Ode

Lauded as masterpieces by critics and casual readers alike, two of Wordsworth’s most renowned poems are beautifully rendered in this illustrated book. "Ode: Intimations of Immortality" marked one of the high points in literary history and continues to impress readers today. The poem comments on the glories of childhood and the ability of children to be spiritually awakened in ways that adults cannot. Wordsworth's emphasis on nature epitomizes the Romantic belief of Nature as a transcendent and sublime force. The poem suggests that nature is a force that has the ability to bring joy to humanity and alleviate the ills of the adult world, temporarily transporting adults back to their youthful, and, thus, spiritual states. The second poem in the collection, "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey," is an equally important piece of literature. In this autobiographical poem, Wordsworth returns to a spot overlooking the Wye River, a place where he spent his boyhood. This setting serves as a point of meditation, as he notes the positive and sublime feelings the scene evokes in him. As quintessential examples of the Romantic Movement, these poems brought new life to English poetry by removing the constraints of Victorian convention and breathing new life into a literary genre.