Final answer:
William Wordsworth's phrase 'the child is father of the man' implies that our childhood experiences have a significant impact on the adults we become. This concept is reinforced by different literary works that depict the enduring influence of early life and childhood perception on our adult personalities and understandings.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the poem where William Wordsworth writes, "the child is father of the man," he is expressing a complex idea that who we are as adults is largely shaped by our experiences in childhood. This phrase suggests that the foundations of our adult personalities, values, and behaviors are laid down in our early life experiences.
Considering lifespan development, the concept implies that there is a continuity between the child and the adult. Wordsworth's statement invites us to reflect on how our childhood experiences cast long shadows over our future selves, influencing how we perceive the world and how we act within it. This concept resonates with modern psychological theories which suggest that our formative years play a crucial role in our development as individuals.
The poem's stanza you referenced illustrates the child's perception and interpretation of imagery and fears. Wordsworth seems to suggest that the robust imagination of childhood shapes the way we perceive and remember images. As adults, we might look back at these 'pictures' of childhood with a mixture of nostalgia and understanding.
The poem by the MHS manuscript also supports this point of view, depicting a child in between physical and spiritual realms, hinting at the transcendence of childhood experiences and their impact on our understanding of the world. Hugh Kenner's analysis of an extract from a different literary work further emphasizes the importance of the early sensory and mental experiences in shaping the conscience and cognitive development of a child.