"Tintern Abbey" - Wordsworth's Glorification of Nature

In my last blog I stated that Wordsworth glorifies nature in his poem, "Tintern Abbey," instead of the spirit of England itself (150-52). He refers to a "[holy] love" for nature itself (155), which further delves into my analysis of this poem. Wordsworth continuously revisited Tintern Abbey to escape to a place which brought him peace in his unsettled life (1-159). To understand this, one must know a bit about the author himself. The French Revolution was occurring at the time that this poem was written in 1798 (http://www.marxists.org/history/france/revolution/timeline.htm). His unrest was that his beloved country was at war; therefore, realistically, he wanted to return to a place which brought him refuge. The ruins of Tintern Abbey were a sacred place for him. The beauty of the landscape, and the religious sentiment of the Abbey, brought him peace.

The idea of the myth of England as an island nation was also relevant for the time he wrote the poem.  However, instead of glorifying a country, he glorifies nature (150-52). The reason for this, possibly, was to return to nature, which brought him peace.  Nature prevailed amongst the abbeys, such as Tintern Abbey itself, as well as the Abbey (Westminster) he saw and wrote about in his poem, "Composed upon Westminster Bridge . . ." (6). The spirit, or religious sentiment, brought Wordsworth again and again to a place of worship (1-159). Consequently, he chose to preserve these treasured memories (158-59).

Thus far, I have visited parks in England which have influenced my view of the city of London. I am only referencing these personal visits to further explain my thesis of how his poems, "Tintern Abbey," and "Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802" suggest that it was a place of tranquility, even in a time of unsettled peace. Wordsworth continuously revisited Tintern Abbey whether in his mind, or physical body to return to his serene state (23-34). Although I cannot visit Tintern Abbey itself, this provided me with that experience: a place in nature that I can return to again and again, and not have to actually be there. This is a place which I can worship, although, not in a traditional manner. It is a way of worship which glorifies a place, and not a person.                                                        

His glorification of nature in Tintern Abbey, which is a place, compares with his glorification of nature in "Composed upon Westminster Bridge . . . ."     

I will develop this further as I go along . . .  Nature in "Tintern Abbey," as well as England itself in "Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802," brought Wordsworth tranquility. In both poems, he glorifies a place.                                  

I will post a photograph in my next blog entry of the nature which I experienced while in England so that the readers of this blog can further understand this glorification of nature, which Wordsworth had.

French Revolution Timeline. http://www.marxists.org/history/france/revolution/timeline.htm Web. 19 July 2011. 
Wordsworth, William. “Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8^th ed. Vol. D: The Romantic Period. Eds. Stephen Greenblatt, M. H. Abrams, Jack Stillinger, Deidre Shauna Lynch. New York: Norton, 2006. 317. Print.                                                                                                              

Wordsworth, William. “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8^th ed. Vol. D: The Romantic Period. Eds. Stephen Greenblatt, M. H. Abrams, Jack Stillinger, Deidre Shauna Lynch. New York: Norton, 2006. 258-62. Print.