Discuss Wordsworth's feelings about nature in the poem "Lines Composed A Few Miles above Tintern Abbey" (only first 2 verses)

The two verses we analyzed are bursting with the theme of nature. We may say that it's a type of poetry which can be viewed as archetypal when we consider the distinction between Wordsworth's society and the contemporary society. It's like the idea of the poet in his "ivory tower" even if the situation is more green and full of flowers here.

The poet's description of the landscape is very warm and the poem seems to say : "Come on. You're welcome." Wordsworth is very bucolic and he's like a lone traveller walking through the fields of countryside or whatever. It gives an impression of quiet and autarcy. The "orchard-tufts" (l.11) and the "inland murmur" (l.14) isolate the situation from cities related to line 26. Then, we are assured that another world without any worry is possible through the descriptive tone of the poet who seems to be a witness of the beauty of nature : "These waters, rolling from their moutain-springs."

English: Portrait of William Wordsworth by William...

Poets Kalymnos

Poets Kalymnos

Wordsworth does not want to interviene in this natural process ; it is certain that we are far from a made-man environment. In fact, it's a "green" (l.13 and l.17) environment. Moreover, there is a sense of communion of the poet with nature. Society is aside. The poet feels serene when he observes all around his place - as if he was the sycamore itself - and takes time. He catches details like the "unripe fruits" he sees. It's a timeless nature and the poet himself doesn't care about time. The poet is alike nature.

In this passage, the poet and nature are one. And as nature is omnipresent, the contrast with cities will be strengthened.