Final answer:
The speaker in 'Tintern Abbey' has grown to understand nature as a source of wisdom, insight, and philosophical growth since his last visit, reflecting a shift from aesthetic appreciation to spiritual and moral development.
Step-by-step explanation:
In William Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey," the speaker experiences a profound realization about his relationship with nature as he revisits the scene after five years. As a young man, he looked upon nature primarily for its aesthetic beauty and sensory pleasures. However, upon his return, he now perceives nature on a deeper, more spiritual level. He recognizes nature as a source of wisdom and moral development. Through the passage of time and the accumulation of life experiences, the speaker realizes that his bond with nature provides him solace, insight, and an enduring source of emotional and philosophical growth.
The poem reflects Wordsworth's own philosophies during the Romantic era, where nature was seen as a living entity that can profoundly influence the human spirit. The speaker's shift from a youthful pleasure in the picturesque to an adult appreciation for nature's deeper influences illustrates a common theme in Wordsworth's poetry: nature's role in human life as a teacher and a source of profound truths.