In the sonnet “Ode on Intimations of Immorality,” romantic poet William Wordsworth uses attitude and tone along with symbols and images, to trace the transformation he experienced in the maturing process. He points out that the transformation from a young child to an older man requires a redrafting of the definition and meaning of nature; a child perceives nature differently than that of a matured adult. His sonnet supports the romantic ideology of the “fallen” nature of man and the idea of an immortal soul. Wordsworth suggests that as a human matures, he loses his childhood “innocence” and inherits the “fallen” perception of nature. Wordsworth’s sonnet entices the reader to reevaluate their definition of nature throughout their life. The ode begins with a reminiscent tone insisting something is lost. The speaker’s attitude is lined with a feeling of grief. Wordsworth attributes the grief to his realization that he has become
“fallen”. He states, “The things which I have seen I now can see no more.” He suggests later that his loss is a result of his transformation from a child to a man, “To make her Foster-child, her Inmate, Man, Forget the glories he hath known.” As an adult, Wordsworth has forgot the innocent glories of his childhood and he has become an inmate of his fallen nature. Wordsworth plays on the romantic notion that the child, in his innocence, perceives what is good in life. As he matures and inherits truth and intuition from his experiences, he begins to see evil in the world. The childhood glory of nature and life is lost as he matures.
Wordsworth uses his poetic expression, tone, attitude, images and symbols to come to terms with his changing view of nature. As an adult, he connects nature with the inevitable human suffering instead of the childhood innocence. Wordsworth triggers the reader’s imagination to reevaluate the purpose of nature thr
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