Tintern Abbey

7 Pages 1856 Words

During the French Revolution, Tintern Abbey became an important site of poetic inspiration as well as spiritual refuge for William Wordsworth who was shocked and saddened by the violent devastation caused by the war. Wordsworth, an enthusiastic supporter of the revolution, was pained to see the ruined Abbey, overgrown and neglected by the industrial revolution. When he wrote “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey”, Wordsworth does not depict the Abbey in its state at 1798, but rather recalls a more scenic and peaceful time when the Abbey was in its prime (Peters 1). This idealized former Abbey becomes the site of confrontation and reconciliation with dramatic realizations, as Wordsworth tries to assess the five years that have passed since his last visit. Wordsworth knows that the Abbey has changed along with himself, and wrote this poem to come to terms with the loss that he must deal with. As a whole, “Lines Written a Few Lines above Tintern A” is a poem attesting to the loss of innocence caused by war, and time (Peters 1). Wordsworth uses words such as “green’, and “dwell” to bring about his grief, and explores death and divinity in an attempt to pacify his uneasy mind (Peters 1). Although Wordsworth remembers and depicts the Abbey as a beautiful and joyful place, the poem remains a warning to youth about industry and globalization and what it can do to the beauty of life.
The initial emphasis is of this poem is placed upon the landscape of the former Tintern Abbey which is called forth from Wordsworth’s memory. In describing the lush, beautiful setting, Wordsworth paints a vivid picture of a serene paradise of greenery as far as the eye can see. In the context of loss, the word “green” takes on a far deeper meaning, and becomes synonymous with the innocence of youth. Wordsworth continues to reference green imagery and depicts the once untouched land that has been ruined. His glorific...