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Week 10 (Romantic Poetry)
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Week 10 (Romantic Poetry)

Introduction

The professor introduces the online lesson for week 10 of Romantic Poetry and announces that they will be discussing "Tintern Abbey" by William Wordsworth.

Topic for Today

  • The topic for today's lesson is "Tintern Abbey" by William Wordsworth.
  • If time permits, they will also discuss "Ode to a Nightingale."

Questions about the Poem

  • Before starting the discussion, the professor asks some questions about the poem.
  • The first question is about what the poem is about.
  • Another student answers that Tintern Abbey is an actual location and that the poem mostly talks about nature.

Biographical Details

  • The professor asks if there are any biographical details in the poem.
  • There is a discussion on how the scenery described in the poem has rustic elements and how it affects the speaker.

Nature as Inspiration

  • The class discusses how nature symbolizes a guide for moral beings and can be considered an inspiration source.

Introduction

In this section, the speaker introduces the topic of nature and its role in protecting people from industrialization. The speaker also mentions that nature is a source of inspiration for humanity.

  • Nature is a tool to save people from the harmful effects of industrialization.
  • Nature is a way of dreaming and going beyond humanity.

Document Review

In this section, the speaker asks the audience to review a quotation from Chinchill ABI and discuss its structure.

  • The poem's title is "Chinchanabi," with a longer title being "Tinto Nabi lines composed a few miles above chinchill Lobby or revisiting the banks of Y during a tour."
  • The poem was written on July 13th, 1798.
  • The Abbey mentioned in the poem is located in Anthony Village and is now in ruins.
  • The poem has an unrhymed structure with no clear rhythmical pattern.
  • Romantic poetry rejects traditional forms and prefers innovation.

Content Analysis

In this section, the speaker discusses how Wordsworth's poetry focuses on everyday life topics and uses everyday language. They also analyze specific lines from Chinchanabi related to memory and time.

  • Wordsworth's poetry focuses on incidents and situations from common life using language used by ordinary people.
  • Chinchanabi has conversational language without elevated poetry or animated language like Alexander Pope's work.
  • There are many references to nature throughout Chinchanabi.
  • Memory may be a keyword in Chinchanabi as it relates to past experiences.
  • Five Summers with the length of five long Winters is an example of subjective time measurement.

Aspects of Romantic Poetry

The speaker discusses the characteristics of Romantic poetry, including its structure, diction, and content.

Romantic Description of Setting

  • The speaker uses romantic language to describe the setting, including "mothers rolling from their Mountain Springs," "Steep and lofty cliffs," and a "vast included scene."
  • Seclusion is a common motif in Romantic poetry.
  • The speaker contrasts his past impression of the Abbey with his present impression.

Return to Nature

  • Return to nature is a common characteristic of Romantic poetry.
  • Glorification of nature is a common theme in Romantic poetry.
  • Time is an important motif in many different poems.

Perception of Time

  • The speaker points to time as an inseparable part of his experience.
  • Time is temporary or variable according to some interpretations.

Nature and Personal Change

In this section, the speaker discusses how nature is described in a romantic manner and how it reflects subjectivity. The speaker also talks about his memories of nature and how he desires to go back to it as a reflection of his hankering for the past. The speaker acknowledges that time has passed and that he is now a different person.

Romantic Descriptions of Nature

  • Nature is described in a romantic manner.
  • Descriptions are mostly subjective.

Memories of Nature

  • Speaker talks about his memories of nature.
  • Speaker seems despondent and misses nature.

Desire to Go Back to Nature

  • Speaker desires to go back to nature as a reflection of his hankering for the past.
  • Speaker acknowledges that he is now a different person.

Acknowledging Personal Change

  • Time has passed for the speaker.
  • Speaker acknowledges that he was younger before but now he is older.
  • Speaker knows he is conscious of the change that he has experienced because he says "though changed I was don't change from what I was."

Language Used in Poetry

In this section, the speaker discusses how Wordsworth's poetry uses everyday language rather than elevated language used by neoclassical writers or poets.

Everyday Language Used in Poetry

  • Wordsworth's poetry uses everyday language.
  • The diction of the Bell and the content of the world show that he is conscious of the change that he has experienced.

Personal Experiences and Age

In this section, the speaker discusses how "Tintern Abbey" is about personal experiences and personal change. The poem can be interpreted as being about getting older.

Personal Experiences

  • "Tintern Abbey" is about personal experiences and personal change.
  • Speaker acknowledges that his vision is changing.

Getting Older

  • The poem can be interpreted as being about getting older.

Introduction

The speaker introduces the topic of characterization and mentions that there is another character in the poem besides the speaker.

Characterization and Nature

  • The speaker is not addressing a fictional reader, but rather reflecting on his personal existence.
  • The poem is about the speaker's desire to return to nature after visiting Cincinnati five years ago.
  • Nature is a source of inspiration and happiness for the speaker.
  • The meaning of nature has changed for the speaker over time, but he still likes it.

