Cook—relation

of past to presentof past to present

D. Some Final InterpretationsD. Some Final Interpretations

3.3. Geoffrey Hartman—slow rhythm of the Geoffrey Hartman—slow rhythm of the poem=self-exploration and self-poem=self-exploration and self-understandingunderstanding

4.4. Geoff Durrant: thought, Geoff Durrant: thought,

object of thought, feeling, object of thought, feeling,

and occasionand occasion

D. Some Final InterpretationsD. Some Final Interpretations

5.5. May Levinson: four anniversariesMay Levinson: four anniversaries

--a house of outgrown egos--a house of outgrown egos

6.6. Carl Wooding—”the mind’s part Carl Wooding—”the mind’s part in the continuous creating of in the continuous creating of a sublime universe”a sublime universe”--Holy Trinity idea--Holy Trinity idea--sublimity of humble human beings--sublimity of humble human beings