TINTERN ABBEY

The 'Tintern Abbey' is one of the most representative poems by William Wordsworth. It occupies an important place among his shorter poems. It reveals the spiritual development of the poet. This poem deals with his attitude towards Nature.

     The 'Tintern Abbey' is the last poem of the 'Lyrical Ballads'. This great poet paid a second visit to the famous Wye Valley in July 1798. His sister Dorothy was with him. It was a delightful and pleasant spot. Being impressed by the beauty of this place, the poet composed this poem.

     The present poem consists of three parts. The first part describes the scene in the valley. Here we find the description of mountains, fruit gardens, green trees, river, hedge rows and rising smoke. In the second part of the poem the poet tells us the various stages of his approach to Nature. The third part is addressed to his sister Dorothy. The poet says that Nature would console her in the miseries. Nature never betrays its worshipper.

     This poem is significant for its forms and images of Nature. Here we see that the poet has great faith in the restorative and associative power of Nature. At first the poet reacts in a sensual way to the physical qualities of natural things. Later on he finds Eternal Beauty among these things. The physical delight becomes spiritual ecstasy. In short, the 'Tintern Abbey' expresses the poet's ardent love for Nature. It seems that the poet considers Nature as God.

     The 'Tintern Abbey' is a personal and confessional poem. In other words, it is a short autobiography of the poet in verse. It also gives out the mystic and transcendental note of Wordsworth's nature. It is a mirror on which the poet's entire philosophy of Nature is reflected.