威廉·華茲華斯（William Wordsworth）為人所樂道的一句名言：「詩是強烈感情的自發流露，而它源於情感回憶的寧靜。」揭示了詩人極其仰賴回憶來創作一事。在華茲華斯的記憶中，童年此一要素扮演著至關重要的角色，它不僅是詩人眾多作品的起源，也是他的性格形塑的關鍵階段。為此，本論文旨深入剖析華茲華斯寫作中的童年元素，並探究其如何在詩中運用之，進而明瞭詩人是如何透過此一元素達成他在不同詩作中的各項目的。本論文的三個章節將對應華茲華斯三部不同作品：《我們七人》（“We Are Seven”）、《序曲》（The Prelude）和《頌歌：童年回憶中的不朽暗示》（“Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood”），分別審視並探討童年在各詩中所呈現的文學意涵。第一章將探討華茲華斯如何在《我們七人》中，詩人如何透過一個小女孩的視角及口吻來闡述死亡的概念；第二章將試圖闡釋《序曲》中的自然是如何在華茲華斯童年時期孕育其性格及生命；第三章將解讀《頌歌：童年回憶中的不朽暗示》中童年要素與華茲華斯特殊的宗教信仰──「誕生前即存在」之關聯。總體而言，此三章節分別涉及「死」、「生」、「生前之存在」等概念，加以探究華茲華斯是如何運用「童年」此元素來串聯上述概念，創作作品並傳達其思想及信仰予其讀者們。

One of William Wordsworth’s famous quotes: “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected tranquility” (“Preface to the Second Edition of Lyrical Ballads” 388) reveals that the poet relies heavily on his recalling to compose. Among his memories, childhood plays a significant role, not only for being the origin of his works but also for shaping the poet’s character. This thesis aims to examine childhood as one crucial element to function in Wordsworth’s works. The three chapters corresponding to three different works by Wordsworth: “We Are Seven,” The Prelude, and “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood,” will scrutinize the different literary meanings of childhood separately. Chapter One probes how the poet elaborates on the concept of death through a little girl’s perspective in “We Are Seven.” Chapter Two attempts to illustrate how nature shapes the poet’s life and character in his childhood in The Prelude. Chapter Three mainly interprets the relation between childhood and the poet’s religious belief of prior existence in “Ode.” In general, the three chapters involve the concepts of “death,” “life,” and “pre-existence” dividedly and will explore the way the poet avails “childhood” in composing his works and expounding his thoughts and beliefs.

論文審定書………………………………………………………………….…i
Acknowledgments……………………………………………..……………..ii
中文摘要………..……………………………………………………………..iii
Abstract…..…………………………………………………....………………iv
Introduction…………………………………………………………....………1
Chapter One: Childhood and Death………………………………….………7
Chapter Two: Childhood and Life…………………………………..………..25
Chapter Three: Childhood and Pre-existence…………………… ...………40
Conclusion……………………………………………………………...……..54
Works Cited………………………………………..………………………….56

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