1st Edition

William Wordsworth The Poetry of Grandeur and of Tenderness

By David B. Pirie Copyright 1982
312 Pages
by Routledge

312 Pages
by Routledge

312 Pages
by Routledge

First published in 1982. In this study of Wordsworth’s major poetry, the author explores the conflict between the poet’s celebration of an impersonal earth and his concern for the most intensely personal relationships. The opening chapter concentrates on Wordsworth’s struggle to describe the natural world and the extraordinary claims he makes for the natural landscape — which are shown to derive... Read more

Abbreviations; Introduction; 1 The Types and Symbols of Eternity — ‘Crossing the Alps, The Prelude: (1805) vi. 488-572 and (1850) vi. 557-640 2 The Weakness of Humanity — The Ruined Cottage and The Pedlar 3 The Strength of Love — Michael 4 The Eye Among the Blind — The Idiot Boy and the Immortality Ode 5 The Eye of Nature — Earlier Solitaries: Old Man Travelling: Animal Tranquillity and Decay, The Old Cumberland Beggar and the ‘Discharg’d Soldier’ of The Prelude 6 The Mind’s Eye — Later Solitaries: Resolution and Independence and the ‘Blind London Beggar’ of The Prelude 7 The Reach of Words — ‘Spots of Time’ in The Prelude 8 The Burthen of the Mystery — Tintern Abbey, Surprised by Joy and After-thought; Notes; Index

Biography

David B. Pirie