The Poetry of Wordsworth Group

Question:

fton
fton
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Explain, "The Child is the Father of the Man."

Rate question:

Posted by fton on Wednesday December 24, 2008 at 3:40 AM and tagged with my heart leaps up when i see a rainbow, the poetry of wordsworth, wordsworth.

Answers:

  1. lit24
    lit24 Teacher
    Doctorate

    eNotes Editor

    "The Child is the Father of the Man."

    The positive and life nurturing impressions that get deeply etched in our minds when we are small children remain with us for the rest of our adult life. These early spiritual life sustaining childhood memories form the foundation of our adulthood and determine our personality. Hence, a happy childhood filled with pleasant life giving positive spiritual influences -here symbolized by the pleasant associations linked to the beautiful rainbow - is the 'father' or the creator or the architect of a mature adult, the 'man.'

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/poetry-wordsworth-salem

    Rate answer:

    Posted by lit24 on Wednesday December 24, 2008 at 7:53 AM

  2. earyoung
    earyoung

    The Child is the Father of the Man., The Child is father of the Man. Which one is correct?

    Rate answer:

    Posted by earyoung on Saturday February 14, 2009 at 6:16 PM