Discuss Wordsworth’s attitude towards childhood as revealed in the “Immortality Ode.”
Ode: Intimations of Immortality 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, and various study materials of Ode: Intimations of Immortality.
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Discuss Wordsworth’s attitude towards childhood as revealed in the “Immortality Ode.”
The acclaimed poem of the 19th century is “Ode on Intimation of Immortality” (1807) by William Wordsworth (1770-1850). The poem deals with the memory of losses and gains and provides a very high concept of childhood. Wordsworth’s conception of childhood is evident in his most popular line,
Child is the father of man.
As a great mystic and philosopher, Wordsworth has glorified childhood.
Wordsworth’s Glorification of Childhood in Immortality Ode
Heavenly Pleasures: At the very outset of the poem, Wordsworth declares that all human beings enjoy heavenly pleasures in childhood as the poet enjoyed in his childhood. In childhood, all objects of nature, such as meadows, groves, streams, rainbows, roses, and moonlit, seem covered with divine beauty and pleasures. Still, with time, such beauty and pleasures disappear, though the objects of nature remain unchanged.
The things which I have seen I now can see no more.
Thus, Wordsworth consults the philosophic idea that Heaven stays in childhood and adolescence but not manhood.
Pre-Existence of the Human Soul in the Light of Childhood: The poem’s controversial metaphysical concept is the human soul’s pre-existence. Since Wordsworth philosophically observes that childhood is the stage of heavenly joy, the residence of the first stage of the human soul is Eden. Side by side, the poet also asserts that the glory of paradise becomes fainter and fainter in the course of life.
From God, who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
Shades of the prison house begin to close
Upon the growing Boy,
Therefore, childhood is not only a time of divine pleasures but a stage that bears messages of the pre-existence of the human soul.
Full of Care and Hope: Parent’s affectionate love and care exist in childhood. Every morning is packed with new hopes and business contrary to maturity. Besides, liberty resides in fullUnlock this study guide now