Tintern Abbey

Poetry | William Wordsworth
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What 'Loss' Does the Poet Refer to in the Poem 'Tintern Abbey'?

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What 'Loss' does the poet refer to in 'Tintern Abbey'?

In Wordsworth’s (1770-1850) “Tintern Abbey” (1798), the “loss” he talks about is the fading of his youthful, carefree love for nature. When he was younger, nature was like a thrilling adventure to him. Nature was something he loved with wild joy, like a child running through fields. But as he grew older, he developed a thoughtful love for nature.

Youthful Love for Nature: When the poet first visited Tintern Abbey five years ago, he was full of energy and excitement. He ran through the woods like a deer, feeling wild joy. Back then, he loved nature in a s

imple way—he enjoyed its colors, sounds, and beauty, but without deep thinking. He says,

“I bounded o’er the mountains, by the sides 

Of the deep rivers,...”

Thoughtful Love for Nature: Now, after five years, he realizes he has changed. He does not feel the same "aching joys"—carefree excitement.

“That time is past,

And all its aching joys are now no more.”

However, Wordsworth says this loss is not all bad. Now, he understands nature in a deeper, thoughtful way. He does not just see it—he feels its power, its connection to life, and its ability to calm and teach him.

Accepting the Loss: While he has lost the excitement of youth, he has gained wisdom, peace, and a more mature love for nature. He accepts this change as a natural part of life. The poet hopes his sister, Dorothy, will go through the same journey—first feeling the wild joys of youth, then finding deeper meaning in nature as she grows older.

In short, “loss” here is the end of childhood’s wild excitement, but it makes room for a wiser, gentler love for the world.

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William Wordsworth
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