Tintern Abbey : Quotations
Tintern Abbey is a notable literary work by William Wordsworth. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of Tintern Abbey.
Quotations
Five years have passed; five summers with the length of five long winters!
Exp: This line emphasizes the significant passage of time and the feeling of both long summers and harsh winters. It symbolizes the changes and experiences in those five years.
And now, with gleams of half-extinguished thought,
With many recognitions dim and faint
Exp: In these lines, the poet describes fragmented moments and fading memories of the past. He can only partially recall past thoughts and recognize distant experiences.
That time is past,
And all its aching joys and dizzy raptures…other gifts
Have followed;
Exp: In this line, the speaker reflects on how the intense and overwhelming emotions of their past youth have faded, and they have gained different experiences and gifts as they’ve grown older.
For I have learned to look on nature,
not as in the hour of thoughtless youth;
but hearing oftentimes
The still sad music of humanity
Exp: In these lines, the speaker reflects on how they now sense nature differently. They have a carefree gaze on nature but youth view nature with a deeper understanding. Through nature’s tranquil tones, they feel the underlying sorrow of human existence.