Multiple Perspectives and Focalization

The class discusses multiple perspectives in the poem and how they relate to time.

Focalizers in the Poem

  • Besides the speaker, there are two other focalizers: his friend and sister.
  • A student suggests that Bond vocalizer could also be a possible focalizer.

Multiple Perspectives and Time

  • Multiple perspectives are related to time issue in the poem.
  • Readers are made into vocalizers by assuming how the speaker is suffering now.

Introduction

In this section, the speaker introduces the concept of multiple perspectives in Wordsworth's poem and how it relates to subjectivity in the appreciation of nature.

Multiple Perspectives

  • The speaker introduces his sister as another perspective to appreciate nature.
  • The speaker associates his childhood with his sister, who represents his former identity.
  • Wordsworth shows us the subjectivity in the appreciation of nature through different perspectives: the speaker at present time, the speaker in the past, and his sister.
  • Different perspectives lead to different appreciations of nature.

Critical Points

In this section, the speaker discusses critical points related to memory and mystification in Wordsworth's poem.

Memory as a Myth

  • Bloom says that Wordsworth mystifies memory and turns it into a myth.
  • The poem is about memory, which is mystified by Wordsworth.
  • Hearing means remembering in this poem.
  • Memory has different layers and is like a method or hypothesis.

Kabbalistic Memory

  • Bloom describes memory as kabbalistic or mystical because it has esoteric meaning and relates to Kabbalah.
  • Memory has different parts or layers that form its essential basis or principle.

Memory and Movement in Wordsworth's Poetry

In this section, the speaker discusses the use of pronouns and adjectives in Wordsworth's poetry to explore memory and movement.

Pronouns and Adjectives

  • Wordsworth uses pronouns like "I" and "me" to refer to himself as the speaker.
  • The use of pronouns shifts from "I" and "me" to "we" and "us," indicating a movement into the universal.
  • Bloom argues that there is a movement into and out of the universal, with a return to using "I" and "me."

Memory as Mystical Experience

  • Bloom argues that memory is a mystical experience in Wordsworth's poetry.
  • Memory has different layers, including consciousness, subjectivity, and nature.

Analysis of Diction in Tintern Abbey

In this section, the speaker analyzes the use of diction in William Wordsworth's poem "Tintern Abbey" and how it reflects a movement into and out of the universe.

Change in Pronouns

  • The speaker notes that there is an obvious change in the selection of words used throughout the poem.
  • In the first part, the speaker always refers to himself with subject pronouns, object pronouns, and possessive adjectives such as "me" and "my".
  • Later on, he starts using different types of pronouns like "we", "us", and "our".
  • This change shows that there is a movement from being solitary to becoming part of a community.

Movement into and out of Universe

  • The shift in diction shows that there is a movement into and out of the universe.
  • At first, the speaker is secluded and solitary but later becomes part of a group.
  • Towards the end, he goes back to referring to himself as an individual again.

Subjectivity in Experiencing Nature

  • The last lines mention how both the speaker and his sister are worshipers of nature.
  • This phrase highlights how Romanticism glorifies nature.
  • It also shows how there are two different consciousnesses experiencing nature subjectively.

Subjectivity in Enjoying Nature

In this section, the speaker discusses how William Wordsworth's poem "Tintern Abbey" highlights subjectivity in enjoying nature.

Two Different Consciousnesses

  • With the introduction of his sister, Wordsworth shows us that enjoying nature is subjective.
  • Both siblings look at nature but experience it differently due to their different consciousnesses.

Rejection of Objective Reality

  • The speaker rejects objective reality by highlighting how subjective experiences shape our understanding of nature.
  • The poem is about different types of consciousness and how they experience nature subjectively.

Glorification of Nature

  • By calling himself and his sister worshipers of nature, the speaker shows how Romanticism glorifies nature.
  • This line also has different layers and can be seen as mystical or even pantheistic.

Assignments for Next Week

In this section, the speaker gives assignments for next week's class on William Wordsworth's poetry.

Assigned Poems

  • The class will discuss "Ode to Duty", "London", "Kubla Khan", and "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner".
  • Students are encouraged to read these poems before class.

Announcement of Assignment

  • The speaker announces that there will be an assignment but does not provide details yet.

Introduction to Kabbalah

In this section, the teacher introduces the concept of Kabbalah and explains its mystical nature.

What is Kabbalah?

  • Kabbalah is a tradition from ancient times that seeks to explain holy texts with mystical means.
  • The tradition of trying to find hidden meanings in texts is called Kabbalah.
  • There is a surface meaning of a text, but there is also an underlying meaning - a meaning hidden behind the surface.
  • Kabbalah is about mysticism and finding these hidden meanings.

Absence Excuse

In this section, the student apologizes for being absent during class and asks if they missed anything important.

Absence Excuse

  • The student apologizes for being absent during class due to their cargo arriving.
  • The teacher reassures the student that it's not a big deal and tells them they will see them next Monday.