Question

In your own words, describe how "Tintern Abbey" reflects the characteristics of romanticism.

Answer 1

William Wordsworth's poem Tintern Abbey fulfills the characteristics of romanticism in several ways. Firstly, the poem explores the author's emotions. Romantic literature is known for being emotional. It also uses reminiscence (which is often unique to Wordsworth) to speak about this emotion. It also discusses nature and how it affects the narrator. It also uses common language, which the Romantics believed was important. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

In his poem "Tintern Abbey," Wordsworth describes the natural beauty of the abbey and the ability of its surroundings to give him peace. Like most romantic poems, it emphasizes the power of nature to heal. The poet also refers to his sister in the poem, introducing a personal detail from his own life. This practice of referring to incidents or people in the poet’s life became a mainstay in romantic poetry. Mourning the loss of nature due to industrialization, and the taking over of woods and streams by cities, was also a common theme in many romantic poems. In "Tintern Abbey," the poet mourns the loss of the mountains and gloomy woods he loved as a boy, but suggests that the moments he spent with nature have the power to console him even in the din of the crowded city.

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